The Sea Otter Europe festival catches its sixth edition and does it again with iron health, enviable. It has left behind the last two years marked by the pandemic and is once again presenting some considerable numbers, which are staggering. The enthusiasm of the organizers, combined with the will of the public and private sector for the event to continue growing, are ingredients that allow this 2022, Girona will once again host an event that is already a global reference in the world of cycling. Competitive and also popular. the room Miquel Diumé of the City Council it was the scene, at mid-morning, of the official presentation, with the voices of the mayoress, Marta Madrenas; the president of the Provincial Council of Girona, Miquel Noguer; and the director of the festival, Albert Balcells.
For this 2022, Sea Otter Europe recovers the sensations of before the outbreak of the coronavirus and corroborates this “ascending line” that it has drawn since it was born. This is how Balcells has expressed himself, who has recalled that the festival is one of the “most important” in the whole continent of this sporting modality. Not only because of the many tests it hosts, whether of a professional or amateur nature, but also for other aspects. There will be an exhibition that will have 220 stands and around 350 brands, with more square meters than what was counted in 2019. In addition, there is the desire to promote grassroots sport and to look after the athletes of the present and the future. “We expect to reach 50,000 visitors, a very important number if we take into account where we come from”, concluded the director.
From September 23 to 25, the Fontajau pavilion and its surroundings will be the epicenter of Sea Otter Europe but not the only setting for an event that will have more than 13 sporting activities. It appears again Continental Ciclobrava, with three proposals: 70, 100 and 140 kilometers. Also, time for the‘Scott Marathon BTT, reference competition in middle distance events. The Continental Super Massi Cup will be scored for the World Championship, while the Canyon Pirinexus Challenge, of 340 kilometers, becomes quite a challenge for gravel lovers. There’s even more: Super Cup Youth (for the youngest and one of the novelties of this edition), Canyon Urban Ride Girona (urban exit through the center of Girona), Canyon E-Bike Experience (the route is 39 kilometers), World E-Bike Series (the first electric bicycle world circuit subject to UCI scoring, with direct impact on the world championship), MTB Classic Sea Otter Europe (fun test with models from the eighties and nineties) i Orbea Girona Gravel Ride (in the heart of Gavarres, about 70 kilometers away).
Urban Mobility, one of the novelties
One of the main novelties is the so-called Urban Mobility, a festival of urban mobility at European level that will live its first edition. “In this sense, we have very clearly committed to continuing to grow and bring new ideas, with around thirty exhibitors with urban bicycle brands,” explained Balcells. In this way, different routes have been designed for Girona (3, 8 and 10 kilometers) to “make the city known”, one of the “most prepared” in the whole continent to move by bicycle.
With the aim of turning the city and also the province into a “world reference point” in terms of all kinds of events in the world of cycling, Balcells and the whole organization hope to “continue many years” with the Sea Otter Europe in this same scenario. International brands such as Continental, Canyon and Garmin show their full confidence in it and this is already a whole life insurance. It has also dealt with the impact of a pandemic and despite the blow, the numbers are now favorable. “The increase we are experiencing is the result of good work and not of chance. We were already on an upward trajectory, despite having a strong kick. What we don’t want is to make big leaps, but for this growth to be sustained to be done, little by little, over the years.”
The impact of all this is not only sporting. Other factors come into play here. It has been summarized by Miquel Noguer, president of the Provincial Council of Girona. “It is a very important event for our country that helps us to give prestige and prosperity. It helps us in many different areas and we hope to continue to go hand in hand so that it will be like this for a long time. Apart from the prestige, it brings us people, visitors and the economic impact is obvious, hotels are filling up, people are going to restaurants… All of this adds up and helps make Girona a real benchmark. That’s how he’s winning little by little.”
