Felipe Orts spearheads Spain’s European Championship medal bid as full cyclocross squad confirmed
Cyclocross
Spain have named their squad for the 2026 European Cyclocross Championships in Zeddam, the Netherlands, on 7–8 November. Reigning national champions Felipe Orts and Sofia Rodriguez headline a 15-rider team.
National coach Javier Ruiz de Larrinaga has selected riders across all six categories: elite, under-23 and junior men and women. The championships will bring together many of Europe's leading cyclocross riders.
The squad announcement follows several weeks of monitoring performances on the domestic circuit. The third round of the Spanish Cup, held in Amurrio last weekend, gave Ruiz de Larrinaga a final opportunity to assess the contenders before making his selections.
Orts will lead Spain's challenge in the elite men's race, having begun his new chapter with Fundacion Euskadi with victories in Amurrio and Orduna. The squad announced by the Spanish cycling federation also includes several promising youngsters who will have the opportunity to test themselves against Europe's best.
Spain name 15 riders for Zeddam
Orts will be joined in the elite men's race by Raul Mira, one of the standout performers in the opening rounds of the Spanish Cup. Sofia Rodriguez and Lucia Gonzalez bring international experience to the elite women's squad.
Martin Fernandez and Unax Galan have been selected for the under-23 men's race, with Ana Lopez and Mirari Gotxi representing Spain in the women's event.
Seven riders make up the junior contingent. Pelayo Gancedo, Xavi Vidal, Guillermo Garcia and Mikel Llorente will contest the men's race, while Carla Banuls, Gisela Herrero and Noa Vega line up in the women's event.
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The championships will take place on a 2.97km circuit in Zeddam, part of the Dutch municipality of Montferland. Fast sections alternate with technical stretches, corners and repeated changes of pace. A distinctive staircase will force riders to dismount and tackle a series of flights on foot.
Racing begins on Saturday 7 November with the junior women at 11:00 CET (10:00 UK), followed by the under-23 men at 13:00 CET (12:00 UK) and elite women at 15:00 CET (14:00 UK).
Sunday's programme opens with the junior men at 11:00 CET (10:00 UK), followed by the under-23 women at 13:00 CET (12:00 UK). The elite men's race brings the championships to a close at 15:00 CET (14:00 UK), with Orts carrying Spain's leading hopes of a podium finish.

Javier RampeCycling Journalist
Javier Rampe is a sports analyst with more than 15 years of experience. He holds a degree in Economics from the University of Rome and a Diploma in Business Studies from the University of Cádiz. Despite coming from an academic background not particularly associated with cycling, his passion for both cycling and journalism was instilled in him from an early age. He grew up following Miguel Indurain and José María “El Chava” Jiménez. An admirer of Michael Robinson’s communication style and journalistic approach, he was inspired to pursue a degree in Journalism at the University of Buenos Aires, which he is currently completing.
He has always maintained close ties with the worlds of sport and culture, contributing from a young age to sports blogs and film and music review websites. His work has appeared in media outlets such as Cope, RAI, and Radio Con Vos. He is also the founder of the cycling-focused podcast El Contraanálisis and the football interview channel Días De Fútbol, dedicated to conversations with professional footballers.
In addition to his work at Ciclismoaldia, Javier has interviewed some of the most influential figures in modern cycling, including Alejandro Valverde and Tadej Pogačar, as well as key voices in anti-doping policy such as Alberto Yelmo, David Varillas, and Marcelo Milano. Marcos Maynar, in relation to the ‘Operación Ílex’ case, is also among the personalities he has interviewed. He enjoys conducting in-depth analysis of the cycling ecosystem and has attended major events such as Strade Bianche, the Vuelta a Andalucía, and Itzulia, as well as numerous national cyclo-cross races.
His background in economics, combined with extensive experience in marketing and corporate communications, drives his continuous study of positioning strategies and ensures that he always keeps his focus on crafting compelling and evocative headlines.
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- the 6th TDF is a more record breaking opportunity than a 2nd Giro. Jonas can double up. For Remco its TDF. For Sexias it will be a good opportunity but as usual TDF will be his main goal For del Toro, yes good opportunityabstractengineer04-11-2026
- Well, this is something which isn't all that common
Rafionain-Glas03-11-2026 - He lives in Monaco
Rafionain-Glas03-11-2026 - It's also highly significant for Lorenzo Finn as he won there last year. Also Mateo Ramírez and Henrique Bravo if they go
Rafionain-Glas03-11-2026 - This is a phenomenal course design. I do wish that they'd stretch these tours for the women to at least 2 weeks.RidesHills03-11-2026
- This is an amazing route, honestly. Let's hope that it attracts riders to make it a compelling and competitive race. Side bar amusement: going to Slovenia and passing pretty close to Pogačar's house. I wonder if they were tempting him to get all 3 jerseys at once after winning the Tour and Vuelta. After all, only a very few have ever had all three at the same time (Froome being the last).RidesHills03-11-2026
- He was a child two years ago
Rafionain-Glas03-11-2026 - A great route aswell. Col d'Arpy is a toughie
Rafionain-Glas03-11-2026 - Let Torito have a shot at it
Rafionain-Glas03-11-2026 - A great route, much more exciting than the Tour de France. Monte Livata is an interesting one, because they experimented with it at the 2026 Baby Giro, and it was fantastic. 4 km at 10%, then 10 km at 6.5% made for a great spectacle. The stage 16 is horrible. Montaner is also used in the U23s, in Giro del Belvedere
Rafionain-Glas03-11-2026
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