Mountain bikers head north as Winner Epic Israel announces return to Galilee after 3 years of war
“After three years in which this region was almost entirely off the cycling map, we want to be among the first to return," Gal Tsachor said. Winner Epic Israel 2026 will return to the Western Galilee for the first time since the war forced the closure of the region’s trails nearly three years ago, bringing hundreds of mountain bikers back to the North from October 14-17.
Winner Epic Israel, a four-day mountain biking event, will return to Israel's Western Galilee region in October for the first time since the war forced the closure of the trails nearly three years ago. Gal Tsachor, founder and producer of Winner Epic Israel, stated that the return is significant because the region was almost entirely off the cycling map during the war, and the event brings hundreds of mountain bikers, families, and business to the area.
The race will cover approximately 300 kilometers with 3,000 meters of cumulative climbing, passing through rehabilitated forests, singletrack trails, and off-road terrain. Tsachor emphasized that the event's return to the North is about more than a change of scenery; it symbolizes the region's recovery and the return of public access to natural spaces.
The event also includes wounded IDF veterans from Brothers for Life, an organization supporting soldiers wounded during military service, further highlighting its community-focused nature. KKL-JNF, a partner in the event, has been rehabilitating and upgrading over 2,500 kilometers of cycling trails across Israel, with a focus on the North.
The return of the race coincides with these rehabilitation efforts, symbolizing the region's progress and growth.
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