Melgaço, Portugal - UEC European Championships 2025 – Full Recap

The European Mountain Bike Championships have just concluded in Melgaço, Portugal, held from July 23 to 27, 2025, where riders from the Wilier Vittoria MTB Factory Team competed with their national teams. It was an intense week, marked by strong performances as well as some unfortunate incidents that affected the final results.

The event kicked off with the XCC race, in which both Elite and U23 riders stood out. Luca Braidot and Simone Avondetto finished sixth and tenth respectively, while Sofie Heby Pedersen secured an impressive seventh place. Gustav Heby Pedersen also put in a good performance, finishing 17th—encouraging results ahead of the XCO race.

In the XCR (Team Relay) event, Italy was tasked with defending its continental title—a challenging mission successfully accomplished, thanks in part to crucial contributions from Juri Zanotti and Elian Paccagnella, who delivered strong performances during their respective legs. The final result rewarded the team’s collective effort: gold medal and European title retained.

In the main event, the Olympic Cross-Country (XCO), all eyes were on the Elite athletes, racing on a technical course made even more demanding by the extremely high level of competition. Juri Zanotti confirmed his strong form, finishing eighth after staying with the lead group for a large portion of the race. A solid and consistent performance that confirms his reliability on the biggest stages.

“I’m definitely satisfied with the race and the result,” said Juri. “Being there, fighting for the bronze until the final lap, was a great feeling I hadn’t experienced in a while. Unfortunately, a small technical issue in the last lap knocked me out of podium contention. I gave it everything to avoid losing more spots and finished with a sprint to secure eighth place. I’m really happy with this recent string of races: this placement and the gold in the Team Relay give me a lot of confidence for the rest of the season. Wearing the Maglia Azzurra is always an honor, and I try to represent it as best as I can.”

It was an unlucky day for Luca Braidot, who was forced to abandon the race due to a mechanical issue while still competing. Simone Avondetto also faced a tough race, slowed down by a mechanical problem after a strong start. Despite the setback, he finished in 22nd place.

There were also positive signs in the Elite Women's race, with Sofie Heby Pedersen finishing sixth in the XCO event—a strong result in a high-level race.

“I’m really happy with my performance!” said the Danish rider. “It’s been a very positive week with the national team, filled with great feelings during the race and a fantastic atmosphere off the track. Thanks to the whole team for the support and the positive energy we shared! Now I can look ahead to the rest of the season with renewed enthusiasm.”

In the U23 Men's race, Gustav Heby Pedersen once again confirmed his good form by finishing an excellent sixth. A result that adds to his personal achievements at this European Championship and boosts his confidence heading into the second part of the season.

“It’s been a really positive week with the national team, in a great team atmosphere,” said Gustav. “I found a lot of energy both on and off the course, sharing great moments with amazing people! I’m really happy with my performances and I leave this European Championship with a smile. Now it’s time to refocus on altitude training to best prepare for the season finale. The goal? To finish even stronger a season that’s already been incredible so far.”

Elian Paccagnella also took part in the same race, finishing 33rd in what proved to be a particularly challenging event for the young Italian, who struggled to find the right rhythm. With the Melgaço European Championship concluded, the Wilier Vittoria MTB Factory Team is already back to work in preparation for the second part of the season.

The focus now shifts to the World Cup, which will resume at the end of August with the Les Gets round in Haute-Savoie—one of the most iconic venues on the international calendar.