The renowned cycling festival increases its international commitment with the presence of top-level world events.
The calendar maintains a complete offer for all types of cyclists, with the premiere of races for the best specialists on the planet and the continuation of some emblematic events for amateurs.
The Shimano Sea Otter Europe Costa Brava-Girona by Garmin has announced the sports program of the festival, which will take place on September 19-20-21 in the town of Girona. The event had a record attendance last year and plans to continue expanding the number of professional and amateur athletes for this edition. The sports program reflects the growth of a key event in the sector, supported by a festival that continues to rise with 68,000 visitors and 6,100 participants in the sports events.
In 2025, the festival reinforces its international projection with an ambitious and diverse sports program that covers the entire range of levels and cycling disciplines, which will include events from the official UCI calendar, cyclotourism events, and children’s competitions. A conglomerate of 12 challenges with the presence of road, MTB –XCO, XCM, XCC and XCE-, gravel, eMTB, trial and Downhill events.
All of this, framed in the city and province of Girona, considered by many to be one of the best places in the world to practice cycling.
The festival’s sports proposal will bring together both the best cyclists from the national and international scene and thousands of amateur participants.
A SPORTS PROGRAM FOR EVERYONE
Friday 09/19 – Opening of the competition
The action will begin on Friday afternoon with the Eliminator event, a spectacular and explosive format that captures the attention of the public. The first qualifying rounds lead to the grand final. Later, it will be the turn of the Short Track -also in the Mobility Zone- with a short and exciting format that will close the curtain on the first day of the festival.
Saturday 09/20 – The competitive heart of the festival
The second day of the festival will be marked by a constant battery of sports events that will take place throughout the festival.
The Shimano Super Cup Massi will premiere the day with a race that will also be scored for the Copa Catalana Internacional BTT Biking Point. This is one of the most important Cross Country Olympic (XCO) championships in the world, in which the best riders on the planet usually compete. The festival will be the last event of the season and, therefore, decisive to know the winners of the general classification.
The Bosch eMTB Challenge will be one of the novelties of this 2025. The consolidated international eMTB circuit brings to Sea Otter Europe a race that will test the riders: the route is divided into five timed sections and three categories: Amateur, Advanced -extra section of Pro category- and Pro Series -two extra sections of Pro category-.
On the other hand, the second edition of the 226ERS UCI Gravel World Series Sea Otter Europe Girona Costa Brava will bring together the stars of gravel in the last qualifying event for the World Championship. An event that combines the best specialists in the world with amateur participants who compete in the age group categories.
The day ends with the Super Cup Youth, a competition that combines the values of sport, physical activity and that turns the youngest cyclists into the great protagonists. On the other hand, the MTB Classic invites the most nostalgic fans to show off their mountain bikes from the 1980s and 1990s to return for a moment to the magical years in which the MTB was born.
Sunday 09/21 – The great popular and professional closing
The last day will start in style with the most massive event and one of the biggest sports attractions of the festival, the Ciclobrava by Orbea. A casual and fun cycling tour that gives participants the opportunity to enjoy first-hand the roads of the Costa Brava and Les Gavarres.
Almost in parallel, it will be the turn of another of the highlights of the festival: the Marathon World Cup, La Tramun, with departure in Les Planes d’Hostoles, the highest category of the Cross Country Marathon (XCM) lands with the presence of the best riders of the discipline. A prestigious route of La Tramun is now integrated within the festival and is preparing to receive the most important names of the specialty -Elite and Master-. An event that has the possibility of being carried out in the Open category for those who want to ride the same route, but without being part of the competition.
The SCOTT Marathon BTT will be the alternative for those who want a less demanding route, but in the purest XCM style; with two events –XCM, long format; XCP, short format- also available in two categories -Pro, with license; Open without license-.
Beyond these great events, there will also be other spaces that will complete the sports offer of the festival: the Continental Gravel Ride Tour as a gravel cycling tour; the Mini DH to be amazed by the descents of the youngest; and the Copa Girona Trial to check the ability to overcome obstacles by bicycle.
AN INTERNATIONAL CYCLING REFERENCE
The Shimano Sea Otter Europe Costa Brava Girona by Garmin reaffirms its role as one of the most important cycling festivals in Europe, complemented by a growing Euro Mobility Festival.
The combination of elite competition with activities for all audiences, bicycle tests, trade fair, activities for professionals, family entertainment and a growing commitment to sustainability and sports tourism consolidates both festivals as one of the great events of European and international cycling.
