The Dutch cyclist, who dominated the 2025 edition with four consecutive stage wins, returns to Gran Canaria ready to retain her crown
The upcoming edition of the Fred. Olsen Express Transgrancanaria Bike will once again feature the presence of Tessa Kortekaas (Cannondale ISB Sport). Born in Voorhout (Netherlands, 1988) and currently based in Lanzarote, Kortekaas returns to Gran Canaria aiming to replicate her 2025 triumph. Last year, she delivered a historic performance, winning all four days of competition without ever relinquishing the yellow jersey.
Kortekaas arrives at the event in excellent form. So far in 2026, she has already secured a podium finish at the Andalucía Bike Race by Garmin (3rd place) and completed a solid performance at the Absa Cape Epic in South Africa, finishing 5th. Her current UCI ranking (18th with 660 points) confirms her status as one of the most prominent figures in international women’s mountain biking.
The year 2025 was her best season to date. In addition to her clean sweep in Gran Canaria, Kortekaas won the Club La Santa 4 Stage MTB Lanzarote, the Andalucía Bike Race by Garmin, and the 4Islands Epic. She rounded off the year as the national XCM runner-up in León and earned a 5th place at the Spar Swiss Epic in Davos (Switzerland).
Her dominance in the last edition was absolute from the very first kilometer. After taking control of the race with a victory at Cañón del Águila, she never looked back. Her final time of 7:40:52 put her nearly twenty minutes ahead of the runner-up, Manuela Muresan. Now, bolstered by the lessons of 2024 (where she finished 2nd) and the confidence of her 2025 sweep, Kortekaas returns with a clear objective: to defend a title she won in flawless fashion.
Registration open and new “Half” modality Registration for the next Fred. Olsen Express Transgrancanaria Bike remains open via the official website www.transgrancanariabike.com. The organization maintains special prices for Canary Islands residents and offers various participation formats: from the full “All Stages” to individual stages, three-day packages, or weekend options.
The highlight of this edition is the new Half modality, designed for those who want to experience the essence of the race in a more condensed format. Spanning four days and a total of 103 kilometers, it offers the same landscapes and community spirit as the full course but in a more accessible yet equally intense challenge.
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