The 2026 Hero UCI Marathon World Cup season will mark a turning point in the history The competition is starting its calendar outside the Dolomites, its traditional setting since its inception. For the first time, the world championship will kick off in Spain, with the Costa Blanca hosting the opening round through the Hero Costa Blanca event, which will take place on February 21 in the municipalities of Calp and Benissa.
The choice of this location is not solely based on sporting criteria, but also positions the event as a strategic project for local development and to reduce the seasonality of tourism, with a commitment to international reach. The event will showcase the natural, cultural, and heritage wealth of eastern Spain to a global audience, linking it to a top-level competition.
The presentation of the event was attended by Gerhard Vanzsi, representative of the race, Julia Karbon, executive and communications director of UCI HERO, Mireia Ripoll, councilor for Tourism Planning of Calp, the mayor of Benissa, Arthur Pocket, and the councilor of Sports from Benissa, Adrián Cabrera.
A demanding international calendar with six rounds and significant elevation changes
Representatives of the competition have explained that the 2026 UCI Hero XCM World Cup will consist of six international rounds that will take place in some of the most iconic locations in the Cycling mountain races in Europe. The full calendar will cover 481 kilometers of competition and more than 15.000 meters of elevation gain, solidifying the championship as one of the most demanding on the UCI calendar.
Following the opening race on the Costa Blanca on February 21, the series continues in early May on the Island of Elba with the Capoliveri Legend Cup, before moving to Andorra at the end of May for Naturland. In mid-June, it returns to its historic epicenter with the Hero Dolomites in Italy, before heading to Germany at the end of July for the Black Forest Ultra Bike Marathon. The season concludes on September 20 in Girona with the final race as part of Sea Otter Europe.
The International Cycling Union (UCI) has selected Calp and Benissa as the venues based on a combination of factors, as explained by Gerhard Vanzsi. The first is their scenic beauty, the second the crop Calpe is a well-established cycling destination, as the Costa Blanca is a favorite training spot for professional teams and riders worldwide. Finally, Vanzsi confirmed that Calpe boasts a high-level hotel and tourism infrastructure, capable of hosting international events and accommodating the influx of athletes, technical teams, organizers, and visitors.
A technical, mountainous and selective route for the world elite
The Hero Costa Blanca course has been designed to meet the most demanding standards of international cross-country marathons and has been described by the organizers as "wild, rugged, and highly technical." The route avoids flat sections, venturing into the mountains instead, prioritizing technical difficulty and elevation gain.
In the UCI Elite category, the race will cover 82 kilometers with 2.720 meters of elevation gain, while the Amateur category will tackle a 50-kilometer course with 1.400 meters of elevation gain. The Challenge of [unclear - possibly "the challenge" or "the climb"] stands out within the longer route. The SolanaA special 2,35-kilometer segment with 272 meters of elevation gain and very steep slopes will be recognized with a limited-edition t-shirt for its completion. The race will run through the municipalities of Calp and Benissa, also including sections in Senija, Xaló, and Llíber.
Hero Costa Blanca
The event will be structured as a three-day mountain biking festival, with its operational base at Parc de La Creativitat. Thursday, February 19th, will be dedicated to official training sessions, while Friday will see the opening of the Hero Zero Village, an exhibition space for partners, sponsors, and UCI teams.
That same Friday will see the official presentation of the UCI teams on the main stage, along with the Hero Race Talk, an interview session with four athletes who will share their personal and professional journeys. The competition will take place on February 21st, with staggered starts beginning at 08:00 AM for the elite men's and women's categories, followed by masters and amateurs. Starting at 09:30 AM, the Hero Kids races, for children aged 4 to 12, will be held, with the first leaders expected to arrive around 12:00 PM, and the awards ceremony scheduled for 13:00 PM.
"Hero to Zero" Seal
The organization has emphasized that the event's greatness is measured not only by its sporting level but also by its environmental responsibility, integrated into the "Hero to Zero" program. This commitment has been recognized with the UCI Climate Action Award, which endorses the measures implemented by the organization.
The project has the institutional support of the Calp and Benissa City Councils, the Alicante Provincial Council, and the Provincial Board of Trustees of Tourism Costa Blanca and the Generalitat Valenciana through the Comunitat de l'Esport program.
