The Galician city, which has hosted the Spanish Championships in 2019 and 2020, will host the fight for the continental title in 2024.

Pontevedra continues its commitment to the best cyclocross and in 2024 it will host the European Cyclocross Championships.

The headquarters of the Consejo Superior de Deportes was the venue chosen today to announce the agreement by which the Galician city will host the fight for the continental title in 2024. Pontevedra, which has held the Spanish Cyclocross Championships in 2019 and 2020, as well as having a race in the Spanish Cup in recent years, has established itself as one of the national enclaves with the greatest passion for a discipline that is increasingly on the rise in cyclo-cross.

The event was attended by José Manuel Franco, president of the Consejo Superior de Deportes; Miguel Anxo Fernández, mayor of Pontevedra; Gorka Gómez Díaz, provincial deputy; Tino Fernández González, Concelleiro de Deportes; Enrico Della Casa, president of the European Cycling Union; José Luis López Cerrón, president of the Real Federación Española de Ciclismo and Juan Carlos Muñiz, president of the Federación Galega de Ciclismo. In addition, the Galician cyclo-cross coach and the cyclocross riders María Filgueiras and Miguel Gómez also took part in the event.

Lars Van der Haar, Eli Iserbyt or Mathieu Van der Poel have worn the European champion’s jersey up to three times in the last few years, which in 2024 will be put into play in Pontevedra thanks to the efforts of the municipality, the Pontevedra Provincial Council and the Galician Cycling Federation in collaboration with the Royal Spanish Cycling Federation. “We are delighted to host an event of this magnitude. Our commitment to sport is clear and to all the activity that it generates around it. Events of this kind are always profitable and generate an important sense of belonging,” said the Mayor of Pontevedra, Miguel Anxo, during the ceremony.

“Hosting the European Cyclo-cross Championships is a source of pride for our country. This event will represent a new step in the growth of cyclo-cross in Spain: a clearly evident evolution in recent years, both in terms of national calendar and international results and, now, hosting a World Cup in Benidorm and this European Championships in Pontevedra, which will delight the many cyclo-cross fans”, said José Luis López Cerrón.

Juan Carlos Muñiz, the president of the Galician Federation, was happy and satisfied with the work done: “Today is a day of many emotions, to endorse the work done in recent years by all the national cyclo-cross. To be able to bring the European Championships to Pontevedra is not only a success for us, but for all Spanish cycling. It is the work of all the territorial federations together with the Spanish Federation. A short time ago we were presenting the World Cup in Benidorm and today we can say that we will host a European Championships in 2024”.

Enrico Della Casa, President of the European Cycling Union, pointed out that “for the UEC it is a pleasure to bring the European Championships to Spain and Pontevedra; a competition that was followed last year by eleven million spectators and that will surely be a very important event for the area in terms of tourism”.

José Manuel Franco ended the ceremony by declaring that “for the CSD it is an honour, a source of pride, to host the signing of this concession of the European Cyclo-cross Championships for a magnificent city such as Pontevedra. It is a very important bet and from here I would like to congratulate all the agents involved: City Council, Provincial Council, Spanish Federation and Galician Federation…”. “Sport is an important tourist attraction, it is not only competition, it is a tool that generates employment and wealth in our territory; a vehicle that transmits values and healthy habits”, concluded Franco.