The prestigious international cycling race Serbia Epic – Petrovaradin Fortress UCI XCO HC, which brought together 600 of the best mountain bikers from Serbia and 26 countries of the world, was officially opened at the Petrovaradin Fortress today.
Member of the City Council for Sports and Youth, Tatjana Medved, symbolically raised the flag of Serbia, gave the signal for the official start of the men’s elite race in the presence of numerous guests, sports workers and citizens present at the Petrovaradin Fortress.
“It is a great honor that Novi Sad today hosts top cyclists from all over the world. This event is a symbol of energy, youth and togetherness that our city nurtures. Guided by the vision of Mayor Žarko Mićin, the City of Novi Sad systematically invests in the development of sports, supports all disciplines and all generations, and clearly points to the importance of sports. We are especially proud that this race is held at the Petrovaradin Fortress, a symbol of history, strength and perseverance, which today becomes a stage for the best cyclists in the world and a message that Novi Sad is a city that cherishes tradition, but lives the present and moves in the rhythm of the future. This is confirmed by the prestigious title of European City of Sport 2026, by which Novi Sad justified its role as a leader in the development of sports, infrastructure and sports tourism, but also showed that investing in sports means investing in people, in the quality of life of all citizens and in the future,” said Tatjana Medved and thanked all the organizers, partners, public companies and volunteers who contributed to the project with their energy. With knowledge and enthusiasm, we have made this great event live in our city.
The Serbia Epic race is the last UCI HC race of the season and ranks Novi Sad among the most important points on the map of European and world MTB sport, which further contributes to the promotion of Novi Sad as a center of sports tourism and cycling, and the participation of a large number of competitors and national teams is another confirmation of the high level of organization and reputation that Serbia Epic enjoys in the world of professional cycling.
Serbia Epic – Petrovaradin Fortress UCI XCO HC is held with the support of the City of Novi Sad, the Tourist Organization of the City and several sports and cycling associations.
Novi Sad, October 26, 2025