The list of sports events at the Sea Otter Europe Costa Brava-Girona Bike Show 2018 has now been published. The show will take place in Girona from 8 to 10 June and will include some major changes from last year. To begin with, the Sea Otter Europe International Cycle Tour (in which almost 1,500 cyclists took part last year) will take place in two stages on two different routes. This means that any cycling enthusiasts wishing to do so can enjoy two separate races: on Saturday, with a circuit of 160 km; and on Sunday with two routes of 125 or 100 km – all starting and finishing in Girona. Furthermore, the event now forms part of the prestigious Gran Fondo World Tour cycling circuit.
The presentation was attended by the Councillor for Sport of the Regional Government of Catalonia, José Pujols; Councillor for Girona City Council, Narcís Sastre; the Girona Delegate of the Catalan Cycling Federation, Carlos Ferrer; and representatives from various cycling clubs and businesses supporting the festival.
Another major change is the category increase for the Massi Biking Point Catalan International Cup, which comes to Girona with a Class 1 ranking from the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI). The event will take place over two days (women on Saturday and men on Sunday) and will once again bring together the best cyclists on the international calendar in Girona for a race that forms part of the prestigious MTB Super Cup circuit alongside events of the highest global calibre, such as Banyoles, Barcelona and Andorra.
A spectacular time is guaranteed for all by the arrival of a new competition – the Short Track. This highly explosive category is contested on a short track on which the audience can follow how the cyclists are doing at all times.
The Pirinexus 360 Challenge is also back with a new format. Besides proposing a demanding 340 km non-stop route, it also offers another route of half that distance so it can be finished in half a day and participants can enjoy the other activities and commercial zone at the festival during the afternoon on Saturday.
Also on Saturday, there will be another important mountain biking event – the Marathon Cup by Scott & Taymory, which will be added to the Super Cup 2018 calendar. This race will once again allow people to see world champions and top-level athletes like those who took part last year. As was the case last year, this event will also offer a non-competitive version to allow all MTB amateurs to take part.
To complete the incredible line-up of mountain biking events, Saturday will also see the E-MTB Marathon with electric bikes on two circuits of different distances. The charming XCO Classic will also be repeated, in which riders use bikes built before 1990 and which last year create a highly appreciated atmosphere of nostalgia among participants.
Once again, one of the most spectacular exhibitions will be the Trial competition involving the best acrobats in the world. Last year, hundreds of spectators gathered around the circuit built on the esplanade of the Fontajau Pavilion in Girona for this event.
Exhibitions and adrenaline
Besides the competitions, a number of spectacular exhibition events have been scheduled. These include several new events, such as the Dirt Jump that will take place outside the pavilion on a circuit with steep inclines and large jumps. A gravity zone will also be built again this year for the spectacular Eliminator.
The Sea Otter Europe 2018 sports calendar includes a very complete and varied range of races, in which there is also room for highly renowned and internationally recognised cyclists, as well as every fan who likes any kind of cycling.
Besides the major new events, various races have been designed for children. These events mainly seek to encourage a desire to learn skills aimed at enjoying mountain and road bike cycling. They include the BTT Open Infantil, an event that promotes the youngest categories counting towards the Open 2018 of the Catalan Cycling Federation. There will also be some non-competitive events in this section for children wishing to start out in the MTB world.
One of the goals sought by the Sea Otter Europe Costa Brava-Girona Bike Show is to bring cycling closer to everyone who loves this sport, so it will also include popular and accessible races to enjoy with your family or a group of friends. Registration for the various races will open in the coming days.
