Benidorm to host cycling's biggest cyclocross event since 1990

Costa Blanca city awarded the 2031 UCI World Championships after a hugely successful World Cup run

Benidorm has landed one of cycling's biggest prizes, with the UCI confirming the coastal city will host the 2031 Cyclocross World Championships. It's a genuinely historic moment for Spanish cycling too, marking the first time the country has hosted this event in 41 years, since Getxo welcomed the championships back in 1990.

For Benidorm, it caps off what's been a remarkable few years. The city first joined the UCI World Cup calendar back in 2023, and since then it's built a real reputation on the international circuit, drawing some serious star power along the way. Mathieu van der Poel has won the men's race twice, in 2023 and 2026, with Wout van Aert and Thibau Nys also taking victories in between. On the women's side, Fem van Empel dominated the first three editions before Lucinda Brand took the title in 2026.

Mayor Toni Pérez didn't hide his excitement, saying "we've been experiencing these days with great anticipation," and crediting the win to "a fantastic team" behind the bid. He also described the announcement as culminating "the love affair that the city has maintained with cycling for decades."

Spanish cyclocross star Felipe Orts, who finished runner up in Benidorm's own World Cup event in 2026, was equally thrilled. "The dream of hosting the World Championships has come true," he said, adding that a championship of this scale would have seemed "until recently unimaginable" for the sport in Spain.

Race director Pascual Momparler, who secured the venue on Benidorm's very first bid to the UCI, struck a similarly proud note. "History repeats itself, and we once again have the best cyclists," he said, referencing the city's 1992 Road World Championships. He also spoke movingly of his late father, Pascual Momparler Gandía, and Amadeo Olmos, describing them as the two who first championed Valencian cyclocross decades ago.

The numbers behind Benidorm's bid help explain the UCI's confidence too. The 2026 World Cup event alone generated an estimated €11,088,586 in economic impact, working out at roughly €19 returned for every euro invested, alongside more than €13 million in media visibility for the city and surrounding area.

Before the World Championships arrive, cycling fans won't have long to wait for the next fix. The 2027 UCI Cyclocross World Cup returns to Benidorm on January 17, with general admission tickets currently priced at €19 until November 15, rising in stages to €25 by early January. Children under 14 can attend for a symbolic €2, with proceeds going entirely to local charities.

Image: Ayuntamiento de Benidorm