Maximus O Meeting 2026 is getting closer, and everything points towards a memorable edition built on one clear idea: pure orienteering. Four competition days, four very different challenges, and a carefully selected collection of new and mostly unused terrains will test every athlete’s ability to adapt, decide, and execute under pressure.
From the first contact with the terrain in the model event to the final decisive meters of the chase start, MOM 2026 has been designed to reward smart navigation, technical discipline, and mental resilience. Whether you are a young athlete taking your first international steps or an elite runner chasing victory, this edition will demand your full attention.
Stage 1 – LONG Distance
MOM 2026 starts properly with a demanding and beautiful long distance in the surroundings of El Atizadero, in Santa Cruz de Pinares. This completely new area makes its debut with a high-quality map by Tommi Hakuli, perfectly suited for a classic long-distance race.
What makes this stage special is the extraordinary variety of terrain within the same area. Steep rocky slopes, rich landforms with re-entrants and spurs, fast and flat dehesa, and complex zones with dense vegetation all appear along the course. Long route choice legs are naturally integrated, forcing runners to commit to their decisions.
This race will reward those who can adapt their technique section by section and maintain proactive map reading from start to finish.
Tip: Adjust your technique continuously and never switch off mentally.
Stage 2 – MIDDLE Distance
The middle distance in Dehesa de Navaluenga is set to be one of the highlights of the entire week. After the western part of this area was awarded Course of the Year by WorldOfO in 2024, MOM 2026 moves to the eastern side, opening a completely new section of this iconic terrain.
The map, originally created by Janne Weckman and Timo Joensuu and extended by Tommi Hakuli, offers a dream setting for middle-distance orienteering. Expect countless rock features, fast re-entrants, frequent transitions, and short to medium legs with extremely high technical demands.
Here, success depends on micro route choices, simplification, and flawless execution. Speed alone will not save you.
Tip: Slow down mentally, always have a plan, and stop for five seconds before making a mistake.
Stage 3 – SPRINT Distance
The sprint race takes place in the hillside village of Navatalgordo, delivering one of the most demanding urban sprints of the season. Steep slopes, short and irregular streets, and a dense network of details define this technical challenge.
At a scale of 1:3000, the map requires sharp visual focus and constant concentration. Rocks, rock slabs, retaining walls, fences, and narrow passages leave very little room for hesitation. Mental fatigue will play a major role, especially towards the end of the race.
Some longer courses will include a map change, adding another layer of complexity to an already intense sprint experience.
Tip: Stay focused until the very last control. This sprint offers no mental rest.
Stage 4 – CHASE/MIDDLE Distance
The final outcome of Maximus O Meeting 2026 will be decided, as tradition dictates, in an exciting chase start. After three demanding days, accumulated fatigue and head-to-head racing will push everyone to their limits.
The stage takes place in a completely new area of El Burguillo, mapped by a unique combination of Weckman, Joensuu, García Catalán and Hakuli. The terrain is technically tough, featuring dense rock detail, cliffs, bare rock slabs, and vegetation that constantly changes visibility and runnability.
Trusting the compass, finding clean progression lines, and executing precise control attacks will be essential. Diagonal legs, in particular, demand a clear and disciplined plan.
Tip: Don’t follow blindly. Navigate your own race until the very end.
MOM 2026 is shaping up to be an edition where decisions matter, technique is constantly tested, and every stage brings a new kind of challenge.
Welcome to Maximus O Meeting 2026.
Where #thebestchooseMAXIMUS.
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