This weekend the Spanish XCO Championship 2025 arrives: dates, schedules, and favorites

From July 18 to 20, the town of Baza in Granada will host the Spanish XCO, XCC, and XCR Championship for the first time. It will take place at the circuit named after champion David Valero, where nearly 400 cyclists will compete to wear the red and yellow jersey.

2025 Spanish XCO Championship: a demanding course and high temperatures

The David Valero circuit, 4.5 km long, hosted a Spanish Cup race in 2022 and is now making its debut as the national championship venue. The course stands out for its toughness, with continuous climbs and descents without much respite, combined with the expected high temperatures of July in Granada. A combination that will turn the competition into a true test of endurance.

Dates and Schedule

The action will start on Friday, the 18th at 6:00 pm with the relay race between regional teams (XCR), where Andalusia will defend the title won in 2024.

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On Saturday the 19th, the junior men's XCO race will start at 9:00 am. At 11:00 am, it will be the turn of the Short Track (XCC), where Sofía Rodríguez and David Campos will try to defend their titles on an explosive 1.58 km course. In the afternoon, at 5:00 pm, the master 30 category will start, followed by the rest of the male master categories at 6:45 pm.

Sunday the 20th, the last day of competition, will feature the remaining XCO races:

• 8:30 am: Men's Sub23
• 10:30 am: All female categories
• 12:30 pm: Men's Elite

Favorites: David Valero, aiming for his tenth national title

In the men's elite race, David Valero is the main favorite to win his tenth national title, this time at home and on his own circuit. Alongside him will be top-level riders such as Jofre Cullell, David Campos, Alberto Barroso, Ismael Esteban, José Miguel Ramírez de Arellano, and also local rider Alberto Mingorance.

Among the elite women, the current champion Estíbaliz Sagardoy and the winner of the Spanish Cup, Nuria Bosch, are the top favorites. Other notable names include Sofía Rodríguez, Lucía Gómez, Lucía Macho, and Ainara Elbusto.

The men's sub23 category will be highly contested, with riders like Thibaut François, Francesc Barber, Hugo Franco, Alejandro García, Raúl Villar, Eneko Olveira, and Aniol Morell. In the women's category, Marta Cano comes as the defending champion, facing competitors like Eva González, Magali Albisu, and Mariona Ratera.

In the junior category, standout names in the men's division include Raúl Pérez, Guillermo Parrado, Iker Pérez, Oihan Alemán, and Esteban Martín. In the women's division, the current champion Lorena Patiño is the favorite alongside Mónica Estrada, Lidia Benedito, and Irene García.

How to follow the Championship

Unfortunately, it seems that there will be no live broadcast this year, and information and results of the 2025 Spanish XCO Championship can only be followed on the official event website and on social media using the hashtag #CEXCOBaza25.