Today, the sport programme of the Sea Otter Europe Costa Brava-Girona Bike Show 2020, which will take place in Girona from 29 to 31 May, was presented at Hotel Carlemany in Girona.

Today, the sport programme of the Sea Otter Europe Costa Brava-Girona Bike Show 2020, which will take place in Girona from 29 to 31 May, was presented at Hotel Carlemany in Girona. Thanks to the great range of races on offer, the international festival, now in its fourth edition, will bring together everyone from top-level cyclists hoping to make it to the Olympic Games in Tokyo this summer, to amateurs and young riders, as Sea Otter Europe also includes events for promoting cycling at schools.

At the presentation, details related to the almost twenty races that will be disputed over the weekend were announced. It is expected that the figure of 6,175 cyclists, who participated in the different races at last year’s edition, will be surpassed. Sea Otter Europe’s director, Albert Balcells, also noted that they expect to match last year’s turnout – around 60,000 – and revealed how at this point in time almost 100% of the exhibition space – which is 12% larger than the 2019 edition – has already been snapped up.

As for the different events that make up the sports programme, these are the ones to look out for:

The Continental Ciclobrava Gran Fondo

The great cycle tour, the festival’s main event running along the Costa Brava and through Coll de la Ganga and Monells offering two different distances: a 140 km route and a 95 km course that comes with the new addition of another 70-km circuit. The race is part of the prestigious Gran Fondo World Tour cycling circuit and last year featured such outstanding cyclists as Purito Rodríguez, Angel Edo and Alberto Losada.

As far as mountain biking is concerned, these are the biggest draws of Sea Otter Europe:

Super Cup Massi/Copa Catalana Internacional

The Super Cup Massi is a prestigious top-level Olympic Cross Country (XCO) circuit made up of different UCI category races. The Girona event is C1 category and therefore a fantastic opportunity to see the best riders on the planet compete around Fontajau Pavilion. Last year’s event had some of the biggest turnout of the festival.

Scott Marathon Cup

A race with UCI points up for grabs for professionals, as well as an open category with two circuits spanning 70 km and 45 km. Two spectacular routes through the Llémena Valley with fun trails and a course suitable for all mountain bike fans.

Canyon E-MTB Marathon

As one of the biggest cycling trends of the moment, Sea Otter Europe has created this special cycle tour race with a 27.5-km course.

Miranda E-Bike XCO

Also falling into the electric bike category is the Miranda E-Bike XCO, a competition exclusively designed for these types of bikes.

MTB Classic Sea Otter Europe

One of the festival’s most popular events, this fun race steeped in nostalgia is a great way to enjoy a ride spanning just a few kilometres together with your friends on bikes made prior to the 90s.

Eliminator Sea Otter Europe

A thrilling exhibition on the festival’s gravity circuit next to Fontajau Pavilion; it is one of the most explosive races that can be seen at Sea Otter Europe.

Another discipline that is gaining an increasing number of followers year upon year is Gravel, a discipline that comes with two options at Sea Otter Europe so participants can enjoy Girona’s magnificent landscape and natural environment on dirt tracks:

Canyon Pirinexus Challenge

A huge challenge consisting of a 340-km circular route through the Girona region that begins at sunrise with the goal of completing the route in less than 20 hours.

Girona Gravel Ride

This event has two options to decide between: a 77-km route and a 60-km course through the heart of Les Gavarres, following the course of the Ter river, combining forest tracks in excellent condition and quiet B-roads.

As for the little ones, Sea Otter Europe also boasts a race programme for both those who want to compete and those for whom biking is all about pleasure:

Open Infantil MBT

For young cycling professionals this is a unique opportunity to enjoy an authentic mountain bike experience in the heart of the cycling festival…

Mini DH Kids Cup & Sprint

Pure adrenaline with a downhill course for the little ones who will have the chance to demonstrate their biking skills.

The hugely successful Demobike

One of the features that has been the most successful in the first three editions of the festival is Demobike, through which the best brands in the world can meet potential customers and allow them to try out the bikes they have their eyes on. Sea Otter Europe is home to perhaps the world’s largest Demobike programme and this year there will be over 500 units to choose between. Visitors will be able to take them out on test rides on circuits close to the festival set up especially for this purpose.

The Sea Otter Europe presentation was attended by representatives of Girona Provincial Council and the Costa Brava Girona Tourist Board, Girona City Council and the Catalan Cycling Federation. The MP Jordi Camps stressed the importance for the region ‘of hosting one of the best cycling festivals in the world’, highlighting the ‘international appeal that Girona has come to have in the cycling world’.

Meanwhile, the councillor Núria Pi showed her satisfaction ‘at hosting, for yet another year, an event that makes the whole city live and breathe cycling for days at a time’ and was enthusiastic ‘about a racing programme that is so comprehensive it means there is something for everyone’.

To register for races visit www.ticketoci.net