Mikel Demiri and Michela Santini, champions of EPIC Gran Canaria 2026
EPIC Gran Canaria 2026 has its champions. Italians Mikel Demiri and Michela Santini have been proclaimed the overall winners of a historic edition of the international cycling event, after two days of competition and a thrilling finale that was decided in the third and final time trial climb.
The 2026 edition will go down in history as the most popular and demanding to date, with 680 cyclists from 28 countries, consolidating EPIC Gran Canaria as one of the major international amateur cycling events. The final day was a truly epic battle, with the top two finishers in the men's overall classification separated by just one second, a clear demonstration of the extremely high level of competition on the island's roads. Today's results were decisive in determining the title, the result of the sum of Saturday's opening stage and Sunday's decisive time trial, after two days of the best international cycling in Gran Canaria.
In the men's overall classification, the victory went to Mikel Demiri, who did not find it easy to consolidate his victory yesterday against a very combative Nikolas Ginter, stopping the clock with a total time of 2 hours, 12 minutes, and 45 seconds (2h12'45"), crossing the finish line alongside his Swiss rival, who came second with a time of 2 hours, 12 minutes and 46 seconds (2h12'46“), just one second behind the winner. The podium was completed by Martín Mata Cabello, who came third with a final time of 2 hours, 13 minutes and 24 seconds (2h13'24”).
In the women's overall classification, victory went to Michela Santini, who was crowned champion with a cumulative time of 2 hours, 35 minutes, and 44 seconds (2h35'44"). Second place went to Sandra Kannacher, with 2 hours, 40 minutes, and 14 seconds (2h40'14“), while third place on the podium went to Ballan Azzurra, with a total time of 2 hours, 49 minutes, and 50 seconds (2h49'50”).
The Junior classification also saw some great performances. In the Junior Men's category, first place went to Néstor Herrera González, with a time of 1 hour, 13 minutes and 53 seconds (1h13'53“), followed by Héctor Alfaya González, with a time of 1 hour, 17 minutes and 15 seconds (1h17'15”), and Ayose Robaina González, with 1 hour, 18 minutes and 22 seconds (1h18'22"). In the Junior Women's category, the victory went to Alexia Espino Pais, with a time of 1 hour, 44 minutes, and 23 seconds (1h44'23“), with Catherine Machlab Ramos in second place, with a time of 1 hour, 46 minutes, and 37 seconds (1h46'37”), and Noelia del Carmen Pérez García completing the podium with a time of 1 hour, 49 minutes and 35 seconds (1h49'35").
With this spectacular outcome, EPIC Gran Canaria 2026 bids farewell, reaffirming its growth, international character, and sporting demands after two unforgettable days of cycling in one of the most spectacular settings in the world.
On to the tenth anniversary
EPIC Gran Canaria RIU Hotels & Resorts bids farewell for this year but is already preparing what will undoubtedly be a very special edition. The team is already working on the 2027 edition, the tenth anniversary of this event, which has taken a leap forward in terms of level, organization, quantity, and quality, consolidating the success of an edition with 36% more athletes and which, for the first time, extends to the warm municipality of Mogán, selling out in just 6 hours.
The most popular cycling event in the south of Gran Canaria has more than one challenge, as it was born out of the work and effort of a team in love with cycling, with the aim of showcasing the island as a sporting paradise and serving as an ambassador to the world for the most popular and spectacular routes.
Thanks to the commitment of the organization, public entities, and private partners, EPIC brings images of the landscapes and ideal conditions for this sport to the entire planet through its cyclists, promoting the virtues of the destination and its potential for high-level sports tourism, for training, competing, and relaxing, with quality and sustainability. With the conclusion of this ninth edition, EPIC Gran Canaria RIU Hotels & Resorts is beginning to warm up for its anniversary edition, which promises new features, excitement, and special surprises.
The EPIC Gran Canaria RIU Hotels & Resorts is supported by the Cabildo de Gran Canaria's Instituto Insular de Deportes, Turismo Gran Canaria, Turismo Islas Canarias, Maspalomas Costa Canaria, RIU Hotels & Resorts, Turismo de Mogán, Hospiten, Free Motion, Coca-Cola, Aquabona, Greenwood, Gold Nutrition, Sport Dealer, Sonocom, AVIS Canarias, Esenat Escuela Especializada en Salud y Bienestar, Xtravans, Galletas Bandama, Tirma, Romantic Corp, Fund Grube, Maspalomas 24h, and Gran Fondo Guide among others.
Sun Feb 15th - 4am, 9am, 3pm EST
