MEDITERRANEAN EPIC 2025 [RECAP STAGE 1]

One of the main novelties this year was in the first stage. Riders completed the same time trial as in previous editions, with the difference that this year the downhill to the finish line, located on the coast, also came into play. Ladies and gentlemen, make yourselves comfortable because the time trial by Maxxis has beg un, an appetizer for many but that has left no one indifferent.
In 2025, the start list of the Mediterranean Epic by SCOTT has been, once again, a meeting of XCM world stars who, in many cases, have even debuted the colors of their new teams.
The race itself has lived the professionalization and growth of XCM, being a booster of the media coverage of the modality, thanks to its unique in Europe live broadcast. This year, the competition promises to be tighter and more open than ever.
28 km with 570 meters of positive slope have divided the profile in three segments: a first more rolling part, with its starting point being in Torre del Rey and surrounding the Mediterranean Sea where riders, in a staggered manner, crossed the green way. The second one had a long climb, first by road, then by trails and finally by track.
Once the highest point of the day was reached, without reaching the antennae of Oropesa del Mar, the third part began the descent. A long, hard and technical singletrack that triggered the adrenaline of all riders.
In the elite men category, there was an intense duel between the two great favorites for the win. The 2024 title holder, the Belgian Wout Alleman, and the German Andreas Seewald, winner of several stages in previous editions.
They were riding so equal that, before the main climb, the difference between them was just one second. Nevertheless, Allem an was able to put himself at risk during the descent of the route and fly on the final flat to end up being the fastest. Seewald was just 11 seconds behind and the Norwegian Eskil Evensen-lie took everyone aback, achieving the best third time of the stage.
In the women race, two teams started with several options to become leaders. On the one hand, there was Buff-Megamo with the Dutch Rosa Van Doorn and, on the other hand, there was Cannondale ISB Sport with t he Colombian Mónica Calderón.
From the first stretches, Van Doorn, current champion of Europe, flew over the route of this time trial, achieving the best times. This was the keynote of the whole stage and the one from Buff-Megamo reach ed the finish line with a time of 01:08. This meant 01:25 ahead of her teammate, the Swiss Janina Wust, and 02:07 ahead of Mónica Calderón.
Spain was represented by Pablo Rodríguez and Meritxell Figueras, being both in eighth place.