2026 HERO UCI Cross-Country Marathon World Cup – Round 1: Calpe

Strategic Event Overview: The Calpe Gauntlet The 2026 HERO UCI Cross-Country Marathon (XCM) World Cup season launched with a brutal statement of intent in Calpe, Spain. The “Hero Costablanca” course—an 82.2 km trek featuring 2,700 meters of vertical gain—has solidified its reputation as the ultimate technical litmus test for the marathon elite. With 85% of…