From September 18-20, Girona will host the tenth edition of the largest international cycling festival in southern Europe, with over 500 brands, World Cups, more than 40 brands available to test at the Demobike, family activities, events open to everyone, and three days packed with sports and leisure.
Elite athletes, sporting events across all disciplines, activities for the whole family, conferences, music, gastronomy, and free admission for everyone.
Everything is ready for Girona to once again become the international cycling capital. From September 18-20, Shimano Sea Otter Europe Costa Brava-Girona by Garmin will celebrate its tenth edition, the largest in its history, with a festival that will bring together professional athletes, enthusiasts, families, international brands, and industry professionals in one space.
After welcoming 74,000 visitors last year, the festival returns with a record-breaking edition that grows 10% in exhibition space, features over 500 brands, and offers a program with virtually non-stop activities for three days. An offering designed both for those competing at the highest level and for those who simply want to spend a weekend surrounded by bikes.
Over 500 Brands and the Latest Industry Innovations
The exhibition area will once again be one of the festival’s main attractions. Visitors will be able to discover bikes and the latest market innovations from over 500 international brands, making Sea Otter Europe the premier showcase for the industry in southern Europe.
Additionally, professionals will have access to Sea Otter Connect, where conferences with industry experts will take place. As a new feature this year, it will include the notable presence of Paul Walsh, CEO of European Cycling Industries. This activity will take place on Thursday and Friday across three thematic tracks: cycle tourism, industry, and health. Professionals will also have two exclusive spaces, Business Club and Pro Business Area, which will offer networking opportunities with companies and industry experts.
Demobike: Try Before You Buy
One of the festival’s most successful activities will once again be the Demobike, which allows you to reserve bikes from leading brands for free to test them on specially designated circuits.
During last year’s edition, over 4,600 reservations were registered, making this activity one of the most valued experiences by visitors.
Starting tomorrow, September 2, reservations for the Shimano brand Demobike will be available on a limited basis until spots are filled. Models from other brands will be available on Wednesday, September 3. All reservations can be made through the following link: https://demobikeseaottereurope.com/
Cycling in All Its Forms
For three days, Girona will host some of the most prestigious competitions on the international calendar alongside popular events so that any enthusiast can experience the festival on a bike.
Among the major events is the 226ERS UCI Gravel World Series, a qualifier for the UCI Gravel World Championship, and the HERO UCI Cross-country Marathon World Cup, which will close the XCM world season. The Shimano Super Cup Massi will also take place, one of the most prominent international XCO competitions, as well as the Spanish XCE Championship, the Continental Series XCE, and the XCC Continental Series, which will bring together some of the best specialists in the most explosive MTB disciplines.
Amateur cyclists will also be able to take part in the festival with events such as the SCOTT Marathon BTT, the XCM Open World Cup, La Tramun Curta, the Ciclobrava by Lapierre, or the Continental Gravel Ride Tour, adapted to different levels and disciplines.
The sports program will be completed with the Shimano Super Cup Youth, the Girona Trial Cup, the Mini DH, and the MTB Classic, reinforcing the festival’s commitment to grassroots cycling, family activities, and the promotion of all cycling disciplines.
Additionally, this year will feature the Canyon Social Gravel Time Trial, which will open registration on Monday, September 7, and will take place on Friday afternoon.
Four Zones to Discover the Entire Festival
The Shimano Sea Otter Europe venue will be divided into four large interconnected zones, each with a distinct offering so visitors can enjoy a complete experience.
The red zone will be the main entrance to the festival, will feature some of the busiest aisles, and will concentrate spaces for professionals, such as Sea Otter Connect, the Business Club, the accreditation center, and the press room, as well as one of the Demobike departure points. The green zone, the largest area of the venue, will bring together many of the stands from major international brands, the arrivals and departures of some of the main sporting events, the main stage, the Auditorium Vera, children’s activities, and the festival’s primary food offerings.
For its part, the yellow zone will connect the red zone with the green zone and will host services designed especially for event participants, such as the race office, bib collection, showers, and bike wash. Finally, the pink zone will combine the presence of industry brands with the Euro Mobility Festival and competitions such as the Spanish XCE Championship or the Girona Trial Cup, as well as family activities, live music, and dining areas so visitors can enjoy the festival throughout the day.
A Festival to Enjoy with the Family
One of the main new features of this year’s edition will be rider presentations on the main stage. On Friday afternoon, the 226ERS UCI Gravel World Series presentation will take place, while on Saturday morning it will be the turn of the UCI Cross-country Marathon World Cup.
Sea Otter Europe is much more than a cycling festival. During the three days there will be activities of all kinds, such as face painting and the badge workshop that will take place each day of the festival; live music performances and DJ sessions; the magic of Mag Lluc on Saturday morning; children’s activities; a complete food offering with several food truck areas; and conferences open to the public at the Auditorium Vera.
How to Get to Sea Otter Europe
The organization recommends planning your arrival at the festival in advance and choosing collective or sustainable means of transport whenever possible.
The Fontajau venue will have different access options to facilitate the mobility of the thousands of expected visitors. Girona has high-speed rail connections (AVE) and regional services, as well as an urban bus network that connects the station with the fairgrounds.
Those arriving by bike will be able to access the festival directly and will have designated bike parking areas, while visitors choosing private vehicles will find different parking lots and parking areas set up by the organization.
All updated information about access, parking, public transport, and mobility recommendations can be found on the festival’s official website. Access to the venue is free, but you must download your ticket in advance here.
