Rain, Big Tricks and Rising Talent: NXT:GEN Thrills Dornbirn

The second stop of the 2026 NXT:GEN Tour brought together international pros and talented rookies for an action-packed weekend full of challenges, progression and unforgettable moments in the heart of Dornbirn.

The second stop of the 2026 NXT:GEN Tour is in the books - and this weekend in Dornbirn had it all: heavy rain, last-minute changes, enthusiastic crowds and plenty of huge tricks.

For the second time, the NIGHT of the JUMPs youth development series stopped in Vorarlberg, Austria. Almost 20 riders travelled to Dornbirn to spend an intense and unforgettable weekend alongside five experienced professionals.

Training Moves Indoors at Short Notice

The setup on Friday went ahead as planned. However, the persistent rain made it impossible to train safely on Dornbirn’s Rathausplatz. The session was therefore moved to the Highmatrausch trampoline park at short notice.

There, the pros and amateur riders were able to train together, work on new movements and prepare as well as possible for the following day’s contest.

© Philipp Schäfer

An Early Start on Dornbirn’s Rathausplatz

With Friday’s planned training session cancelled, Saturday began particularly early. By 9:00 a.m., the complete setup was ready on Dornbirn’s Rathausplatz, with the partner areas also prepared for the day ahead.

SPAR was among the first on site, supplying the riders’ area with its “Healthy Snack” selection. Alongside drinks from VO ÜS and Red Bull, the almost 20 riders were provided with fruit, muesli and a range of healthy snacks.

But the weather remained unpredictable. Even Saturday morning’s training had to be interrupted by another rain shower. Neither the riders nor the spectators were discouraged, however. More and more people from Dornbirn and the surrounding region gathered in the city centre to watch the next generation in action.

NXT:GEN partners Doppelmayr, Blum and Volksbank also made use of the opportunity to connect with the region’s next generation - in their case, by meeting potential future apprentices.

The Pros Push the Rookies to New Heights

The training sessions once again demonstrated what makes NXT:GEN so special. The young riders do not simply compete on the same setup as the professionals - they receive direct support, advice and valuable tips from them.

Under the guidance of the pros, several rookies made remarkable progress within a very short time and entered the first qualifying round full of confidence.

Ten rookies accepted the challenge, while several other riders decided not to compete because of the difficult weather conditions. With three jumps each, the riders battled for one of eight places in the semi-final.

The strongest rookies then competed alongside the professionals. Nobody was given an easy route into the final: even the experienced riders had to show their full potential to earn a place in the Top 10. Each rider had four jumps, with their best two counting towards the result.

Nothing Held Back in the Final

In the Top 10 final, every rider went all in. By then, Dornbirn’s central Rathausplatz was filled to capacity - and after the rain, the sun finally came out for the decisive runs.

Spain’s Alejandro Bonafé ultimately claimed victory. Czech amateur David Strouhal delivered an outstanding performance to finish second, ahead of German Red Bull rider Lennox Zimmermann in third.

Overall Results

1. Alejandro Bonafé (ESP)

2. David Strouhal (CZE)

3. Lennox Zimmermann (GER)

As the highest-ranked rookie, David Strouhal also secured a starting place at the upcoming NIGHT of the JUMPs in Basel, taking place at St. Jakobshalle on December 5.

Rookie Results

1. David Strouhal (CZE)

2. Julen Diaz (ESP)

3. Julian Enke (GER)

4. Dave Kirfel (LUX)

5. Leopold Praster (GER)

The Grand Final Awaits in Dresden

After two tour stops, the 2026 NXT:GEN season is gathering momentum. The grand final will take place on October 4, 2026, as part of the Sächsisches Fahrradfest in Dresden.

Admission will once again be free. There, the next rising talent will have the opportunity to take a major step forward and earn a starting place at a NIGHT of the JUMPs event in 2027.

Dornbirn once again showed exactly what NXT is all about: giving young riders a real stage, allowing them to learn directly from international professionals and helping them progress under genuine contest conditions - even when the weather refuses to cooperate.