VPace Kids Cup racing series: “We were surprised ourselves by how it turned out.”

​The VPace Kids Cup is the junior downhill racing series for children aged between five and ten. What began in 2019 as a spur-of-the-moment idea to keep bored siblings entertained at the Rookies Cup has long since developed into a serious racing series – with its own overall standings, international participation and regularly sold-out races.

In the 2026 season, the series comprised seven rounds in Germany, Austria and the Czech Republic. Up to 130 children take part in each event, although demand regularly exceeds this limit. At the final in Leogang, 150 children from eleven nations took part.

The Kids Cup is deliberately designed as a stepping stone to the Rookies Cup – a place where the focus is on enjoying the sport and where children can gain their first competitive experience in a child-friendly environment. The series is organised by Sabine Oswald in collaboration with Racement GmbH, supported by main sponsor VPace and other partners such as Maxxis.

Interview with Sabine Oswald: “We were surprised ourselves by how it all turned out.”

​Bine, the VPace Kids Cup – how did it all start, actually?

Nothing out of the ordinary, to be honest. At the Rookies Cup, the younger siblings were always hanging about and wanted to race too. They were getting bored, their parents were getting bored – and at some point we thought: OK, let’s just turn it into a little kids’ race. That was in 2019. We were surprised ourselves by what it turned into.

And what became of it?

This year we had seven stops – Winterberg, Oberhof, Farchant, the Czech Republic, Ilmenau and, of course, here in Leogang. With the overall standings, the nations’ cup and the full programme. Yesterday, 150 kids lined up at the start, from eleven nations. Sometimes I stand at the side of the course in the middle category and think: it looks just like a World Cup – except that everyone’s a bit smaller.

150 kids – that sounds like chaos.

(laughs) We actually try to stick to 130, because a six-year-old who’s been waiting on the starting grid for half an hour is bound to lose interest at some point… But some stops are just so popular that we have waiting lists. Winterberg, for example – there are always 20 or 30 more people than we’d actually planned for.

How do you design a course that works for both four-year-olds and eleven-year-olds?

That’s the ultimate challenge. You’ve got children who’ve only just learnt to ride without training wheels, alongside lads and lasses who’d easily leave you in their wake. You need a route that’s fun, that’s challenging, but where everyone makes it down safely in the end. And then you’ve got to adapt to the local conditions as well. It’s a fine line – literally.

Sponsors – a tricky subject?

To be honest, I still don’t understand why the Kids Cup isn’t heavily sponsored. We’ve got the ideal target audience here – families who have to buy new protective gear every six months because the kids are growing out of it. No one skimps on safety kit. That’s a dream come true for any brand. Yet it’s still a struggle. VPace, as our main sponsor, supports us brilliantly; Maxxis is on board; and ‘Aktivschule im Leben’ – they support us purely out of conviction, without expecting anything in return. I find that extraordinary, and it means a great deal to me.

What still drives you after 15 years?

Every winter I ask myself the same thing. Being self-employed isn’t exactly a walk in the park. But then I stand at the prize-giving ceremony and see those faces – that completely genuine joy – and that answers the question. On top of that, there are the stories that grow out of it all. I’m riding in a bike park somewhere and suddenly ten families come running over: "Bine! We all know each other from the Kids Cup – we’re all here together today!" That set something in motion that goes far beyond motor racing.

Have you ever had any kids who really took off?

Raoul Schneeberger – Junior World Champion. He took part in the Kids Cup back then. When I hear things like that, I know why I do this.

And parents who are too ambitious. Do they really exist?

(sighs briefly) It does happen. Every now and then. But we actively manage it – I make it very clear at the Riders’ Meeting: this isn’t a football match; nobody’s going to be shouted at today. That’s part of the Cup’s DNA. The better I know a family, the more direct I can be with them.

You said on stage yesterday: “Everyone’s a winner.” Do you really mean that? After all, it’s still about racing. There are bound to be winners and losers.

Anyone who, at the age of five, dares to tackle a downhill course in front of an audience whilst the clock is ticking – to me, they’re a winner, no matter where they finish.

At the same time: yes, the clock really is ticking. One rider is the fastest. That’s the reality of racing, and children should learn about it. We try to strike that balance – so that nobody goes home feeling like a loser, but everyone understands how it all works. That said, in the mini category, some are racing on 20-inch training wheels against 27.5-inch bikes – so the results are put into perspective anyway.

Final question: What is your vision for the next five years?

Not necessarily more rounds – seven is a proper racing series; that’s enough. What I’d like to see is for the Kids Cup to stay just as it is. Fun comes before results. A downhill vibe rather than pressure to perform. We used to scout 13-year-olds – nowadays, some six-year-olds are already asking for sponsors. This trend worries me a bit. The Kids Cup should remain an alternative to that. A place where children are simply allowed to be children – on two wheels, with a helmet and a huge grin.

The sponsors of the VPace Kids Cup are: VPace, Maxxis, IXS, Gobi, SR Suntour, Dirtworks