Schweizer Bergmeisterschaft-Swiss Mountain Championship

Hill climbs have a long tradition in Switzerland. Unlike races on permanent racetracks, they are not subject to the ban on circuit racing that has been in effect in Switzerland since 1955.

Some races that count toward the Swiss Championship have a long tradition. One of the best known is the Saint-Ursanne-Col des Rangiers in the canton of Jura. It has been held continuously since 1955 (the course was extended in 1998) and has been the only Swiss hill climb with European Championship status since 1972. Even older is the race at Gurnigel in the canton of Bern. It was first held in 1910 and was revived in 1968. It has been part of the Swiss racing calendar since 1970[2]. The race in Oberhallau in the canton of Schaffhausen also has a long tradition. The first edition took place in 1923. In 1966, the race was revived on the same course.

Other famous courses in Switzerland: Reitnau in the canton of Aargau (first held in 1965), Ayent-Anzère in the canton of Valais (1975), Massongex in the canton of Valais (1984) and Les Paccots in the canton of Fribourg (1977; initially a regional event, part of the Swiss Championship since 2008). Hemberg in the canton of St. Gallen has only been back on the Swiss Championship calendar since 2013. This race is a revival of the hill climb in Toggenburg, which was last held in 1990; however, it is not on the same course.