The 11th race drew about 500 riders to Mateh Asher Regional Council and Nahariya for a challenging course spanning over 300 kilometers and 3,000 meters of climbing.

ByJERUSALEM POST SPORTS STAFF

Tomer Caspi and Tomer Zaltzman were crowned the men’s champions of Winner Epic Israel 2026 after four days of demanding mountain biking in the Western Galilee, as Israel’s largest mountain bike race returned to the north for the first time since the war forced trails and forests in the region to close.

The 11th edition of the race, held in partnership with the Jewish National Fund (KKL-JNF) and sponsored by Specialized, concluded Saturday after bringing approximately 500 riders to Mateh Asher Regional Council and Nahariya for a challenging competition covering more than 300 kilometers and approximately 3,000 meters of cumulative climbing.

Caspi and Zaltzman, competing for Tomer’s team, won the men’s overall title with a combined time of 9:52:12 across the three competitive stages. Their victory capped an event that combined elite competition with a broader message of recovery and renewal for communities that endured years of disruption during the war.

The race, held in memory of its founder’s father, Giora Tzachor, was particularly meaningful this year because of its return to trails that had been inaccessible to the public for approximately three years.

Reopening of routes was made possible in part by KKL-JNF

The reopening of the routes was made possible in part by KKL-JNF’s restoration and upgrading work across the north, including hundreds of kilometers of mountain biking trails in Hanita, Kabri, Yehiam and Matzuba. Several of those routes were incorporated into this year’s course.

For race founder and producer Gal Tzachor, the return was about far more than the competition itself.

“To see hundreds of riders crossing the finish line here in the Western Galilee, after three years in which we could not return to the area, is an especially moving moment for me,” Tzachor said. “This year, the race was much more than a cycling competition. We returned to trails that had been closed, forests that had undergone rehabilitation and an area we all love so much.

“Over four days, we saw competitive sport at the highest level, but also an entire community returning to the north and bringing life back to the region. This race was born out of a love for the land, cycling and people, and it continues the legacy of my father, Giora Tzachor. I am proud of everyone who took part in this special edition.”

The competition began Wednesday, Oct. 14, with a 10.5-kilometer prologue in the Mateh Asher area. Amos Girani and Ronen Shirazi finished first in the opening event before the riders embarked on three demanding stages that determined the overall standings.

On Thursday, the first stage covered approximately 82 kilometers and included 1,150 meters of climbing. Caspi and Zaltzman finished at the top of the standings, establishing themselves as contenders for the overall title.

The pair strengthened their position Friday during the second stage, the most demanding single-day course of this year’s race. The route covered approximately 86.5 kilometers and featured 1,730 meters of climbing, placing significant physical demands on the competitors.

Saturday’s final stage took the riders across another 74 kilometers, with approximately 800 meters of climbing, before the overall champions were confirmed.

While the men’s competition attracted much of the attention, trophies were also awarded across several other categories.

Luba Bernstein and Helen Mora won the women’s division in 15:18:47 for Helen & Luba. Noam Strasnov and Yuval Friedman of NYCC Specialized took the men’s Masters title in 11:08:49, while Abigail Louis Yaavetz and Shahar Tamir of The Buttons-MIX won the mixed category in 12:30:58.

Sharon Pe’er and Erez Shaked of Team Specialized claimed the Grand Masters title in 11:21:44, while Eli Cohen and Eitan Medina of Team Bulthaup won the Super Grand Masters division in 12:36:00.

Race provides an important boost to local economy

The return of the race also provided an important boost to the local economy. Riders were joined by family members, professional support crews and spectators who stayed in the area and visited local hotels, restaurants and businesses.

For communities in the Western Galilee that have faced the consequences of the war, the event offered another opportunity to welcome visitors and restore the region’s sporting and tourism activities.

KKL-JNF Chairman Eyal Ostrinsky described the race’s return as a victory for the entire country.

“It feels like a victory for all the people of Israel,” Ostrinsky said. “At KKL-JNF, we are proud and excited, together with the residents of the north, to see Winner Epic Israel return to the Western Galilee after three years in which the trails were closed because of the war. This is a victory in its own right, another symbol of the return to life in the north, a region that is so dear to every citizen of Israel.

“Alongside our investment in the land, we believe it is important to strengthen communities, tourism and the local economy. We will continue working for and alongside the people of the north to rehabilitate what was damaged and help build and strengthen the region.”

The event also highlighted the role of sport in rehabilitation and community support. Wounded Israeli military veterans from Brothers for Life, an organization that assists injured soldiers throughout their recovery, took part alongside young cyclists from the Bartali Youth Cycling Club, which empowers teenagers through the sport.

Their participation added another dimension to an event centered on perseverance, recovery, and a return to normal life.
Toto Chairman and CEO Meir Bardugo said the organization was proud to support the race as part of its broader commitment to Israeli sport.

“The Toto is proud to partner with Winner Epic Israel again this year, in cooperation with KKL-JNF,” Bardugo said. “The riders and spectators enjoyed a high-quality and moving sporting experience, delivered to particularly high professional standards, that presented Israel in a positive light.

“As we approach the Toto’s 60th anniversary, Winner Epic Israel is another way for us to demonstrate our commitment to supporting Israeli sport in all its forms and to take part in the process of rehabilitation and the return to routine life in Israel.”

Nahariya Mayor Ronen Marley, whose city hosted the competition for the first time, welcomed the opportunity to showcase the area to riders and visitors.

“We were delighted to host Winner Epic Israel for the first time in our city, which is known as the city of bicycles, in partnership with KKL-JNF and the Toto,” Marley said. “The atmosphere was excellent, the riders enjoyed themselves, and the spectators had a great time cheering them on throughout the course.

“Hosting this international competition is part of our municipal efforts to promote sport and tourism, and it allowed us to introduce participants and visitors to our unique coastline and promenade. I am confident that this cooperation will expand in the coming years and contribute to strengthening the north in particular and Israel as a whole.”

Event brought renewed energy to communities still recovering

Mateh Asher Regional Council head and Confrontation Line Forum chairman Moshe Davidovich said the event had brought renewed energy to communities still recovering from the difficult years.

“We are concluding the Epic Israel competition with an enormous sense of pride and excitement,” Davidovich said. “The energy, determination and sporting spirit you brought with you, precisely here and precisely now, after the difficult years we have endured, have breathed new life into Mateh Asher and the entire Western Galilee.

“I congratulate the winners and thank all the participants and the production team for being genuine partners on the road to rehabilitation and growth. We have shown that the Galilee has come alive again. We will continue to rebuild and grow, and we look forward to welcoming you back next year.”

Aviad Friedman, head of the Northern Renewal Administration, also emphasized the significance of restoring major sporting events to the region, describing the race as a meeting point for people, communities and landscapes that demonstrated the north’s potential.

The administration, he said, would continue promoting initiatives that strengthen communities, encourage tourism and create opportunities for local residents and businesses as the region rebuilds.

For Caspi and Zaltzman, the return to the Western Galilee ended with a championship. For the communities that hosted the riders, the event offered a different kind of victory: the reopening of beloved trails, the return of visitors and another step toward restoring the north’s sporting, cultural and economic life.

After three years of disruption, Winner Epic Israel’s 2026 edition demonstrated that the roads to recovery can sometimes be found on two wheels.