The Mayor of Novi Sad, Žarko Mićin, met with the representatives of the “Petrovaradin Fortress UCI XCO HC”, a unique international mountain bike race, which, according to the decision of the International Cycling Union UCI, will be held in October 2025. The meeting was attended, among others, by the President of the Cycling Association of Serbia, Dusan Gojic, and the director of the Cycling Club “Novi Sad” and the aforementioned event, Nemanja Weiss. As they explained, these races are extremely rare and prestigious, which puts them in the elite category of competition. They bring together the world’s best riders, bring the highest UCI points and have extremely strict organizational and technical standards.
“I’m glad that Novi Sad has been recognized again as a city that is capable of organizing a top sports spectacle in the best way. In this sense, we are also supported by the geographical position, the proximity of the airport, the characteristics of our beautiful Petrovaradin Fortress, the accommodation facilities we have and the good image we have built on the map of European cities. This race will bring together international professionals, but also a large audience, which will be an opportunity to get acquainted with our environment, and of course the city will also provide an economic benefit. Cycling in Novi Sad has a rich tradition, but it is also in the focus of today. As a City, we support cycling to the maximum, both as a sport and as a recreation and as a healthy lifestyle. We have proven this by the fact that the network of trails in Novi Sad stretches for 150 km, and we continue to expand it, which encourages people to use bicycles by subsidizing the purchase of two-wheelers for citizens, and in Novi Sad you can also rent a bicycle. The city will wholeheartedly support this elite sports competition, and I am sure that this time we will light up our faces as hosts – emphasized Mayor Žarko Mićin and added – a city that has such an intensity of organization of sports events of the highest level, investments in sports infrastructure in encouraging young people to engage in sports and physical activity, which promotes healthy lifestyles and takes care of sustainability, I am convinced that it will also be crowned with the title of European City of Sport for 2026.
As it was said at the meeting, the “Petrovaradin Fortress UCI XCO HC” race is an important national, provincial and city sports project that will be implemented by BK “Novi Sad” and the association “Serbia EPIK” in cooperation with the Ministry of Sports of the Republic of Serbia, the Provincial Secretariat for Sports and Youth and the City of Novi Sad.