Bigger, faster, more comfortable? 32-inch wheels are currently the talk of the bike industry. For whom does the larger wheel diameter make sense? What advantages does it offer on the trail - and where does it reach its limits? What complications await in everyday life and logistics? As part of a panel discussion on 30 May during Cycle Week in Zurich, experts from development, industry and practice will be joined by Velosuisse Vice Chairman Chris Bättig to discuss the potential of 32-inch wheels. The focus will be on riding dynamics, geometry, areas of application - but also on market opportunities and acceptance in the retail sector.
Is 32 inches the future in the mountain bike sector, or will it remain an exciting speciality for selected target groups? And what role do innovation, marketing and real-world performance play in establishing new standards?
The panellists:
Thomas Stoll is a Swiss Entrepreneur, former mountain bike pro and founder and owner of STOLL Bikes. As a trained engineer, he brings technical expertise and many years of racing experience to the development of his bikes. Stoll is currently attracting attention with the P32 innovation project, a 32-inch mountain bike, and is actively driving the discussion about new standards in the MTB sector.
Chris Bättig is an entrepreneur and one of a formative personality in the cycling industry. The founder of Chris Sports has successfully established numerous international brands on the Swiss market with his flair for trends and innovations. In addition to his entrepreneurial activities, he is also involved at association level: as Vice President of velosuisse, he actively promotes the interests of the Swiss bicycle industry and supports the further development of the sector.
Valentin Wendel is Engineer at BMC and the Brain behind the 32-inch mountain bike from BMC, the Already spotted training on MTB XC World Cup courses in 2025 was born. As a passionate mountain biker and Former racing driver Valentine always on the lookout for improvement.
The podium will moderated by Thomas Giger, Editor of RideMTB magazine, who will be able to emphasise different perspectives with well-founded questions to the panel guests. Of course, questions from the audience are also welcome.
If you would like to test ride a 32-inch bike yourself, you can do so on Saturday, 30 May from 12:00 to 17:30 at RIDE's stand B54.
Register now at the following address Link.
Caption: Swiss rider Felix Stehli (left) has already won a stage at the South African Cape Epic on a Stoll P32.
4 May 2026