The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) has confirmed the 2026 calendar for the HERO UCI Cross-Country Marathon World Cup.
The mountain bike series will feature six rounds, including five returning events and a new season-opener in Spain. The 2026 season will start on February 21, with the new HERO Costa Blanca race in Calpe, Costa Blanca, Spain.
The 2026 HERO UCI Cross-country Marathon World Cup calendar is as follows:
- February 21 – HERO Costa Blanca, Calpe (ESP)
- May 9 – Capoliveri Legend Cup, Isola d’Elba (ITA)
- May 31 – Naturland Andorra, Andorra (AND)
- June 13 – HERO Südtirol Dolomites, Selva Val Gardena (ITA)
- July 26 – Black Forest ULTRA Bike Marathon, Kirchzarten (GER)
- September 20 – La Tramun Sea Otter Europe, Girona (ESP)
The race series will take place across five countries, covering a total of 481km with 15,459m of elevation gain.
David Lappartient, UCI President, said “The first edition of the HERO UCI Cross-country Marathon World Cup has been an undeniable success so far, and I am delighted that its five popular stopovers will once again feature on the calendar in 2026.”
He continued “In addition, we expand the series next year with the HERO Costa Blanca joining the calendar as the season-opener. We can look forward to another rich and exciting season of mountain bike marathon competitions, both at UCI World Cup level and for riders in the amateur categories.”
The series has reportedly seen increasing attention from riders in the amateur categories, with over 3,000 participants in the 2025 season. Amateur / age group athletes compete on the same course as the elite riders.
The last round of the current 2025 series will take place on September 21, 2025, with the La Tramun Sea Otter Europe in Girona. The overall winners of the 2025 series will be crowned at this event.
Gerhard Vanzi, responsible for organising the HERO UCI Cross-Country Marathon World Cup, said “We have been working swiftly in the past months to develop the circuit’s second season and to confirm this edition’s format. At this stage, I would like to thank all the local organising committees and the UCI for their support and the collaboration during this race season.”
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