David Valero is going for the first XCM World Cup in Costa Blanca: schedules and how to watch live

The HERO Costa Blanca kicks off the 2026 Marathon World Cup season this Saturday with a top-level lineup, a demanding route between Calpe and Benissa, and David Valero as one of the main favorites for victory.

Schedule and how to watch the HERO Costa Blanca 2026 XCM World Cup live

Saturday's events will start early:

• 08:00 – Men's Elite Start
• 08:10 – Women's Elite Start
• 12:00 (approx.) – Estimated arrival of the first Men's Elite
• Awards Ceremony – 13:00

The event can be followed live between 11:00 and 13:00 (CET) through the official World Cup website. Additionally, live tracking, live timing, and tracking of the main Elite runners will be available.

HERO Costa Blanca: first stop of the XCM World Cup 2026

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The 2026 HERO UCI Cross-country Marathon World Cup season kicks off this Saturday, February 21, on the Costa Blanca. The Spanish event, starting at the Parc de la Creativitat and finishing in Calpe, marks its debut on the world circuit with a route of 82 kilometers and 2,700 meters of positive elevation gain.

The course runs through technical tracks and trails between Calpe and Benissa, combining long climbs, trail sections, and areas where effort management will be key. A true test of endurance and technique to inaugurate the overall classification of the World Cup.

David Valero is a strong favorite for the podium

The starting grid brings together the top specialists in XCM. The defending World Cup champion, Andreas Seewald, is one of the references after his consistency last season. Alongside him will be names like Wout Alleman, Samuele Porro, Gioele De Cosmo, and the always competitive Leonardo Páez.

Among them, David Valero stands out. The Granadan will compete in the Costa Blanca for his first XCM World Cup, an important step in his marathon career. After winning the Mediterranean Epic a few weeks ago, he arrives in great shape and ready to battle with the XCM specialists. A multiple-time Spanish champion and Olympic medalist in XCO, Valero now faces the challenge of measuring himself against the best in the world in a format where strategy and long-term endurance make a difference.

The men's peloton includes World Cup runners-up, European champions, and up to 13 national champions, which anticipates an open race from the first kilometers.

Natalia Fischer among the top favorites

In the women's race, the reigning World Cup champion, Rosa van Doorn, will have to defend her title against a highly competitive field. Among her main rivals are Adelheid Morath and Sandra Mairhofer, both with experience and proven results on the international circuit.

Also at the starting line will be runners like Natalia Fischer, a double European champion and a leading figure in Spanish marathon racing, as well as Paula Gorycka-Kurmann, Lejla Njem?evi?, and Claudia Peretti. The range of podium contenders is wide, and the race could be decided by small details in the final kilometers.