The Basque runner returns to the Island to repeat the triumph achieved in the 2022 edition
The Kenyan seeks to become the first runner to achieve three victories in the 47-kilometer modality with 1,784 meters of positive elevation gain
Their names are added to the already confirmed Tom Evans and Katharina Hartmuth in the Classic modality
Sara Alonso and Robert Pkemoi return to The North Face Transgrancanaria to try to reign in the Marathon modality. The Basque already achieved the victory in 2022, becoming her first major international victory in a successful sports career. The Kenyan, for his part, climbed to the top step of the podium in 2023 and 2024, and last year finished second after Francesco Puppi overtook him in the final meters before the finish line in Parque Sur de Maspalomas.
The names of Alonso and Pkemoi are added to the already known Tom Evans and Katharina Hartmuth, who will take part in the start of the Classic modality of The North Face Transgrancanaria, which scores for the international World Trail Majors circuit that brings together the best ultra-distance races in the world.
The young runner from Gipuzkoa, 26 years old and with an ITRA index of 799, achieved her first major international victory in the The North Face Transgrancanaria Marathon in 2022, which also catapulted her into the world of trail running. Since that race, the Asics Fuji Trail team runner has achieved numerous successes, such as the second place achieved this season in the Mountain and Trail Running World Championship held in the Aragonese town of Canfranc and in the Golden Trail Series.
Over the last few years, Alonso has also won important races such as the ETC of UTMB, La Asics SaintéLyon, Marathon du Mont-Blanc, or Zegama-Aizkorri. In addition, she has achieved other victories in races in the Archipelago, such as the 2022 edition of the LPA Trail, held in the city of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.
Photo by Ian Corless
Pkemoi, for his part, was close to becoming the first runner to achieve three consecutive victories in the The North Face Transgrancanaria Marathon in the last edition. The Joma Trail team runner, who won in 2023 and 2024, led the race until the Italian Francesco Puppi surpassed him in the final meters before crossing the finish line.
The Kenyan, with an ITRA score of 920, has three victories in the Salomon Ultra Pirineu to his name, as well as a fifth position in Zegama-Aizkorri, a sixth in Marathon du Mont-Blanc and Sierre-Zinal, and also a sixth place in the Golden Trail Series.
The North Face Transgrancanaria is a race organized by Arista Eventos with the sponsorship of the institutions Cabildo de Gran Canaria, through Turismo de Gran Canaria and the Insular Sports Institute; the Government of the Canary Islands with Islas Canarias Latitud de Vida; the City Council of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria through the Municipal Sports Institute of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria; the City Council of Teror and the City Council of Tejeda. In addition, it has the support of the companies The North Face, Hospitales Universitarios San Roque, Lopesan Hotel Group, ExpoMeloneras, 226ERS, Fred. Olsen Express, Sonocom Audiovisuales and Aguas de Teror.
