The 2026 UEC Youth Mountain Bike European Championships came to a close in Cheile Grădiștei (Romania), with 538 young athletes from 32 countries taking part, confirming the growth of an event that is establishing itself, year on year, as one of the key fixtures on the continental calendar for emerging talent.
Over the five days of racing, 14 European titles were awarded across the Team Relay, Short Track and Cross-country disciplines, providing a spectacular display of technical skill and competitive spirit in front of thousands of enthusiasts and families who came to support the young competitors from across Europe.
In sporting terms, the Czech Republic was the most successful nation with three European titles, whilst Germany, Denmark and Belgium each won two European champion’s jerseys. Among the key performers were Germany’s Sita Heiny, who won the European titles in the Girls’ 14 Short Track and Cross-Country events, as well as a bronze medal in the Team Relay, and Denmark’s Esther Mejdal Haaning, who dominated the Girls’ 15 category thanks to her victories in the Short Track and Cross-Country events.
Enrico Della Casa, President of the Union Européenne de Cyclisme: “The Youth Mountain Bike European Championships are one of the most important events on the UEC calendar and underline just how much our federation believes in the development of cycling amongst young people. We have been investing in this movement with conviction for years because we are convinced that this is where we will discover the champions of the future. But this event is much more than just a competition: it is a great celebration of sport, bringing together hundreds of young athletes, their families and the entire European mountain biking community in an atmosphere of enthusiasm, friendship and shared experience.
I would like to extend my sincere thanks to the Cheile Grădiștei Fundata Resort and its owners, Ovidiu and Alex Gârbacea, for their warm welcome. They have succeeded in making this venue a benchmark for international sport, treating cycling as a true mission, having already successfully hosted the UEC Mountain Bike European Championships in 2024.
I would also like to extend my heartfelt thanks to the Romanian Cycling Federation, led by President Cătălin Sprînceană, who believed in this project from the very beginning, to the Romanian Olympic and Sports Committee, and to all the partners and supporters who contributed to the success of this event. Together, we have given young European athletes an experience they will cherish for the rest of their lives and have written a splendid chapter in the history of European cycling.”
