Vélez-Málaga

El Desafío del Buda brings together 55 kilometres of MTB in Vélez-Málaga on Sunday, October 25

The race starts at 9:30 at the Paseo de Andalucía and goes through Canillas de Aceituno, the Estupa Karma Guen and Benamocarra, with 1,800 metres of elevation gain. There are MTB marathon and electric bicycle categories.

Raquel J. V. · Published on October 21, 2026 at 13:15

Mountain biking enthusiasts have a date on Sunday, October 25 in Vélez-Málaga. El Desafío del Buda offers a 55-kilometre route with 1,800 metres of accumulated positive elevation gain along mountain paths in the Axarquía. The start is set for 9:30 a.m. from the Paseo de Andalucía, the same point where the riders will arrive and where the post-race atmosphere will gather. The event offers two modalities: MTB marathon and electric bicycle (E-bike).

A route through the Axarquía

The itinerary connects Vélez-Málaga with Canillas de Aceituno, the Estupa Karma Guen and Benamocarra before returning to the municipality of Vélez. The route includes sections that demand effort and technical skill, with views of the sierras de Tejeda and Almijara. The organisation is handled by the Club Ciclista Veleño, with the collaboration of the concejalía de Deportes del Ayuntamiento de Vélez-Málaga. According to the concejal de Deportes, Manuel Gutiérrez, events like this allow people to «enjoy sport in a privileged setting and show everything that Vélez-Málaga and the Axarquía can offer to those who visit us».

Clay trophies for the winners

The top three finishers in each category, male and female, will receive handmade clay trophies made by a local artist. The president of the Club Ciclista Veleño, Francisco González, explains that the aim is for participants to find «a demanding event, but also the opportunity to discover places and landscapes that make the Axarquía a special setting for mountain biking».

Meeting point

The Paseo de Andalucía will be the centre of the day: the start takes place there at 9:30 a.m. and the riders are received there. The event once again places Vélez-Málaga on the mountain biking calendar.