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Press release – September 11, 2026

THE EVE OF THE PRIMIERO WORLD MARATHON CHAMPIONSHIPS
MORE THAN 180 MTB CHAMPIONS FROM 35 COUNTRIES READY

Tomorrow the MTB Marathon World Championship kicks off with 95 km and 4,000 m of climbing in Primiero 
Champions Swenson, Paez, Valero, Mitterwallner, and Weinbeer ready to race; on Sunday, it’s the Masters’ turn
Today at 6 p.m., the Opening Ceremony will take place, followed by various events and the Mythos Primiero Dolomiti

It is the eve of the UCI MTB Elite Marathon World Championship! Tomorrow, the international MTB spotlight will shine on the Primiero Valley (TN) for a world championship long-distance race that promises to be a spectacular event. Strength, technique, and endurance will make all the difference, as the top mountain bike champions compete for world titles against the unique backdrop of the Dolomites—a UNESCO World Heritage Site—and the Pale di San Martino. In this unprecedented weekend, the action begins today with the Opening Ceremony, while Sunday will feature the UCI Marathon Masters World Championships, the 6^th Mythos Primiero Dolomiti, and many side events—all coming together for a true MTB festival.
Tomorrow’s race will bring together 184 bikers representing 35 nations, called to face a technical and spectacular 95-km course with 4,000 meters of climbing. There is no shortage of big names, of course, and leading the pack of favourites is American Keegan Swenson (born in 1994), who is aiming for a back-to-back win after last year’s win. Joining him are champions of the calibre of Hector Leonardo Paez Leon, the Colombian star and two-time world champion (2019 and 2020), as well as Andreas Seewald (GER), the 2021 world champion, and Spain’s David Valero Serrano, who won Olympic bronze at the Tokyo Games that same year. The 38-year-old currently leads the UCI Marathon rankings, followed in second place by Belgian Wout Alleman, a five-time national champion and 2023 European champion, and Samuele Porro, who, after last year’s silver medal, has his sights set on a victory that has eluded Italy since 2004, when Massimo Debertolis triumphed—the very man who designed the course on which the champions will compete tomorrow. 
Thirty Italian riders, instead, have been called up by head coaches Nadia De Negri and Mirko Celestino, a former road cyclist and mountain biker who earned two Marathon World Championships podium finishes during his career: “Morale is sky-high. Hosting the World Championships is definitely an extra source of motivation, and the team is training exceptionally well for the occasion—with great drive and demonstrating excellent physical condition. It has rained a lot lately, but the course has drained very well. It’s going to be a spectacular event, with breathtaking climbs and descents.”
On the women’s side, the competition promises to be extremely competitive and exciting, especially given the absence of defending champion Kate Courtney (USA). As a result, a thrilling battle is expected between three-time marathon world champion Mona Mitterwallner (AUT), Swiss rider Anna Weinbeer—the European marathon champion and current leader of the UCI rankings—Americans Savilia Blunk and Melisa Rollins, two-time World Cup winner Lejla Njemčević (BIH), Natalia Fischer Egusquiza (SPA), and Paula Gorycka (POL).
The World Championship action will continue on Sunday with the UCI Marathon Masters World Championships, an event dedicated to amateur athletes that returns after a two-year hiatus. Among the hundreds of competitors, there is great anticipation for two-time European Masters champion Armin DalVai, Valerio Niccolai, and 2022 Masters World Champion Lorena Zocca, who will race alongside Karin Tosato, Chiara Tassinari, and many other riders who will put on a show along much of the course designated for the Elite category.
However, the highly anticipated weekend kicks off today with the press conference and the Team Managers’ Meeting, but above all with the Opening Ceremony scheduled for 6:00 p.m. in Fiera di Primiero. Among the event’s highlights are the god mother of the Primiero World Championships, Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesjå—the most successful female mountain biker in history—and Massimo Debertolis, offering a special opportunity to relive the unforgettable triumphs at the 2004 World Championships.
Also on Sunday, the 6^th Mythos Primiero Dolomiti will kick off with the Marathon and Classic distances, along with the Junior Kids Race for the youngest participants, alongside many other events that will turn the entire weekend into a true festival celebrating the passion for mountain biking.
There is great enthusiasm among the members of Pedali di Marca, who are always working alongside the Municipality of Primiero San Martino di Castrozza, the Primiero Community, and the San Martino Tourist Board. 

Info: www.mythosprimiero.com