The mountain bike march, formerly organized by Debegesa and the Elgoibar City Council to promote the Debabarrena BTT Center, was discontinued when the center closed. The last edition, held in 2015, saw over 300 cycling enthusiasts participate.
Now, members of the Morkaiko Mendizale club aim to recapture the spirit of that event and have organized the first Elgoibar MTB March for Saturday, September 12th. The organizers' intention is to provide an opportunity to enjoy mountain biking in the Elgoibar area, emphasizing that it will not be a competitive race.
Registration is now open and must be completed online via the Kirolprobak website. Participants under 18 years of age will require authorization from their legal guardian. The deadline for registration is September 10th.
The day's schedule includes the distribution of bibs for the short and long marches at Mintxeta between 8:00 AM and 8:45 AM, with departures commencing at 9:00 AM. The 'txiki' (small) march will have its bib distribution between 9:00 AM and 9:45 AM, starting at 10:00 AM. A barbecue for participants will be held from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM, and the event will conclude at 2:00 PM.
Three route options will be available, all starting and finishing in Mintxeta. The 'Martxa Txiki' will cover 7 km with a 130-meter elevation gain, designed for beginners and children, suitable for family participation. The short march will span 23 km with approximately 900 meters of elevation gain, blending challenging sections with easier stretches. Finally, the long march will cover 30.5 km and 1,400 meters of elevation gain, largely following the short route but incorporating three additional descent loops: Urrategi DH, the Muskiriko descent, and the Voll-Damm line.
Members of the Atxurtrails team, part of Morkaiko, have been working in recent weeks to adapt and clear several mountain trails that the MTB March will traverse. They have also released a video to showcase the routes and scenery participants will experience.
