These images are actually only familiar from the steep, colourful favelas of South America: professional mountain bikers hurtling down stairs at 60 km/h, dropping over walls and shooting past house walls by inches.
But in September 2026, the largest urban downhill series in the world will swap Valparaíso for Stuttgart. The finale of the international tour will take place on the Neckar - and the route from the Teehaus down to Wilhelmsplatz promises nothing less than complete madness.
Stairs, drops and 60 km/h on tarmac
Stuttgart has Stäffele?* Stuttgart gets action! The city centre is being transformed into an "action zone" for the season finale. If you want to win here, you need nerves of steel and precision that doesn't forgive mistakes.
Where pedestrians normally stroll, the pros fly over road gaps and artificial chicanes. Urban Downhill is brutal: a small slip on the tarmac or a riding mistake in the narrow maze of alleyways and the dream of the title is history.
* "Stuttgart has Stäffele" means that the city of Stuttgart is known for its more than 400 to 600 historic open-air staircases. These so-called "Stäffele" (Swabian for steps) were once used by winegrowers to reach the steep vineyards in the valley basin
Showdown of the giants: Slavík vs "Fischi"
The world's elite are travelling with oiled chains. Right at the front: stars like the Czech Tomáš Slavík. He knows that Stuttgart will be different to the classics in Chile or Italy: "The course will be technical and compact - definitely spectacular!"
But the hearts of the audience will probably beat for someone else: Johannes "Fischi" Fischbach. The three-time German downhill champion, Cerro Abajo series winner in 2017 and runner-up in Genoa 2025 finally has his home race.
"The region here is bike-crazy, the atmosphere will be bombastic," says the local hero happily. For Fischi, one thing is clear: in front of his own crowd, he will put the knife between his teeth and go full attack.
Mayor gives the green light for the adrenaline rush
Sports mayor Dr Clemens Maier agrees that Stuttgart is the ideal stage for this spectacle. The special topography of the Kessel is perfect for the German premiere.
Of course, the organisational effort behind the scenes is huge, especially when it comes to security and traffic, but the goal is clear: to perfectly showcase Stuttgart as an international sports city.
But Stuttgart is not Valpariso, Baden-Württemberg is not Chile - different safety regulations apply here than in South America. The fans hope that this will not detract from the action.
Free admission: action up close
The best thing for all fans: you don't need a ticket. The event is completely free of charge.
So if you want to see the boys whizz past the barrier at centimetre intervals and the adrenaline is literally palpable, you should mark the date in your diary.
If you can't make it to the cauldron, Red Bull TV and YouTube will broadcast the spectacle live into your living room.
Red Bull Stuttgart Cerro Abajo 2026: The facts
- When: 5 - 6 September 2026
- Where: Stuttgart city centre (Teehaus to Wilhelmsplatz)
- Format: Individual time trial / Urban Downhill
- Tickets: Not necessary - admission is free!
- Status: Season finale of the international series (after Genoa and Valparaíso)
Dimitri Lehner
Editor
