Pidcock returns to XCO at the European Championships today: times, favorites and how to watch

The Portuguese municipality of Melgaço is hosting the 2025 Mountain Bike European Championship this week, featuring XCO, Short Track (XCC), and Team Relay (XCR) competitions. This year's event will be crucial due to the high number of favorites participating, such as Tom Pidcock and Nino Schurter, who will be able to compete thanks to a change in dates that avoids overlapping with other events.

The XCO European Championship will once again be a key event on the calendar

The event brings together the best bikers from the continent, with several national teams in top form and a technical and physical course that will be decisive. Melgaço, a regular host of international events, will challenge the riders with a demanding route through pine forests, rocks, and loose terrain.

Dates, schedules, and how to watch

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In a few days, a large number of events will take place across all categories and disciplines, but it's important to note that Portugal is one hour behind Spain, so here are the schedules adjusted to Spanish peninsular time (local time = GMT+1)

Thursday, July 24

• 12:00 p.m. · Final XCC Junior women
• 12:45 p.m. · Final XCC Junior men
• 5:00 p.m. · Final XCC women elite/sub23
• 5:45 p.m. · Final XCC men elite/sub23

 Friday, July 25

• 4:30 p.m. · Final Team Relay (XCR)

Saturday, July 26

• 12:00 p.m. · Final XCO Junior men
• 3:15 p.m. · Final XCO Junior women
• 5:15 p.m. · Final XCO Sub23 men

Sunday, July 27

• 12:00 p.m. · Final XCO Sub23 women
• 2:30 p.m. · Final XCO Elite women
• 5:10 p.m. · Final XCO Elite men

Despite the high level of competition, only the Elite XCO races on Sunday will be broadcast on Eurosport, and only the women's race will be live, the men's race will be aired later that same night.

Favorites for the podium at the 2025 XCO European Championship

In the men's category, all eyes will be on Thomas Pidcock, the current Olympic champion and a strong contender if he competes with ambition. However, he will face tough competition from Simone Avondetto, the reigning European champion. Nino Schurter leads a strong Swiss team with Filippo Colombo and Vital Albin. Also in the mix is the explosive German Luca Schwarzbauer and the French rider Luca Martin, who is currently in top form. The Spanish team arrives with a strong lineup led by David Valero and Jofre Cullell, supported by young talent Alberto Barroso.

In the women's category, the absence of Puck Pieterse, the 2024 champion who will be at the Tou, opens up the field of contenders. Switzerland is the top favorite with Jolanda Neff, Nicole Koller, Linda Indergand, and Ramona Forchini, all with real chances for the podium. British rider Evie Richards, the 2021 world champion, will aim to return to her best form, while Swedish rider Jenny Rissveds is always a strong contender. Italian rider Martina Berta and German rider Luisa Daubermann round out the list of top contenders, while Portuguese rider Raquel Queirós will try to leverage the support of the local crowd for a strong performance.