The Brazilian mountain biking delegation kicked off the 2026 Pan American Championships in Paraguay with a dominant performance in the Eliminator (XCE) event, sweeping all the podiums in both the men’s and women’s categories.
During the qualifying rounds held this Wednesday (15) at the AguaVista Club in Campo Residencial, Brazilian athletes occupied the top three positions in both the elite men’s and women’s categories, securing six medals on the first day of official competition.
In the men’s category, Luiz Henrique Cocuzzi lived up to his status as favorite and won his third Pan American title in the event. This victory maintains the athlete’s dominance in the discipline, joined on the podium by Nicolás Machado, who took silver, and Lázaro Moreira, with the bronze medal. The XCE event, characterized by fast-paced elimination rounds, demanded pinpoint accuracy to determine the final standings.
“It’s a very special day for my family. I’m happy for my victory and also for my sister Luiza, who won. The race was very competitive and fast. We reached the final with three Brazilian women, all very well prepared, and I managed to finish with my third XCE title. I’m very happy and motivated for the coming days,” declared Luiz Cocuzzi.
Among the women, Luiza Cocuzzi celebrated her second continental championship after overtaking her rivals in a race decided by the narrowest of margins. The women’s podium was also entirely Brazilian, with Iara Caetano in second place and Marcela Lima completing the podium with the bronze medal.
“It was an incredible race, decided by millimeters, which demonstrates the technical skill of all the athletes. The pace was intense from start to finish, and I’m very satisfied with the result. I want to thank everyone for their support, especially my family, who are the foundation of everything so that we can continue to progress,” emphasized Luiza Cocuzzi.
The 2026 Pan American MTB XC Championships continue until next Sunday (April 19). The relay races (Team Relays – XCR) will take place on Thursday, and the program also includes the Short Track (XCC) races on Friday and the XCO finals for the Elite and Under-23 categories over the weekend.
Source: https://bikemagazine.com.br