Arista TV broadcast a daily stream during the five days of the event
The tenth edition of 360º The Challenge Gran Canaria has closed a historic chapter with record figures and results that will be etched in the memory of this demanding ultra-distance race. The event, held from November 5 to 9, 2025, brought together 107 participants from 22 nationalities, setting an absolute record for entries and placing 11 women at the starting line, the largest female participation in its history.
A start marked by adversity
The race organization demonstrated its capacity for reaction when, less than 24 hours before the starting gun, it had to change the starting point due to a wildfire risk alert. The race, initially scheduled from Tejeda at 9:00 AM, was moved to the Jardín Canario in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, starting at 3:30 PM. This last-minute change reduced the course from 265 to 222 kilometers, although it maintained the more than 10,000 meters of positive elevation gain that characterize this incredibly tough self-sufficiency race.
Canarian dominance in the early stages
Local runners set the pace from the start. Cristian Guerra led the race authoritatively for over 140 kilometers, achieving a 46-minute advantage over his pursuers. Among the women, the Gran Canarian Nira Castro surprised by dominating the first 80 kilometers, passing illustrious names such as five-time champion Claire Bannwarth.
The race changes in the Chira ravine
The turning point came in one of the most technical sections of the course. First, Cristian Guerra had to withdraw due to adductor discomfort while leading the classification. Then, the Chira ravine became the decisive scenario of the race. In the early hours of Friday, several favorites, including the leader Álvaro Santana, got lost in this complicated section, losing crucial hours.
José Bordón, who had maintained his own pace from the beginning, used his orientation skills to stay on the correct track. The runner from Agüimes even turned off his headlamp in the final kilometers to be guided by the light of the full moon, thus preventing his pursuers from having his light as a reference. This strategy, combined with impeccable race management, allowed him to enter the finish line in Tejeda alone with a time of 40:47:53, becoming the first Canarian to win the race in its ten editions.
Barely half an hour later, the Frenchman Sébastien Raichon and the Briton Dave Phillips crossed the finish line together, sharing the same time of 41:23:19 and 41:23:21 respectively, after recovering from their deviation in the Chira ravine.
Anita Lehmann: Third time’s the charm
In the women’s category, the Swiss Anita Lehmann wrote her own story of resilience. After two second-place finishes in the 2021 and 2022 editions, she finally reached the top of the podium with a time of 55:15:11. Her victory, achieved with a constant pace and impeccable navigation, broke Claire Bannwarth’s streak of five consecutive titles.
Lehmann overtook Nira Castro at kilometer 80, as they passed through Agaete, and never relinquished the lead. Her time also allowed her to finish in 16th position in the absolute general classification, a merit that reflects the level of the race.
The Canarian runners Nira Castro (65:56:45) and Guacimara Suárez (66:42:08) completed a historic podium, demonstrating the strength of island trail running. Of the 11 women who started, 7 managed to cross the finish line, a remarkable figure given the extreme toughness of the course.
Emotional moments and historic finishers
One of the most exciting arrivals was that of Claire Bannwarth, who crossed the finish line accompanied by her husband, also a participant in this edition, despite Achilles tendon discomfort that prevented her from performing at her best. The Frenchwoman, a five-time winner of the race, thus adds her sixth finish, consolidating herself as one of the great legends of this race.
Claire Bannwarth con su marido en la meta. Matias Novo
The last runner to arrive was José Fernando Carmona, who completed the feat with a time of 92:49:14, just before noon on Sunday and mere hours before the clock closed. His arrival was met with an incredible reception, a reminder that everyone who crosses the finish line is a true champion.
The 2025 edition saw the presence of true legends of the race: Luca Papi completed his tenth consecutive edition, becoming the only athlete to have finished every edition of the 360º. Jesús Rodríguez added his eighth finish, while Omar Riccardi reached his seventh. Claire Bannwarth and Francisco Benjumea achieved their six finishes, establishing themselves as elite finishers. Five other runners also reached the prestigious figure of five finishes: Alberto Mansilla, Alfredo Vila, Eoin Keith, José Fernando Carmona, José Ramón Queiruga, and Juan González. The Italian Marina Plavan added her fourth finish, demonstrating the loyalty of these athletes to such a demanding race.
Of the 107 participants who started, 23 had to drop out (a 21.5% drop-out rate), a figure that reflects the level of demand of a race that combines the physical toughness of the Gran Canarian volcanic terrain with the mental challenge of self-sufficiency and navigation without markers.
Foto de familia. Matias Novo
Live tracking and paella closing ceremony
The organization kept the entire trail running community informed via daily streaming on the Arista TV YouTube channel, allowing them to follow the evolution of the race and the stories being written kilometre by kilometre in real-time.
The closing ceremony was attended by local authorities such as the Mayor of Tejeda, Francisco Juan Perera, along with the event sponsors. After the trophy presentation to the winners, the race closed in style with a paella that brought together participants, family members, volunteers, and the organization in an atmosphere of celebration and camaraderie that reflects the unique spirit of this race.
The 360º The Challenge Gran Canaria 2025 has once again demonstrated why it is considered one of the most prestigious ultra-distance races on the international scene. Its tenth edition will be remembered not only for the record figures but for the stories of overcoming obstacles, the epic comebacks, and the triumph of the local runners who, as José Bordón stated, proved that preparing from the starting line is already an act of champions.
The tenth edition of the 360º The Challenge Gran Canaria is organized by Arista Eventos, with the sponsorship of the Cabildo de Gran Canaria through Turismo de Gran Canaria and the Insular Sports Institute; the Government of the Canary Islands with Promotur – Islas Canarias; San Bartolomé de Tirajana City Council – Maspalomas Costa Canaria; Tejeda City Council; Joma and Fred. Olsen Express; and the collaboration of the companies Aguas de Teror, Pepsi, Lorenzo González Automoción, Emicela, Gofio La Piña, Bonflex, Provital, and Inetel, as well as the Las Palmas de Gran Canaria City Council through the Municipal Institute for the Promotion of Physical Activity and Sport (IMD), Guía de Gran Canaria City Council, Mogán City Council, and La Aldea de San Nicolás City Council.