Cristian Guerra, who led the event for more than 140 kilometers, is forced to abandon due to groin discomfort
The top five male finishers are practically grouped together, with an hour difference between them
Nira Castro, from Gran Canaria, remains in second position, two hours behind the race leader
The ultradistance race 360º The Challenge Gran Canaria continues after more than 28 hours since its start, with a change of leaders. Swiss runner Anita Lehmann and Canarian Álvaro Santana have taken the lead after more than 150 kilometers, following the injury-related abandonment of Cristian Guerra, who was at the front of the race until the passage through Tasarte.
This tenth edition of the self-sufficiency race is proving to be one of the most exciting in recent years, with the top five male finishers separated by less than an hour, with the last 60 kilometers remaining.
Thursday’s stage began as Wednesday’s ended. Cristian Guerra and Álvaro Santana, both from Gran Canaria, maintained the top two spots, the former with a wide lead of 46 minutes over the second place runner as they passed the life base of La Aldea de San Nicolás (kilometer 125). Third was the French runner Sébastien Raichon, the main favorite for the victory.
The runners continued through El Viso, Tasartico, Tasarte, and Veneguera, where the standings took a turn. Cristian Guerra was forced to abandon with groin discomfort, and Santana took the lead in the general classification. French runner Sébastien Raichon, the main favorite for the final victory based on his track record, climbed to second position; British runner Dave Phillips to third; Javier Blanco from Mogán to fourth; and José Bordón, native of Agüimes, to fifth. All of them are separated by less than an hour after 160 kilometers.
Anita Lehmann, meanwhile, reached the life base of La Aldea de San Nicolás this afternoon in first position with a two-hour lead over Nira Castro, whom she overtook as the race passed through Agaete. In third position is Guacimara Suárez, also from Gran Canaria, and fourth is the other Swiss runner, Stephanie Straub. Italian runner Marina Plavan is in fifth position.
The winner of the last four editions, French runner Claire Bannwarth, passed through Tamadaba in seventh position, hampered by Achilles heel problems. Among the most notable abandonments is Sandra Moreno from Telde, who withdrew at the life base of Guía de Gran Canaria.
The top finishers will face the final 60 kilometers until Tejeda—where the finish line of this tenth edition of the 360º The Challenge is located—during the night of this Thursday and the early hours of Friday. The current prediction is that the first finisher will cross the finish line during the early hours of Friday morning. The rest of the participants continue their adventure covering the stretch between Tamadaba and Mogán.
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 Instituto Insular de Deportes; 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 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.