Embargoed areas

Embargoed Areas until 28th May 2026.
The areas marked on the map are embargoed for all orienteering activities, unless specifically permitted by the organiser.
The embargoed areas are out of bounds for all potential participants and team members, including competitors, team leaders, coaches, doctors, escorts, and any other person with a potential connection to a team (athletes or others).
This means that all potential participants and team members are not allowed to visit these areas with or without a map at all, regardless of whether it is an orienteering activity or a training session, a walk with the dog or a leisurely Sunday stroll.
Almeida city center may be visited on foot or by car without an orienteering map; any orienteering or MTBO activity, cycling, running, using a map or testing route choices are forbidden.

Classes

EMTBOC, World Cup – WOMEN, MEN
EYMTBOC – W17, M17
EJMTBOC – W20, M20

Competitors representing member federations of the IOF, defined by the International Olympic Committee as belonging to the European continent, can compete in the EMTBOC. Competitors representing other member federations of the IOF can participate in EMTBOC but will not be eligible for European titles, medals or diplomas.
All competitors must be citizens of the country of the federation they are representing. Competitors participate at their own risk.
Third-party insurance and personal injury insurance are compulsory and are the responsibility of the competitors’ federation or themselves.

European MTB Orienteering Championships, MTB Orienteering World Cup

There is one class for women (WOMEN) and one for men (MEN). There are no age restrictions. Each federation may enter up to 6 women and 6 men for all individual competitions, plus the current World Champions and European Champions in each format (distance).
Additionally, each federation may enter up to a further 2 women and 2 men, who qualify for the Women U23 and Men U23 classes respectively, in each individual competition.
In the Mixed Relay, each federation may enter a maximum of 4 teams of 3 riders.
Each team must include at least 1 woman.
Each federation may enter a maximum of 5 team officials. Each competitor must have a valid IOF Athlete Licence.
Each competitor must have a valid IOF Athlete Licence.

European Youth MTB Orienteering Championships

There is one class for women (W17) and one for men (M17). Only competitors who were born in 2009 or later are entitled to compete in these classes.
Each federation may enter a maximum of 6 competitors in each class for all individual competitions. The organising federation may have 2 additional competitors as official EYMTBOC competitors in the individual competitions.
These competitors must start in the lowest-ranked start group. In the Relay, each federation may enter up to 2 teams of 3 riders per class

European Junior MTB Orienteering Championships

There is one class for women (W20) and one for men (M20). Only competitors who were born in 2006 or later are entitled to compete in these classes.
Each federation may enter a maximum of 6 competitors in each class for all individual competitions. The organising federation may have 2 additional competitors as official EJMTBOC competitors in the individual competitions. These competitors must start in the lowest-ranked start group.
In the Relay, each federation may enter up to 2 teams of 3 riders per class.

Public Races

Open competitions will be offered.

There are 4 classes
Easy short and Easy long
Difficult short and Difficult long

For the mixed relay
Popular (3 athletes)

Model Event

The maps are provided at the secretariat (EC).
Schedule of model event:
24th May: 10:00-15:00 – Model event in Miúzela (GPS: 40°30’43.5″N 7°00’14.5″W)

Travel & Logistic
Distance from EC to Miúzela: 30 Km (30 min driving).
Parking: In areas marked with signs.
Available map scales: 1/7.500, Eq 5m  //  1/10.000, Eq 5m  //  1/15.000, Eq 5m

Terrain description

Winning times & Preliminary Course details

Open courses

The open courses will be available in parallel with the EMTBOC & EJYMTBOC, and there is an offer of 4 days of competition on the same terrain and maps.
Four open courses will be available: Easy short, Easy long, Difficult short and Difficult long.
It is possible to register for these courses on the days of the event, but pre-registration is recommended
to guarantee map availability.
Participation requires advance registration on the website: https://www.orioasis.pt/oasis/events.php?action=event_view_info&eventid=3219&lang=en_UK

Old maps

Below you can find a set of pre-existing maps in the area.

Competition Rules

The competition will be conducted in compliance with the rules in effect at the time of the event:

General MTBO rules

  • Competitors must get to all control points with their bikes.
  • The bicycle must be with the competitor at all times.
  • Wearing a rigid safety helmet is compulsory during competitions and training sessions.
  • It is forbidden to use roads or tracks marked with purple crosses or a purple zigzag line on the map.
  • Riding outside the mapped area during the competition is not allowed.
  • National traffic rules must be followed.

Non-compliant competitors or competitors who break any rule may be disqualified.

Quarantine zones

The start of quarantine will be organised for every competition. No finish quarantine will be organised during the event.

All quarantines will have toilets, drinking water (participants must bring their own bottles), a limited number of tents for participants, and a designated location for transporting participants’ belongings to the finish.

Teams are allowed to set up their own tents in all quarantine areas. The organisers will not transport bike trainers (rollers) or tents to the finish – this is the responsibility of team leaders. Important! Competitors must not use or carry devices that can transmit or receive information, to or from a remote source, between entering the quarantine zone and reaching the finish in a race, unless the equipment is approved by the organiser. Organisers may check compliance with this rule.

Start quarantine rules:

  • Competitors must be inside the quarantine zone by the time it is activated (see time schedule of each day).
  • After quarantine is activated, team officials may leave the quarantine zone but not enter or re-enter. Team officials must show an accreditation to enter the quarantine zone.
  • The start quarantine ends when the last athlete has started.

Starting order

EMTBOC: For an interval start the starting order must be drawn in up to four starting groups. Competitors ranked 1–15 in the IOF World Ranking list as published 10 days before the event (14 May 2026) are placed in group 4, competitors ranked 16-30 are placed in group 3, competitors ranked 31-45 are placed in group 2. All other competitors are placed in group 1. For every athlete ranked 1-45 that is not entered for the competition, the size of the specific start group is reduced by one. Within every group the starting order is drawn at random. Starting group 1 starts first, followed by group 2, 3 and at the end group 4.

EJMTBOC, EYMTBOC: The start draw must be made with 3 starting groups, each starting group being drawn at random. Competitors from the same Federation must not start consecutively. In each individual competition each Federation must allocate its competitors to specified starting groups. A Federation must allocate one competitor to each group first (before allocating a second competitor to the same group). For teams not submitting the allocation forms in time the organisers will allocate the starting group.

Starting Procedure Sprint, Middle and Long distance

Clear and Battery Test boxes will be available outside the Start Box

When entering the Start Box, on minute -3 the SI Card will be checked (SIAC ON)
and on minute -2 there will be a Wireless SIAC Test

Athletes take their map on minute -1. Each athlete is responsible for taking the right map

Late Start

Competitors who are late for their start time will be permitted to start. A separate corridor will be marked for late starters. If the competitor is at the start line less than half the start interval after their start time, they will be allowed to start immediately. If the competitor is at the start line more than half the start interval after their start time, they will be allowed to start at the next available half start interval.

Starting Procedure Mass Start and Relay

Clear and Battery Test boxes will be available outside the entrance to
the start zone.
When entering the Start Zone, the SI Card will be Checked (SIAC ON)
and there will be a Wireless SIAC immediately after

Mass Start and Relay Start 1st leg

Competitors line up standing over their bikes. They receive their maps at their bikes 15 seconds
before the start. The bike must be stationary and competitors must keep at least one foot on the
ground until the start signal (whistle sound).

2nd and 3rd athletes Relay Start

At the entrance to the starting area there is a structure like the one in the picture,
where the rolled-up and identified maps are placed.
The athletes receive their map and keep it rolled up until they receive a touch
from the previous teammate.
Please note that competitors who jump the start (i.e. start too early/before the
official signal) or look at the map too early in a mass-start format race (Mass start
and Relay) may get a time penalty of two minutes added to their time.

Finish Procedure

For all competitions competitor’s time will be stopped by passing finish line (no visible finish station). SIAC function will be automatically switched off after passing finish line.

Start Bibs

EMTBOC:
Competitors will receive a separate bib for each competition. Bibs are prepared according to the start list and will be handed out at the end of the Team Leaders Meeting or can be collected from the Event Office on the following morning before the race.

EJMTBOC and EYMTBOC:
Competitors will receive one bib valid for all individual competitions. The bib must be securely attached to the front of the bike. Competitors without a start bib will not be allowed to start. If a bib is lost, a replacement can be obtained at the Event Office for a fee of 10 EUR. Bib attachment materials will be provided by the organisers.

Punching and time-keeping

SPORTident Air+. a system for contactless punching with SI Active Cards (SIAC) with a working range of 150 – 180 cm will be used.
Competitors may use their own SIAC. Rental SIACs will be available from the organisers at €4,00 per day.
One extra SIAC (Backup card) may be used by the athlete, it should contain all the correct punches to be accepted in case of the main card failure.
Important: this extra SIAC card must be registered in the organisers’ database.

The organisers will not provide a backup SIAC to competitors.
It is their responsibility to clear and activate all SIAC cards they use.
Participants are advised to study the Guidelines SPORTident AIR+ in MTBO, which are available here.

Backup system

A backup punching method will be available for the competitor to record their visit in the case of a failure of the wireless punching unit (BS11), a BS7/8/9 (Air+ Off) unit will be available and must be controlled by the competitors in the case of faill of the main unit.

The typical real-life failures include:

-SIAC card failure – Battery runs off during the course / Card turns off or freezes (rare)

-BS11-BS station is not activated / BS11-BS station fails (rare)

GPS Tracking

EMTBOC:

All athletes will receive a GPS each day.
The device should be collected in the start quarantine area at least 15 min. before the start.
GPS devices have a vest. Athletes who have GPS vests or pockets on the back of their uniforms can use them to store GPS devices.
The GPS device must be returned at the end of each day, and the vest will be returned on the last day (Lost vest cost €40).
The GPS tracks visibility for the general public will open at the times listed in the schedule, after activating the start quarantine.

EJYMTBOC:

Each day, some athletes will receive a GPS.
At each Team Leaders meeting, the athletes who will be carrying GPS devices will be announced.
The device should be collected in the start quarantine area at least 15 min. before the start.
GPS devices have a vest. Athletes who have GPS vests or pockets on the back of their uniforms can use them to store GPS devices.
The GPS device and the vest must be returned at the end of each day.
The GPS tracks visibility for the general public will open at the times listed in the schedule, after activating the start quarantine.

Wining times

Winning times in minutes (according to the IOF MTBO Competition Rules)

Format (distance)M/W 21M/W 20M/W 17
Long/Mass start75-8584-9270-75
Middle50-5540-4432-37
Sprint20-2516-2015-20
Relay40-45 / 120-13535-40 / 105-12030-35 / 90-105

Anti-Doping

Doping is strictly forbidden, and the organisers of EMTBOC/World Cup are dedicated to supporting the anti-doping authorities in their work. Doping tests are always carried out in accordance with the procedures described in the WADA International Standard for Testing. The IOF Anti-Doping Rules and the World Anti-Doping Code apply.
Athletes who are selected for the doping tests must bring an official identification (with a photo) to the doping test area. The athlete should also bring along their therapeutic use exemption (TUE) if applicable. In general, it is advisable that the athletes bring along their ID to all competitions and events. For more information and anti-doping documents, please consult: https://orienteering.sport/iof/anti-doping

Complaints

  • A complaint may be made by team officials or competitors about infringements of the rules or the organiser’s directions.
  • Any complaint must be made in writing on the IOF complaint and protest form, which is available from the event office in the finish arena.
  • Complaints must be made as soon as possible and handed in to the event office in the finish arena. The time limit for complaints is 15 minutes after the provisional results have been announced by the speaker.
  • Complaints received after this time limit will only be considered if there are valid exceptional circumstances, which must be explained in the complaint.
  • There is no fee for a complaint.

Protests

  • A protest may be made against the organiser’s decision about a complaint. It may only be made by the team official or competitor who made the complaint.
  • Any protest must be made in writing on the IOF complaint and protest form, which is available from the event office in the finish arena.
  • A protest must be made no later than 15 minutes after the organiser has informed the complainant of the decision about the complaint. Protests received after this time limit may be considered at the discretion of the jury if there are valid exceptional circumstances, which must be explained in the protest.
  • A protest must be handed in to the event office in the finish arena.
  • A protest fee of 50 EUR (or the equivalent in local currency) must be paid when making a protest. It is possible to pay the fee electronically directly to the IOF Office via the IOF website https://orienteering.sport/iof/governance-and-organisation/iof-office/ (by credit card or via a PayPal account). If the protest is accepted by the jury, the fee will be returned.

Jury members

Thomas Hnilica, AUT; Daniel Marques, POR; Jiri Vrany, CZE; Ursula Häusermann, SUI (reserve and remote)

Training Opportunities

DateEventVenue
18,19 April 2026Long Distance National ChampionshipsAbrantes