2024 XTERRA European Trail Run Championship Recap: A Spaniard Sweep

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ARINSAL - LA MASSANA, ANDORRA - On July 21, 2024, the XTERRA European Trail Run Championship was held in the Pyrenees, attracting trail runners from across Europe and beyond. In the 36K Trail Marathon, the winners were Martí Lázaro Cordero (ESP) and Roser Español Bada (ESP), while the 24K Half Marathon was led by Fabián Venero Jiménez (ESP) and Laura Orgue Vila (ESP).

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Marking its second year of inclusion in the XTERRA Trail Run World Series the event was elevated in 2024 as one of three major championships in the world, drawing participants to compete amidst the challenging terrain through and above Andorra’s Arinsal and La Massana regions. 

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Navigating paths carved through the rugged landscapes embodies the essence of the XTERRA Community that pursues adventure through global competition and camaraderie. This year's edition lived up to expectations with a total prize purse of €5,200 in the Comapedrosa Nature Park, known for its high altitudes and panoramic scenery. 

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Course Implications and Impact

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The 36K Trail Marathon and the 24K Half Marathon Championship races offered 116 qualification slots for each distance. These slots provide top finishers from around the world the opportunity to compete at the 2024 XTERRA Trail Run World Championship in Sugarloaf, Maine, USA on September 1st. Additionally, qualifiers have the option to defer their participation to the 2025 XTERRA Trail Run World Championship, which is set to be held in Snowdonia National Park, Wales, UK.

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The 24K Half Marathon launched from the town of Arinsal in the Andorran Pyrenees. The race began with a gradual climb through wild forests, allowing runners to sync with the trail’s rhythm. As they progressed, the path steadily steepened, transitioning into more demanding stretches that led to the rocky ascents of the Comapedrosa Refuge. The elevation gain increased as the trail became increasingly technical, culminating in the climb to Comapedrosa, Andorra’s highest peak at 2,942 meters. This section demanded precision on narrow paths, offering the views as a reward for the toughest journey upward. The descent from the summit was equally challenging, with loose rocks and steep drops that required sharp focus.

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The 36K Trail Marathon placed runners in the heart of Andorra's wilderness with a steady ascent through steeper and more complex climbs to Comapedrosa. At the top, 360-degree views welcomed the trail runners, serving as a brief respite before the journey continued. The technical descent back to Arinsal included faster, more runnable sections, urging runners to accelerate towards the finish line. With a total elevation gain of about 3,600 meters, this 2024 XTERRA European Championship course was an ultimate test of power and endurance.

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Trail Marathon Recap

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In the men’s race, Martí Lázaro Cordero (ESP) won with a time of 4h45:43. He was closely followed by Marc Pinsach Rubirola (ESP), who completed the race in 4h51:04, and Marc Bernades Olle (ESP), finishing in 4h52:40.

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Martí Lázaro Cordero described the day by saying, "The race started with a small group of 3-4 runners climbing towards Col de las Casas, heading to Bar Canela. Marc [Pinsach Rubirola] and I ended up running most of the race together, taking turns leading and maintaining a high pace." The duo tackled the Burna ridge and the peak De Les Fonts before descending to Pla De L'estany for a quick refuel. "Marc set a high pace towards Port Negro, trying to pull away. I managed to keep up, and we reached Cole de la Botella, where he gained a few meters ahead," Lázaro added. The final leg of the race saw him noticing Pinsach Rubirola’s pace slowing, allowing Lázaro Cordero to make a decisive move. "In the final climb, I noticed Marc had fallen behind. I descended quickly but in control, finishing the race and securing the first position."

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Marc Pinsach Rubirola shared his tactical approach, beginning slightly behind the leaders but steadily catching up. "I started the race at a steady pace, staying about 20 seconds behind the leading group," Pinsach explained. His favorite part of the course, a steep descent from Comapedrosa, became a crucial moment. "The second downhill from Comapedrosa is very tough but my favorite. It’s hard but beautiful, and I started pushing harder, putting distance between myself and Marc Bernades Olle," he said, reflecting on his strategy to secure the second position.

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Marc Bernades Olle faced challenges from the onset, feeling the strain of recent competitions. "I didn’t have my best day," Olle admitted, comparing his performance unfavorably with his past efforts. "Coming off the Ultra distance Spanish Championship and a National Team meeting for the World Champs in Urbion, my legs felt tired." Despite this, Olle managed to maintain a competitive pace, especially in the latter parts of the race. "I managed to make up some ground on the downhill but couldn’t close the gap with Marc and Martí. Reaching the summit, I knew I could hold my position if I managed my pace well," he noted, securing a commendable third place given his condition.

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In the women's race, Roser Español Bada (ESP) claimed first place with a time of 6h42:43, followed by Georgia Grobler (ZAF) who finished in 6h47:28, and Claudia Gutiérrez Lueje (ESP) who completed the course in 6h48:56.

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Roser Español Bada described the race as consistently challenging. "The race was very demanding from start to finish, with the only runnable section being the traverse to the start of the climb to Pic de les Fons," she explained. Español Bada highlighted the quick descent to the refuge of Pla de l'Estany as the prelude to a steep climb up Comapedrosa, with her favorite segment being the ridge from Pic de Percanela to Pic de les Fons. "The most difficult part of the race was the climb to Pic de la Capa. Throughout the race, I was informed that the first woman was 2 minutes ahead, but I didn't see her until the climb to Port Vell. Eventually, I managed to take the lead while climbing Alt de la Capa," she recounted.

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Georgia Grobler from South Africa, shared her experience of leading the race initially but encountering difficulties towards the end. "Felt good and strong until the last hill and then hit a wall! Led the race for the most part but got caught on the last 10K," Grobler stated. She expressed her admiration for the mountains and the support from spectators and volunteers, noting, "The mountains are just magnificent and I loved every minute of it! The vibe at the water point just before we started climbing Comapedrosa was uplifting, and the grass hill—the last climb! It was never-ending."

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Claudia Gutiérrez Lueje, finishing third, navigated the course with determination despite the challenging conditions. Her performance underlined the demanding nature of the terrain and the fierce competition among the top runners.

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Complete Results Here. 

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Half Marathon Race Recap

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In the men's 24K Half Marathon, Fabián Venero Jiménez (ESP) led the pack, finishing first with a time of 3h08:09. Jordi Alís Sanchez (ESP) followed in second place with a time of 3h16:42, and Marc Rota Collell (ESP) completed the top three in 3h26:38.

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Fabián Venero Jiménez recounted breaking away from the initial group early on. "The race started slowly with a small group of four until kilometer seven, where Jordi [Alís Sanchez] picked up the pace as the climb steepened. At kilometer 10, I decided to follow my own strategy and gradually distanced myself from him," he explained. Venero Jiménez enjoyed the camaraderie with marathon runners during the descent, which added to the race's engaging nature. "Upon reaching the Pla de l'Estany refuge, the challenging climb ahead was daunting, but I felt strong and maintained a steady pace," he added.

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Jordi Alís Sanchez highlighted his struggle to keep pace with Fabián Venero Jiménez. "Fabián and I broke away early, increasing our speed. During the climb, Fabián gradually pulled ahead, which was the toughest part for me as I couldn't keep up," Alís Sanchez shared. "Running through the Andorran mountains was amazing with beautiful scenery and challenging terrain," he reflected, pleased with his performance despite a few falls during the descent.

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Marc Rota Collell provided insights into his tactical race execution, initially maintaining a close gap behind the leaders. "I started the race at a steady pace, staying about 20 seconds behind the leading group of four. When the steeper climb to Comapedrosa began, I pushed harder," Collell stated. His perseverance paid off as he navigated the technical sections effectively. "On the tough Comapedrosa section, my favorite, I managed to pull ahead of Marc, enjoying and suffering through the climb that took us up to 2,942 meters above sea level," he recounted.

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In the women’s race, Laura Orgue Vila (ESP) led the way, finishing first with a time of 4h14:46. Irati Azkargorta Galarza (ESP) followed in second place, recording a time of 4h19:56, and Ana Peydró Sánchez (ESP) completed the top three with a time of 4h21:39.

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Laura Orgue Vila words rang through with honesty and respect for the terrain. "The race went exceptionally well for me. I started slowly, given my less methodical training lately and the long duration of the race, which lasted over four hours," she noted. Her familiarity with the terrain, having previously lived in Arinsal and run the course multiple times, played a crucial role. "I paced myself carefully, knowing the second climb was nearly 1,000 meters after already climbing 1,300 meters. The final descent was long, so managing energy was crucial to finish strong," Laura added, expressing satisfaction with her performance in the favorable weather and scenic conditions.

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Irati Azkargorta Galarza’s day began under less than ideal conditions. However, her spirits lifted as she progressed through the course. "The day didn’t start perfectly for me today, arriving at the start line a bit rushed and feeling weak. However, I gradually picked up the pace and felt better as I climbed the first peak, and then the beautiful ridge De Burna," Irati described. The exhilaration of the descents and the challenge of the climbs marked her race experience. "Despite the tough climbs, I enjoyed the descents the most. Overall, it was a good day, and I’m happy with how I managed to enjoy the race," she reflected.

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Ana Peydró Sánchez approached her race with a strategy built on past experiences, focusing on energy conservation. "I started my race cautiously, recalling my 2019 experience with a similar but slightly different course. I focused on conserving energy and it paid off," Ana explained. Her tactical skills showed on the descents, where she managed to pull ahead. "The final climb was challenging, but I managed to enjoy the beautiful scenery despite the difficulty. On the last descent, I pushed hard to maximize my lead over those behind me and kept an eye on the leader, though I lost sight of her," she shared.

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Full Results Here. 

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Over the weekend, four races each tailored to specific distances and terrains including the 8K Vertical Race featured a constant climb to 2,953 meters, contrasting with the 19K Arinsal Race route through forests to a peak of 1,456 meters. These events catered to a diverse XTERRA community of advanced trail runners, leisure participants, and intermediate level trailblazers.

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The weekend activities started on Saturday, July 20th, with children's races, a Via Ferrata excursion, and Mountain Yoga. The day concluded with a Dark Sky Observation. The following day included hiking and another Via Ferrata, wrapping up with an awards ceremony celebrating the XTERRA European Trail Run Champions.