Lejla Njemčević finishes sixth despite shoulder injury at European mountain bike championship in Spain

Bosnian cyclist Lejla Njemčević placed sixth in the women's marathon discipline at the European mountain bike championship held in Bilbao, Spain. After a crash at the 28‑km feed zone that caused a right‑shoulder ligament strain, she continued the 47 km remaining distance without using the rear brake on descents, maintaining her high‑tempo climbing style despite the heat of over 35 °C. She crossed the finish line after 4 hours 53 minutes, expressing pride for Bosnia and Herzegovina and saying, "Immediately after the fall I knew I was injured, but I kept riding to the next feed zone. Giving up was not an option." Following a medical assessment, Njemčević will begin preparations for the second half of the season.

The performance reflects her mental resilience and the support of her team, who provided top‑level preparation for the event.