Trentino XCO Mountain Bike Championship (Panchià Cross Country)

Cross country in the heart of Val di Fiemme

The Trentino XCO Championship, better known as the Panchià Cross Country, is one of the most cherished mountain bike races on the Trentino cycling calendar. It takes place in Panchià, a small municipality in the Val di Fiemme, in the province of Trento, in the heart of the Trentino-Alto Adige region. Organized by the Unione Sportiva Litegosa, the event annually awards provincial titles in Olympic cross country (XCO) for professional and amateur categories, ranging from youth divisions to Elite and Master classes.

A technical course through woods and streams

The race unfolds on a demanding loop of approximately 4 kilometers with 180 meters of elevation gain, starting from the village center and climbing into the woods north of the town. The course alternates between paved sections, meadow roads, forest trails, and a signature stream crossing, offering one of the most varied and spectacular circuits in the regional XCO scene. The technical nature of the track and the alpine setting of the Val di Fiemme make this event an ideal testing ground for bikers from Trentino and South Tyrol.

A race valid for multiple circuits

Beyond crowning the Trentino XCO Champions, the Panchià race is a stage in the prestigious Raiffeisen MTB Südtirol Cup, the cup uniting South Tyrol and Trentino, and the Trentino MTB Futuro challenge dedicated to young riders. This dual significance draws athletes from across the region to Panchià, resulting in crowded starting grids and a high technical level. Recent editions have seen top names in the Trentino cycling movement on the podium, including Elite riders Martino Fruet and Vanessa Lucca, alongside numerous youth champions.

The organization of US Litegosa

Credit for the event goes to the Unione Sportiva Litegosa, an association deeply rooted in the Val di Fiemme area, which manages course setup and athlete hospitality. Services such as showers and bike washing stations are available at the local soccer field. The race day features multiple staggered starts, with UCI, Elite, and Master categories in the morning and youth categories in the afternoon.

Panchià and the Val di Fiemme

Nestled in the Dolomites, the Val di Fiemme is one of the most renowned valleys in Trentino for outdoor sports. Panchià, with its coniferous forests and meadows, offers the perfect backdrop for a mountain bike race that combines competitive spirit with a love for the mountains. The event has become a traditional early-summer fixture for the entire Trentino cycling community.