Nearly 30,000 visitors enjoyed today’s cycling programme and the activities in the exhibition area
With more than 29,000 visitors, the second day of Sea Otter Europe was a true festival of cycling, with frenetic activity throughout the day across the wide range of exhibition areas, activities, shows and sporting event areas. The 330 exhibitors, an absolute record for the event, are very satisfied with the high number of visitors and the activity generated during the day, confirming their commitment to Girona as a great opportunity to do business and promote their brands.
As on previous occasions, one of the most popular proposals is the free bike trial, with the Demobike formula. This year the organisation has doubled the number of bike test circuits, improving the routes for testing out gravel, road and MTB bikes, plus three new routes have been created for testing city bikes. In total, there are more than 3,000 bikes on offer, ready for visitors to try out the models they are most interested in.
One of the highlights was the new Canyon Urban Ride Girona, created especially to showcase the new routes through Girona city centre that have been designed to promote urban cycling, as part of the Urban Mobility Festival, which is also making its début this year.
Sea Otter Europe’s Scott Marathon
After last night’s rain, mud accompanied the riders throughout the day. On the sporting side, some of the world’s best in various specialities were on hand. The Scott Marathon by Continental is always one of the top races in the Sea Otter Europe programme, and this has been one of the highest-level editions with prestigious riders such as Sergio Mantecón (Scott Cala Bandida), Francesc Guerra (Scott Cala Bandida), José Dias (BUFF Megamo), Hugo Drechou (BUFF Megamo), Matthew Beers (Toyota specialized), Peeter Pruus (BUFF Megamo) and a long list of illustrious names, not to mention from hundreds of amateurs from all over.
As always, Girona and its surroundings do not disappoint, as it is a true paradise of trails that are always a pleasant surprise to the nearly 800 participants, whether they are professionals or amateurs who simply come to enjoy the atmosphere and the competition, each at their own level.
A large group got pared down as the kilometres went by, and the victory was decided right at the end. Hugo Drechou and Peeter Pruus came in together, with the Frenchman taking the victory. And behind them, after a small mishap before the finish, it was Roberto Bou (Cannondale) who took third place ahead of José Dias.
In the women’s category, the international podium was also hotly contested, with the Colombian Mónica Calderón (Bikes Plus) as the winner, followed by the French rider Margot Moschetti (Giant MTB France) and in third place the Namibian rider Vera Looser.
Second World e-Bike Series at Sea Otter Europe
In this second race of the festival, it was Switzerland’s Joris Ryf who won, while in the women’s race there was no rival for the Swiss world champion Nicole Göldi.
Massi Women’s Super Cup
In the afternoon, the Continental Super Cup Massi women’s race took centre stage, the star event of the festival, the Formula 1 of mountain bike cycling. On Saturday, women always take centre stage, and on this occasion, we were able to enjoy such names as Rocío del Alba (BH Templo Cafés), Estibaliz Sagardoy (Conor-Saltoki), Núria Bosch (BH Templo Cafés), Lucía Gómez (MMR), Raquel Queirós (MMR) and Sara Gay (Biking Point) among others.
The weather was threatening rain and the terrain was very wet and slippery, so great care had to be taken. In the end it was Rocío del Alba who in a sprint finish took the victory over the Portuguese champion Raquel Queirós, with Lucía Gómez (MMR) coming in third place.
Carlos Verona completes the 340 km of the Canyon Pirinexus Challenge
The first riders to set off today were the adventurers of the 340 km Canyon Pirinexus Challenge, the legendary gravel race across the Pyrenees, into southern France and back to the festival site, trying to get back before sunset. In this case, it was Angel Gregorio who came in first and behind him a compact group. Among them was professional road cyclist Carlos Verona (Movistar), who wanted to try out a new experience by taking part in the Canyon Pirinexus Challenge.
On the other hand, and as is tradition, the MTB area of the festival was filled with promising future mountain bikers for the Super Cup Youth and the Open MTB Sea Otter Europe, with riders aged between 5 and 14 years old.
A fantastic day of cycling, with a programme that also brought back the nostalgic classic MTB race, a gathering to recall the early days of mountain biking, with models from the 80s and 90s, true jewels, perfectly preserved to take us back to the times of the World Cups of that era.
A final day with the Ciclobrava and the best male riders of the moment
Tomorrow the third and final day of Sea Otter Europe will be held, with some outstanding events such as the top road cycling race, the Continental Ciclobrava, whose three distances (70, 100 and 140) make for the race with the largest participation in Sea Otter Europe. And also tomorrow, on the festival’s MTB circuit, the best international cyclists of the moment will be competing in the Massi Super Cup.
The full programme of activities can be found at www.seaottereurope.com
24 September 2022
