Mountain biker Stephen Grima in action at Croatia’s 4 Islands Epic

The pair will take on one of the most distinctive stage races in the global mountain biking calendar.

The race’s tagline being Conquer the Rocks forsees five days of racing across the rocky terrain on the Kvarner Islands, covering 300 kilometres and 6,500 metres of climbing, starting in Baška on the island of Krk and finishing in Mali Lošinj.

From the stark beauty of the Moon Plateau to the exposed cliffs of Cres, and from a time trial on Unije to a technical finale on Lošinj, every stage has been designed to challenge, inspire, and reward.

The racing is deceptively tough, featuring steep climbs from sea level and technical rocky trails that test every rider’s endurance, skill, and teamwork.

Participation takes place in teams of two, who must stay together throughout the route.

Off the bike, riders enjoy ferry transfers between islands and boat or seaside hotel accommodation as part of a travelling race village that captures the true spirit of adventure.

For Grima, the race comes just weeks after completing the Absa Cape Epic in South Africa – or the second year in succession – one of the most gruelling mountain bike stage races on the planet.

The achievement underlines his growing reputation as one of Malta’s most tenacious endurance athletes, and he arrives in Croatia with hard-won fitness and race sharpness.

The 2026 edition features an exciting addition to the route, with the previously inaccessible island of Unije included for the first time, adding a new dimension to an already formidable course.

The race got underway on Tuesday and concludes on Saturday.

Stage 1 has been completed – 68km with 1,500m of climbing – with Team Gaudos finishing 51st in a time of 3:39:57.

Stage 2 is a longer and more challenging route at 85km with 1,850m of climbing.

Team Gaudos would like to thank the following sponsors for their invaluable support: Extra Karte, Visit Malta, SG Woodworks Ltd, Raico, National Gypsum Limited Malta, Wurth Malta, Pitre Hardware, Lourdes Opticians, JV Pharma, A. Caruana Enterprises Ltd and Xlendi Supermarket.