The 47-kilometer race adds two world-class figures, strengthening the star-studded lineup for the 27th edition
The North Face Transgrancanaria 2026 continues to announce big names for its upcoming event, taking place from March 4 to 8. Organizers have introduced two new elite runners who will compete in the Marathon distance: Catalonia’s Núria Gil, who will look to repeat her 2023 victory, and Finland’s Juho Ylinen, who aims to reach the top step of the podium after two previous top-three finishes on the island.
Núria Gil (Asics Fuji Trail Team) holds an ITRA ranking of 747 points, placing her among the top runners on the international circuit. The Catalan athlete knows the Gran Canaria trails well, having been crowned champion of the 47-kilometer race in 2023.
Gil enters the event following a victory in November at the 25K Muntanyes de Prades Epic Trail Costa Daurada, adding another win to a career full of success. Her most notable achievements include victories at races such as the mozart 100 by UTMB (2024), the Chianti Ultra Trail by UTMB (2024), and Val d’Aran by UTMB (2023).
Her international track record also includes a fourth-place finish at the World Trail Running Championships in Thailand (2022) and a silver medal at the European Championships in El Paso (2022). She has also graced the podium at high-prestige races like the OCC, where she finished second in 2022, and the Salomon Ultra Pirineu, where she won the half marathon (2021) and took second in the marathon (2022).
Juho Ylinen: el especialista finlandés busca su primera victoria
Juho Ylinen: The Finnish Specialist Seeks His First Victory
Hoka runner Juho Ylinen arrives in Gran Canaria with 883 ITRA points and a very special relationship with Transgrancanaria. The Finn has proven his affinity for the island’s demanding terrain in recent years: he was second in 2024, third in 2023, and fifth in 2022. This makes him one of the most consistent runners in the race and a serious contender to finally clinch the overall win.
In 2025, Ylinen secured a second-place finish at the prestigious Festival des Templiers and claimed victories in both the vertical kilometer and the 25K at the Ultramediterrània Terres de Trail. In addition to his consistency at Transgrancanaria, the Nordic runner boasts an extensive list of trail marathon victories in his home country, establishing himself as a prominent figure on the European circuit.
A Premier Lineup
With these additions, Núria Gil and Juho Ylinen join the previously announced Sara Alonso and Robert Pkemoi in the Marathon distance—both of whom are past winners of the 47-kilometer race. The elite field for The North Face Transgrancanaria 2026 is further bolstered by names such as Jonathan Albon, Katarzyna Dombrowska, Tom Evans, Katharina Hartmuth, Josh Wade, Maite Maiora, Henriette Albon, and Martin Kern, shaping up to be one of the most competitive starting grids in recent years.
The North Face Transgrancanaria is organized by Arista Eventos and is sponsored by several institutions: the Cabildo de Gran Canaria (through Gran Canaria Tourism and the Insular Sports Institute); the Government of the Canary Islands (with Canary Islands Latitud de Vida); the Town Council of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (through the Municipal Sports Institute); and the Town Councils of Teror and Tejeda. Additionally, the event is supported by The North Face, Hospitales Universitarios San Roque, Lopesan Hotel Group, ExpoMeloneras, 226ERS, Fred. Olsen Express, Sonocom Audiovisuales, and Aguas de Teror.
