More than 260 competitors from 11 countries at XCO Lošinj 2026: Mali Lošinj confirmed its status as an important spring hub of mountain biking
The fourth edition of the XCO Lošinj – Cross Country Mountain race, held on March 28 and 29, 2026 in Mali Lošinj, once again confirmed that the Lošinj sports scene is increasingly profiling itself on the international map of mountain biking. According to the organizers' data, more than 260 competitors from 11 countries gathered in Čikat Bay, and this year as well the competition combined top-level sport, a technically demanding course, and an attractive island backdrop that has turned Lošinj in recent years into one of the more recognizable outdoor destinations on the Adriatic. For visitors planning to come to future sporting events, especially during the busier spring calendar, the
accommodation offers in Mali Lošinj may also be important, as increased interest is expected from competitors, support teams, and the audience.
The competition was held in the Olympic cross-country discipline, or XCO, which has a special place in the world of mountain biking because it is the only MTB discipline that is part of the Olympic Games program. That is precisely why races of this type carry additional weight for riders who are collecting points, seeking continuity of results, and wanting to position themselves in international rankings. This year's Lošinj edition was included in the UCI C1 category, which means it carried valuable points for the international ranking, while at the same time it also counted for the Croatian Cup. Such a combination of domestic competitive importance and international relevance gives the race additional sporting seriousness, but also tourist visibility, because Lošinj for several days becomes a meeting place for athletes, coaches, logistics, promoters, and lovers of active holidays.
Winners of the elite and junior races
According to the published results of the organizers, in the elite men's competition the Italian Alberto Capoia triumphed, while in the elite women's category first place was won by the Italian Lucia Bramati. In the junior competition, the victories went to Jaka Utranker from Slovenia and Giorgia Pellizotti from Italy. Such an outcome additionally confirms the international character of the race, as representatives of countries that traditionally have a developed cycling base and a strong competitive system in mountain biking stood on the winners' podiums.
For the hosts and organizers, such results are not important only in the sporting sense. They show that the Lošinj race succeeds in attracting names that follow the European MTB calendar and that the event is gradually strengthening as a serious early stop of the season. In the world of mountain biking, races at the transition from winter to spring are especially important for building form, checking the competition, and collecting the first major points, so it is no surprise that interest in Lošinj is growing year after year. With that, the importance of accompanying infrastructure also grows, from logistics to staying on the island, which is why many people will also find the
accommodation options close to the event venue useful.
The course in Čikat combined speed, climbing, and technique
One of the key reasons why XCO Lošinj attracts competitors is the configuration of the course itself. According to the official data of the organizers, it is a four-kilometer lap with about one hundred meters of elevation difference, and the course includes everything that modern Olympic cross-country must offer: demanding climbs, fast and flowing descents, and technically complex sections that require precision, explosiveness, and tactical maturity. In practice, this means that riders during the race must combine physical endurance with top bike control, and every mistake can decide the placement.
The special feature of Čikat Bay and the surrounding terrain lies in the fact that they simultaneously offer visibility for the audience and a serious challenge for competitors. XCO-format races are especially attractive precisely because they are not only a test of fitness, but also of riding skill on technically sensitive surfaces, with frequent rhythm changes and short, intense segments that require maximum concentration. When such a format is raced at a location that combines a forest setting, proximity to the sea, and rugged terrain, the result is content that has both competitive and promotional value. In doing so, Lošinj is positioning itself not only as the host of one race, but as a destination that can offer a complete experience of active outdoor stay.
Organizational cooperation of the local community and sports partners
This year's edition of the race was organized by the Town of Mali Lošinj, the Tourist Board of the Town of Mali Lošinj, MTB Trbovlje, Athletics Club Lošinj, and Lošinj Hotels & Villas. Such an organizational model shows that major sporting events on islands cannot be built without connecting local government, the tourism sector, and sports clubs. In practice, it is a combination that makes it possible for sport not to be viewed only as a one-day event, but as part of a broader development story of the destination.
For Mali Lošinj, this is especially important because sports and outdoor content are increasingly building on the identity of the island of vitality. Events such as XCO Lošinj are not only competitions for a narrow circle of specialized audiences. They create an additional reason to come in the preseason, fill capacities, bring media visibility, and help create the image of Lošinj as a place that offers more than a classic summer holiday. In that context, sport turns into a tool of destination positioning, and competitions such as this become an important part of the island's tourist calendar.
Lošinj is entering a period of intensified sporting rhythm
XCO Lošinj is only an introduction to an extremely dense spring calendar that in April and May places Lošinj and the surrounding Kvarner islands even more in the focus of the European outdoor scene. Already from April 14 to 18, 2026, the 4Islands Epic is scheduled, one of the most famous world's stage MTB races, which is ridden over five days and includes Krk, Cres, Unije, and Lošinj. According to the official information of the Epic Series organizers, this year's edition brings approximately 300 kilometers of route and around 6,500 meters of climbing, and the final part of the race is especially linked to Unije and Lošinj.
In the organizers' promotional materials, it is highlighted that 4Islands Epic 2026 leads riders through very diverse landscapes and surface types, from open rocky sections to technical descents and historic island settings. The finale on Lošinj and Unije is particularly interesting because it combines fast sections, rocky terrain, narrow passages, and demanding technical riding, which gives the race a distinctive character. For Lošinj, this means another strong international signal that it is an area capable of hosting events of a high organizational and sporting level. Given the expected arrival of a large number of participants and support teams, many people will also find the
accommodation offers for race visitors on Lošinj useful.
4Islands Epic further expands Kvarner's international visibility
Although XCO Lošinj and 4Islands Epic differ in format, together they build the same narrative: the Kvarner islands are becoming increasingly recognizable as an area for top MTB events. XCO is explosive, circular, shorter, and focused on the Olympic discipline, while 4Islands Epic is a stage story of endurance, navigation, tactics, and multi-day survival in very diverse conditions. That is precisely why the fact that both events are held within a relatively short period strongly affects the perception of the destination. Lošinj is no longer just a beautiful backdrop for a sports weekend, but part of a wider route that is followed in international circles as a serious test for MTB teams and high-level recreational riders.
For the local economy, that concentration of events means more than media promotion. It means an earlier start to the season, greater demand for services, additional spending in hospitality and accommodation, and better use of infrastructure in the months when the main summer tourist wave has not yet reached its peak. This is especially important for island communities that are trying to extend the season and avoid dependence exclusively on July and August.
XTERRA Croatia in May expands the outdoor story of Mali Lošinj
After the cycling April, from May 8 to 10, 2026, Mali Lošinj will also host XTERRA Croatia, an event from the well-known international XTERRA calendar dedicated to off-road triathlon and related disciplines. Official information for this year's edition confirms that it is a three-day program that includes multiple races and age categories, from children's competitions to more demanding formats for more experienced athletes.
The program includes children's races, super sprint and sprint triathlon, full distance triathlon, open-water swimming, trail races, and an MTB race. According to the official event website, the full distance triathlon includes 1.5 kilometers of swimming, 27.6 kilometers of cycling, and 9.2 kilometers of running, the sprint triathlon 750 meters of swimming, 13.8 kilometers of cycling, and 5.2 kilometers of running, and the super sprint 400 meters of swimming, 8.1 kilometers of cycling, and 3.8 kilometers of running. In addition, trail races of 8 and 16 kilometers and an MTB race 33.5 kilometers long are also planned. This shows that Lošinj is not building its sports season only around one niche, but around a broader concept of an active island that simultaneously attracts top competitors, clubs, amateurs, and families.
Such breadth of program is also important from the perspective of destination promotion. While part of the audience will come to Lošinj because of top-level competition, others will experience it as a place where they can combine a holiday, recreation, and following events. That is precisely where the additional value of sports events lies: they are professional enough to attract the competitive elite, but also open enough to motivate a wider circle of visitors. For those who want to plan their arrival several days in advance, especially during the XTERRA weekend period, the
accommodation options near the center of Mali Lošinj may also be useful.
The digital HIKE & BIKE Lošinj platform as permanent infrastructure for active tourism
Sporting events attract attention, but their full effect depends on whether there is content that remains available even after the competition ends. In that sense, the digital HIKE & BIKE Lošinj platform is important, which according to the data of the Tourist Board of the Town of Mali Lošinj includes 16 cycling and 18 hiking trails and routes. The platform offers users GPS markers, a map of locations, descriptions, and photographs, and it is conceived as a tool for exploring Lošinj and the surrounding islands through active outdoor stay.
The value of such a project is not reduced only to an informative display of routes. It shows that the destination is trying to systematically organize and present its outdoor offer, from family trails to more demanding sections for more experienced users. The description of the platform particularly highlights that visitors can discover viewpoints, peaks, hidden bays, fishing villages, fortifications, and lesser-known parts of the archipelago. In other words, sport and recreation on Lošinj are not limited to a competition weekend, but build on content available throughout the whole year.
This is also important for understanding the broader picture. Events such as XCO Lošinj and XTERRA are strongly promotional, but it is precisely digital platforms like this that make it possible for the interest they create not to disappear after the race ends. A visitor who comes as a spectator or as support for a competitor can independently explore the island the next day, plan rides and walks, and extend the stay through active tourism. In this way, the sports calendar turns into an entry point for a year-round tourism product.
Čikat, Mali Lošinj, and the archipelago as a natural stage for sports content
In this story, Lošinj does not only have the role of organizer and host, but also of a strong natural resource. The Čikat forest, arranged trails, proximity to the sea, rugged relief, and mild climate form a combination that makes it possible to hold events already in early spring, when much of continental Europe is still limited by weather conditions. That is precisely why races at the end of March, in April, and in May on Lošinj have additional attractiveness for athletes who want to enter the season competitively without the risks brought by colder and more unstable conditions further north in Europe.
For the local community, this is a development opportunity, but also an obligation. The more international events there are, the greater the expectations regarding traffic flow, logistics, route marking, safety, and balancing the interests of sport, tourism, and the daily life of island residents. The development so far shows that Lošinj is moving toward a model in which outdoor events are not a side addition to the tourist season, but one of its recognizable pillars. XCO Lošinj 2026 is therefore not just another successfully completed race, but a signal of continuity: the island is building a sporting identity that relies on the international calendar, natural advantages, and increasingly strong active tourism infrastructure.
Sources:- UCI – official page of the XCO Lošinj 2026 competition with confirmation that the race is included in the Class 1 calendar and with the date and categories (link)- MTB Lošinj – official announcement and race notice with data on the fourth edition of the race, the Camp Čikat location, and the March 28 and 29, 2026 dates (link)- Visit Lošinj – official page of the XCO Lošinj event with a description of the race in Čikat Bay and the date of the event (link)- Epic Series – official announcement about the 4Islands Epic 2026 route with data on five days of racing, approximately 300 kilometers of route, and the finale on Lošinj (link)- Visit Lošinj – official page of the 4Islands MTB race - Epic Series with the dates from April 14 to 18, 2026 (link)- XTERRA Planet – official page of the XTERRA Croatia Mali Lošinj 2026 event with dates and race program (link)- Visit Lošinj – official announcement of XTERRA Croatia in Mali Lošinj from May 8 to 10, 2026 (link)- Visit Lošinj – official announcement about the new presentation of the HIKE & BIKE offer with data on 16 cycling and 18 hiking trails and the platform's digital content (link)
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