The 26th edition of the Gran Canaria race starts this Wednesday 19th with the Vertical Kilometer from the Agaete Valley
More than 5,300 runners from 70 countries will participate in the different races
The race will feature a star-studded line-up of runners such as Jonathan Albon, Yngvild Kaspersen, Zach Miller, Judith Wyder, Miguel Heras, Ida Nilsson, Pau Capell, Robert Pkemoi and Raul Butaci, among others
The countdown is over and a new edition of one of the best trail races in the world is starting. The North Face Transgrancanaria will have the Classic as the main event, which will once again be part of the international circuit Gran Canaria World Trail Majors. As a novelty, the 47-kilometer Marathon will be scored for the Short Series of Gran Canaria World Trail Majors.
For the second consecutive year, the race will distribute 36,000 euros in prizes, matching last year’s amount, for the first three finishers in the Classic, Advanced, Marathon and Starter races.
Classic
The longest distance, 126 kilometers with 6,866 meters of positive elevation gain. The queen race will be the third stop of the Gran Canaria World Trail Majors after Hong Kong 100 and Black Canyon Ultras. A thousand runners will take the start on the beach of Las Canteras on Friday 21 at 23.59 hours, a spectacle worth seeing in the heart of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.
The debutant Yngvild Kaspersen will be one of the favorites to cross the Parque Sur finish line first. The Norwegian, winner in CCC and Zegama-Aizkorri has an ITRA ranking of 822, the highest among the riders of the main event. Her compatriot, Henriette Albon, winner in races such as Festival des Templiers and Ultra-Trail Snowdonia by UTMB, will be another of those who will fight for victory. Spain’s Claudia Tremps, six-time finisher with four podiums, and Maite Maiora, with two Marathon participations, are other names to watch.
In the men’s category, some of the main runners to follow are Jonathan Albon, Miguel Heras or Pau Capell. Albon, runner of The North Face team and trail world champion with ITRA 910 ranking, makes his debut in the Gran Canaria race and is one of the main favorites for the victory. Miguel Heras, Spanish trail legend, who was already champion in 2010 and runner-up last year, will try to be again among the favorites. Likewise, the king of the event, the Catalan of The North Face team Pau Capell, with four consecutive victories between 2017 and 2020, will try to return to the path of triumph.
Advanced
The race, which premieres new starting line in the municipality of Teror, will be the last to kick off on Saturday at 9.00 am. 82 kilometers with 4,265 meters of elevation gain where runners will be able to discover a miniature continent.
Some of the runners who start as favorites are the Swedish Ida Nilsson, winner in big races such as Marathon du Mont-Blanc The North Face Endurance Challenge California or Zegama-Aizkorri; the Japanese Yuri Yoshikumi, who was sixth last year in her debut in the race; Gemma Arenas, with two podiums in the Marathon distance or the Belgian based in Gran Canaria Dominique Van Mechgelen, athlete of the Arista Pro Team, winner of the Promo and Starter in 2015 and 2016, who also already has two participations in the Classic.
In the men’s category, several of the runners who will have to put the magnifying glass are Andrzej Witek, reigning champion of the distance; Raul Butaci, last winner of the Classic; the Italian Daniel Jung or the Portuguese Andre Rodrigues.
Marathon
It will be one of the most spectacular races with a fast pace between Tejeda and Maspalomas. In addition, it is the race where the number of registered participants has grown the most, exceeding 1,600 participants, who will start in three waves from the center of the municipality.
Jennifer Lichter; Sylvia Nordskar and Rosa María Lara will be some of the names to follow in the 47-kilometer distance. The North American from The North Face team already won the 2024 edition. The Spaniard Rosa María Lara also climbed the podium last year, while the Norwegian of the HOKA team makes her debut in the Gran Canaria race.
In the men’s category there will be a tough rivalry between several top riders such as Francesco Puppi, Robert Pkemoi and Miguel Arsénio. The Italian Puppi has an ITRA ranking of 928 and it will also be his first time on the island. Kenyan athlete Robert Pkemoi will try to chain his third consecutive victory in the race and make history. As for the Portuguese Miguel Arsénio, he is the recent winner of the international circuit Gran Canaria World Trail Majors and has participated twice in the Classic modality. Nor should the Italian Henri Aymonod, winner of the KV El Gigante last year, be ruled out.
Half
The 21-kilometer race between Tunte and Tejeda will start at 10.30 a.m. on Thursday. The Swiss runner Judith Wyder, despite being a rookie in The North Face Transgrancanaria, will undoubtedly be one of the top favorites in this distance. The Spanish Naira Irigoyen, is another of the debutants in the race, without forgetting other names such as the national runner Sheila Avilés.
This distance has an important line-up of Spanish runners who can opt for the final victory, such as Antonio Martínez, Alain Santamaría, Fabián Venero and Josep Miret, among others.
KV El Gigante
The race that will demand a greater power in the lower train of the athletes. Only 5.5 kilometers, but with 1,130 meters of elevation gain through the Tamadaba massif.
Several runners who will be repeating in this race will be running with KV El Gigante, such as Judith Wyder, Jennifer Lichter and Yuri Yoshikumi. As for the runners, the North American athlete of The North Face, Zach Miller, will participate for the first time in this distance, being one of the big names along with others like the Spaniards Alain Santamaría and Yoel De Paz or the aforementioned Henri Aymonod.
Modalities for all types of runners and families
The North Face Transgrancanaria will once again have the Youth and Family modalities, for the youngest athletes and those who want to enjoy outdoor sports with their families.
The Youth will be held for the first time this year in Teror and will have two distances of 5 and 10 kilometers. The basilica of the Villa Mariana will witness a race where athletes of all ages can participate. Likewise, the Family Trail modality will provide the opportunity for the youngest members of the family to have fun in the mountains with their parents. This modality will also be held entirely in Teror, an ideal municipality for adults and children to share a unique experience.
The Transgrancanaria Kids, sponsored by Abora by Lopesan Hotels, will be the event for the youngest and this year moves its start and finish line to Las Canteras Beach. The main objective of the race for children between 7 and 12 years old is to promote the love for mountain sports among the youngest and the practice of sports as a family.
The North Face Transgrancanaria is a race organized by Arista Eventos that is sponsored by the Cabildo de Gran Canaria institutions, through Turismo de Gran Canaria and the Insular Sports Institute; the Government of the Canary Islands with the Canary Islands Latitude of Life; Maspalomas Costa Canaria; the Municipal Sports Institute of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria; the Teror City Council and the Tejeda City Council. In addition, it has the support of private companies as The North Face, San Roque University Hospitals, and Fred. Olsen Express, 226ERS, Sonocom Audiovisuales, Lopesan Hotel Group, ExpoMeloneras and Aguas de Teror.
