67 of the 95 athletes who started the race on Wednesday managed to cross the finish line in Tejeda
A spectacular closing ceremony with a final paella with participants, family members, volunteers and the organisation
TV IMAGES WITH THE CLOSING CEREMONY
PHOTOGRAPHS FROM THE CLOSING CEREMONY
The ninth edition of the 360º The Challenge Gran Canaria had its final act this Sunday with the arrival of the last runners, the trophy ceremony and the farewell lunch. In 2024 there were 67 finishers, which represents 71% of the participants who started this epic adventure of 258 kilometres and 12,669 metres of positive elevation last Wednesday.
Dionisio García López opened the arrival of runners in the early hours of Saturday to Sunday, stopping the clock at 63 hours and 50 seconds. After him, another 52 athletes managed to cross the finish line within the time limit during the early hours and dawn on Sunday. The last to arrive at the town centre of Tejeda was the Italian Giulio Riboni after 98 hours, 14 minutes and 58 seconds of crossing.
In the women’s category, the victory went to the French Claire Bannwarth, who has chained five consecutive victories in the 360º The Challenge Gran Canaria. In second place was the Gran Canarian Sandra Moreno, who made an excellent race that earned her her best historical result in the race. The podium was completed by the British Claire Ferguson, who arrived yesterday Saturday at 3:02 p.m. with a final time of 77 hours, 57 minutes and 37 seconds.
The men’s victory went to the Italian Marco Gubert, who has already accumulated three victories in this self-sufficiency race, and gave an exhibition in this year’s edition leading from the very first kilometres. Behind him, the French Julien Chorier, who debuted in this edition with an excellent time that earned him second place. The third step of the men’s podium was for the Gran Canarian Álvaro Santana, who also ran his first 360º The Challenge Gran Canaria, a factor that did not prevent him from closing his participation with an exceptional performance, coming back to third place in the final.
Foto de familia. Ian Corless
Sunday was marked by the trophy ceremony, which was attended by the mayor of Tejeda Mr. Francisco Juan Perera Hernández and the councillors Mrs. Verónica Espino Rodríguez and Mrs. Purificación Concepción Vega Rodríguez. The event began with the awards to the best Canarian residents, Sandra Moreno and Álvaro Santana, who also climbed onto the female and male podium as second and third place respectively. Next it was the turn of the rest of the podiums in the general classification.
After the trophies and the emotional family photo with all the runners together with their families, the volunteers and the employees of the organisation, it was time for a great farewell paella. “I’m coming for the paella,” Marco Gubert warned after being declared the winner last Friday, who enjoyed lunch with the rest of his fellow adventurers.
A closing party that lives up to the majesty of a race where only three people make it to the podium, but everyone’s a winner, from those who dared to stand on the starting line on Wednesday to all those who managed to reach the finish line this Sunday in the town of Tejeda.
A historic edition with its first live broadcast
This 2024 edition featured a special programme directed and presented by the director of The North Face Transgrancanaria, Carlos Torrent, and with Esteban García as commentator, who offered a four-hour live broadcast of the final kilometres of the head of the race. You can enjoy this broadcast again on the YouTube channels of Arista Eventos (https://www.youtube.com/@AristaTV) and The North Face Transgrancanaria (https://www.youtube.com/@transgrancanaria102)
The 360º The Challenge Gran Canaria is organised by Arista Eventos, with the sponsorship of the Cabildo de Gran Canaria through Turismo de Gran Canaria and the Instituto Insular de Deportes; the Government of the Canary Islands with Promotur – Islas Canarias; the City Council of Tejeda and Fred. Olsen Express; and the collaboration of the companies Lorenzo González Automoción, Gofio La Piña, Inerza, Emicela and Provital.