The calendar of the HERO UCI Marathon World Cup 2026 is now official

The International Cycling Union has confirmed the calendar of the UCI XCM HERO Marathon World Cup 2026, consolidating the success of this new competition premiered in 2025. The upcoming season will feature the five venues that debuted this year and will add a new opening event in Spain.

The calendar of the HERO UCI Marathon World Cup 2026 is now official

The big news will be the HERO Costa Blanca, which will kick off the season on February 21 in Calpe (Alicante), putting Spain at the center of the international XCM start. After that, the series will travel through five countries with a total of 481 kilometers and 15,459 meters of accumulated elevation gain, maintaining the spirit of epic races that characterizes it.

HERO UCI Marathon World Cup 2026 Calendar

• February 21 - HERO Costa Blanca (Calpe, Spain)
• May 9 - Capoliveri Legend Cup (Isola d'Elba, Italy)
• May 31 - Naturland Andorra (Andorra)
• June 13 - HERO Südtirol Dolomites (Selva Val Gardena, Italy)
• July 26 - Black Forest ULTRA Bike Marathon (Kirchzarten, Germany)
• September 20 - La Tramun Sea Otter Europe (Girona, Spain)

UCI President David Lappartient celebrated the success of this first edition and the expansion of the calendar: "The debut of the HERO UCI Cross-country Marathon World Cup has been an undeniable success. In 2026, we are bringing back the five most popular stops and adding HERO Costa Blanca as the opener. Another exciting season awaits us for both elite and amateurs."

RECOMENDADO

How to save weight on your road bike

How many days should a cyclist rest per week?

What is the winter bicycle and why is it disappearing

Crispy Rice with Marshmallows Bars, the recipe that triumphs in the peloton

A real workout saver of only 56 min on the turbo trainer

Pros and cons of counting calories if you are looking to lose weight

In fact, one of the highlights of this format is that amateur cyclists compete in the same venues and routes as professionals, with distances ranging from 60 to 160 km. In 2025, more than 3,000 riders from these categories have already participated, confirming the growing popularity of XCM.

Circuit director Gerhard Vanzi also thanked the involvement of local committees and the UCI: "We are finalizing the last round of 2025 in Girona, but we have already worked intensively to shape the second edition. This format is consolidating and the future promises even more growth."

The 2025 season will conclude on September 21 in Girona with La Tramun Sea Otter Europe, where the overall titles will be awarded in both elite and master categories.