Winner Epic Israel 2026 will return to the Western Galilee for the primary time for the reason that battle compelled the closure of the area’s trails almost three years in the past, bringing tons of of mountain bikers again to the North from October 14-17.
Held in reminiscence of the late Giora Tsachor and in partnership with Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael-Jewish Nationwide Fund (KKL-JNF), the four-day occasion is sponsored by Winner and Specialised. The race will happen all through the Mateh Asher Regional Council and Nahariya, passing by way of forests, singletrack trails and off-road terrain which have not too long ago been rehabilitated and reopened.
The race will cowl roughly 300 kilometers and three,000 meters of cumulative climbing. Along with the complete four-day competitors, the occasion will function one-day races, a junior race and a relay race.
For Gal Tsachor, founder and producer of Winner Epic Israel and one of many main figures in Israel’s biking business, the return to the North is about way over a change of surroundings.
“For us, Winner Epic Israel’s return to the North is about far more than selecting a brand new route,” Tsachor mentioned. “After three years during which this area was nearly totally off the biking map, we need to be among the many first to return. When tons of of riders come right here, they convey with them households, buddies, in a single day stays, eating places and enterprise for native institutions. We would like the race to be a part of this motion and to assist convey the North again to life.”
Tsachor mentioned the occasion additionally carries a private significance because it continues the legacy of his father, the late Giora Tsachor, in whose reminiscence the race is held every year.
“Winner Epic Israel was born out of a love for this nation, biking and neighborhood, and it continues the legacy of my father, the late Giora Tsachor, whom we commemorate yearly,” he mentioned. “Returning to the North after three years is a major second for us. This isn’t nearly driving trails – it’s a assertion. We need to be there, to experience there and to point out that the North is coming again.”
Race’s return coincides with KKL-JNF rehabilitation of northern Israel
The return of the race coincides with intensive rehabilitation work being carried out by Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael-Jewish Nationwide Fund all through northern Israel. KKL-JNF has developed greater than 2,500 kilometers of biking trails throughout the nation and is at present upgrading roughly 100 kilometers of singletrack trails within the North, together with these in Hanita, Kabri, Yehiam and Matzuva that had been closed through the battle.
Winner Epic Israel will move by way of a few of these rehabilitated trails, as soon as once more bringing cyclists to one in every of Israel’s premier biking locations, with its intensive community of forests, woodlands and Galilee landscapes.
KKL-JNF Chairman Eyal Ostrinsky described the race’s return as an emblem of the area’s restoration.
“Winner Epic Israel’s return to the North is a strong image of the North coming again to life,” Ostrinsky mentioned. “For 3 years, the paths and forests within the area had been closed to the general public, and all through this era KKL-JNF has been and continues to hold out intensive work to rehabilitate, improve and restore these pure and leisure areas.”
Ostrinsky added that seeing tons of of cyclists return to the reopened trails demonstrates the tangible impression of that rehabilitation.
“KKL-JNF will proceed to spend money on the North, in its forests, biking trails, and tourism and leisure infrastructure, primarily based on the assumption that bringing the general public again to those areas is an integral a part of the area’s rehabilitation and progress,” he mentioned.
The occasion may also embody wounded IDF veterans from Brothers for Life, a company that helps troopers wounded throughout their navy service and assists them all through their rehabilitation. Their participation will add one other dimension to the race’s return, bringing collectively aggressive biking, neighborhood exercise and the general public’s renewed entry to northern Israel’s pure areas.
Winner Epic Israel collaborated with Toto Winner, KKL-JNF for 2026 race
The Toto Winner, which is partnering with the occasion alongside KKL-JNF, additionally views the race as a possibility to help the North’s restoration.
“The Toto is proud to as soon as once more associate with Winner Epic Israel, in partnership with KKL-JNF – a contest held to excessive skilled requirements that presents Israel in a constructive gentle,” mentioned Meir Bardugo, CEO of the Toto Winner (The Israel Sports activities Betting Board). “For us, that is one other option to categorical our dedication to advancing Israeli sports activities and, this 12 months, additionally to participate within the effort to strengthen the North, help its rehabilitation and assist restore regular life.”
The 2026 race may also mark the primary 12 months of a partnership between Winner Epic Israel and Matzman-Specialised.
“That is our first 12 months along with Winner Epic Israel, and we’ve got two causes to be proud,” mentioned Roy Kapach, Head of Commerce and Technique at Matzman-Specialised. “On the one hand, we’re participating within the race’s return to the gorgeous North after a number of tough years, and on the opposite, we’re partnering with one in every of Israel’s most important and prestigious sporting occasions.”
Kapach mentioned the partnership would assist reconnect Specialised with cyclists within the area.
“For us, this is a chance to reconnect with the biking neighborhood, restore confidence in and the love of biking within the North, and be a part of the motion bringing the area again to exercise and regular life,” he mentioned.
Nahariya Mayor Marelli says race promotes sports activities, tourism
Nahariya will host the occasion for the primary time, with Mayor Ronen Marelli highlighting the town’s efforts to advertise each sports activities and tourism.
“Nahariya is delighted to host the Winner Epic Israel competitors for the primary time, in partnership with KKL-JNF and the Toto,” Marelli mentioned. “Internet hosting the worldwide competitors is a part of the town’s efforts to advertise sports activities and tourism and can introduce contributors and guests to our shoreline and distinctive seafront.”
“Nahariya has been and can proceed to be Israel’s biking metropolis,” he added. “I’m assured that this partnership will develop within the years forward and contribute to strengthening northern Israel and the State of Israel.”
Mateh Asher Regional Council head Moshe Davidovich equally welcomed the return of the occasion, saying the area must see tourism, exercise and guests return after years of disruption.
“The return of Winner Epic Israel to the North is necessary information for Mateh Asher and the Western Galilee,” Davidovich mentioned. “After three years during which our residents endured a tough interval and your entire area was compelled to place its day by day routine on maintain, we have to convey exercise, tourism and other people again right here.”
“A sporting occasion like Winner Epic Israel places the North again within the highlight and reminds everybody of the area’s magnificence and power,” he added. “I congratulate the organizers, KKL-JNF and the companions on their choice to return right here, and I hope it will mark the start of a brand new interval – one in every of rehabilitation, progress and a return to regular life.”
