Castro to host 2028 UCI Mountain Bike Marathon World Championships

Castro, Italy, will host the UCI Mountain Bike Marathon Elite and Master World Championships on October 14 and 15, 2028. The event is part of the X LEGEND powered by Deghi and is organized by A.S.D. Ciclo Club Spongano.

This marks the return of world championship cycling to the Puglia region for the first time since Monopoli hosted the cyclocross world championships in 2003. The race course will traverse the Salento Adriatic coast, passing through Ortelle, Santa Cesarea Terme, and Otranto.

To prepare for the event, the Italian MTB Marathon Championship will be held in 2027. A memorandum of understanding will be signed between the Puglia Region, the Italian Cycling Federation, A.S.D. Ciclo Club Spongano, and the Municipality of Castro to coordinate the event. Regional Councilor Cristian Casili noted that the championship serves as a strategic tool for territorial promotion, aiming to boost tourism and promote the region during the off-season.