Italy triumphs in Team Relay as 35th CISM World Military MTB Cycling Championship concludes in Spain
QUESADA, JAÉN (ESP) – The 35th CISM World Military MTB Cycling Championship came to a successful conclusion on Saturday, 3 October 2026, with an action-packed final day combining Para-Cycling, the spectacular Team Relay and the Closing Ceremony in Quesada, bringing several days of competition and international friendship to an end in the heart of the Sierra de Cazorla.
After Friday’s demanding XCM Individual races, the final competition day offered a completely different format. Shorter distances, repeated climbing efforts and the relay format created a dynamic and entertaining spectacle, with strong involvement from the local population adding to the atmosphere in and around the village.
Before the Team Relay, the championship programme featured a Para-Cycling MTB promotional event, giving Para athletes their own moment in the spotlight. The riders competed on a course specifically adapted to their equipment and needs, while sharing the same start and finish area as the Team Relay. The initiative added an important inclusive dimension to the final day and further demonstrated the capacity of military sport to bring different athletes together around a common passion for competition.
Attention then turned to the Team Relay, one of the most dynamic events of the championship. Each team was composed of three riders, one male competitor, one female competitor and one staff member, with each rider completing one lap. The circuit measured approximately four kilometres with around 200 metres of elevation gain per lap, creating an intense challenge in which every second counted.
The compact format produced fast racing and constant changes of rhythm. Unlike Friday’s long-distance individual competition, there was little opportunity to settle into a steady pace. Each rider had to deliver a concentrated effort before handing responsibility to the next member of the team, making consistency across all three legs decisive.
Italy emerged victorious, completing the three-lap relay in 40:49 and securing the final gold medal of the championship. The Italian team also recorded a fastest lap of 12:52 during its winning performance.
Belgium, already celebrating Emeline Detilleux’s Elite Women’s individual title from the previous day, enjoyed another excellent result by taking silver in 42:33. France completed the podium with bronze in 44:21, holding off a strong challenge from the Netherlands A team, which finished fourth in 44:47.
Germany followed in fifth place in 45:30, while host nation Spain took sixth in 46:18. Three Dutch teams featured in the final classification, with Netherlands B finishing seventh and Netherlands C eighth, ahead of Cyprus and Ecuador. Spain recorded the fastest individual lap of the entire relay at 12:51, just one second faster than Italy’s best lap, highlighting how narrow the margins could be on the short and demanding course.
The format proved particularly popular with spectators. With the riders repeatedly returning through the competition area and the outcome depending on the combined performances of all three team members, the relay offered an exciting conclusion to the sporting programme. Strong involvement from the local population throughout the event contributed to a lively atmosphere, while competitors also expressed very positive reactions to the organization and setting of the championship.
Following the final competitions, athletes and delegations gathered for the Closing Ceremony in Quesada, where Colonel (Ret.) Steven Rosso, CISM Board of Directors Member and Official CISM Representative, addressed the CISM family for the final time.
A special moment of the ceremony came with the presentation of the CISM Friendship Through Sport Award to Spain. The host nation was recognized for its contribution to the values that unite the CISM family and for embodying the spirit of friendship, solidarity and mutual respect that lies at the heart of military sport. The distinction provided a fitting recognition of Spain’s commitment throughout the championship and carried particular significance in a year marking the country’s 75th anniversary as a member of CISM.
Speaking on behalf of CISM President Colonel Nilton Gomes Rolim Filho, Colonel Rosso praised the work of the Spanish organizers and the commitment required to stage the championship. “What a fabulous championship the Spanish organizing committee provided us this week!” he declared, thanking the organizers for the countless hours of planning and preparation invested in making the event a success.
Colonel Rosso also placed the championship within the broader history of Spain’s relationship with CISM, which this year marks an important milestone. “This championship will now be a part of CISM’s history, and further proof of Spain’s steadfast commitment to the ideals of CISM over the past 75 years,” he said.
A special message was also addressed to the soldier-athletes who had competed throughout the championship. Colonel Rosso congratulated them for their commitment, discipline and devotion to their sport, stressing that their performances were made possible by a wider network of support from coaches, Chiefs of Mission, Chiefs of Delegation and their respective nations.
“CISM is very proud of you,” he told the athletes, before encouraging them to recognize those who support their participation in military sport and help promote CISM’s fundamental value of Friendship through Sport.
The ceremony continued with the traditional lowering of the CISM flag and the CISM Spain flag, accompanied by the CISM anthem. The Spanish flag was subsequently lowered to the sound of the Spanish national anthem, providing a solemn conclusion to the championship hosted in Quesada and the surrounding municipalities.
In another symbolic moment, the CISM flag was handed over to Captain Luuk Nissen, President of the CISM Sport Committee for Cycling, marking the continuation of CISM Cycling’s journey beyond Spain. Attention will now turn towards the sport’s next major CISM appointment at the 8th CISM Military World Summer Games in Charlotte, USA, in 2027, where the CISM cycling community will come together again on the international military sporting stage.
The OCR concluded by wishing all participants a safe journey home and expressing his hope of seeing them again at the 36th CISM World Military Cycling Championship, before officially declaring the 35th CISM World Military MTB Cycling Championship closed.
From the endurance challenge of Friday’s XCM races to Saturday’s inclusive Para-Cycling event and fast-paced Team Relay, the championship offered several contrasting faces of mountain biking. Combined with the enthusiasm of the local population and the positive response of the participating delegations, the event provided a fitting celebration of military cycling and of Spain’s 75 years within the CISM family.
The delegations then came together for the Championship Dinner, closing a successful week of sport, camaraderie and international exchange in the spirit of CISM’s motto, “Friendship through Sport.”
(Source: CISM Media & Communication Department - Pictures: Spanish Delegation to CISM)
