Lagoa 2025: FLYCARB On the Ground at the European Cross Country Championships

This year, we (Jack and Josh) were on the ground at the European Cross Country Championships in Lagoa. It was a great visit, we were supporting athletes, meeting coaches, and sharing the FLYCARB story with runners from across Europe. In our discussions it was clear how central sodium bicarbonate is becoming to elite cross country racing.

The Lagoa course was technical, fast, and hilly. Tight turns, aggressive starts, and constant surges created exactly the kind of conditions where bicarbonate can flourish. With flavoured options, affordable pricing, and Informed Sport certification, it is no surprise that more and more athletes are choosing BICARRB for cross country.

FLYCARB Athlete Performances at the European XC Championships

Pancho Panchev | European Cross Country Debut

Pancho Panchev made his European Cross Country Championships debut in Lagoa, representing Bulgaria.

Following a breakthrough 2025 season, with personal bests across the track and major progress in cross country, Pancho delivered a calm, controlled race in a stacked field. He finished as the second Bulgarian scorer, showing maturity well beyond his first championships.

After the race, Pancho said:

“I feel really proud to have qualified for the Euros and delighted with how the race went. It was definitely a race I learned a lot from, and I aim to be back next year fuelled by FLYCARB.”

Pancho’s performance reflects what FLYCARB stands for: long-term development, learning to race championships, and building consistency over time.

Matthew Ramsden | 6th at the European U23 Cross Country Championships

Matthew Ramsden closed out 2025 with one of the strongest performances of his career.

After winning his first British Cross Country title at Sefton Park, Matt carried that momentum into Lagoa, finishing an outstanding 6th place at the European U23 Cross Country Championships.

Two races, two very different courses, and two composed performances.

Matt’s ability to handle repeated surges, tight corners, and late-race intensity highlighted why BICARRB works so well for cross country. Championship racing rewards athletes who can buffer fatigue and still change pace when it matters most.

As we look ahead to 2026, Matt is well on track to establish himself among Europe’s senior elite.

Marta Zenoni | European Cross Country Champion ?

One of the standout moments of the championships came in the mixed relay, where Marta Zenoni led Italy to gold at the European Cross Country Championships.

Fuelled by FLYCARB Mango BICARRB, Marta summed it up simply:

“FLYCARB made me fly, simple. It now has the mango flavour too which made it much easier to eat.”

Supporting the Italian relay team to a European title was a proud moment for us, and a clear sign of FLYCARB’s growing presence in elite European endurance sport.

Growing FLYCARB Across Europe

From British medal winners to Italian champions and European debuts, Lagoa showed how far FLYCARB has grown across Europe. Being there, and supporting athletes across so many countries, reminded us why we started FLYCARB. We're excited to see what happens next.