The runner from the municipality of Agüimes becomes the first Canarian to inscribe his name in the event’s roll of honour, which is celebrating its tenth edition
France’s Sébastien Raichon and Great Britain’s Dave Phillips crossed the finish line together in second and third place
Switzerland’s Anita Lehmann leads the women’s classification as she passes through Mogán, ahead of Gran Canaria’s Nira Castro and Guacimara Suárez
Gran Canaria’s José Bordón achieved victory this morning at the 360º The Challenge Gran Canaria, becoming the first Canarian to register his name in the roll of honour of the race, which is celebrating its tenth edition this year. France’s Sébastien Raichon, the main favourite for the victory, and Great Britain’s Dave Phillips crossed the finish line together in second and third place after 222 kilometres and more than 10,000 positive metres of elevation gain.
The victory was decided in the Chira ravine, at kilometre 190 of the race and with only 30 kilometres left until the finish line located in the municipality of Tejeda. Participants in the race, who must have navigation skills as the route is unmarked, guide themselves using a track on their GPS to follow the path.
In the early hours of the morning, Álvaro Santana, who was leading the race after Cristian Guerra’s abandonment in Tasarte, went off-track and got lost, conceding more than three hours. Behind him, Raichon and Phillips suffered the same fate and went off-course. Bordón, who managed to stick to the marked route, took advantage of this situation to overtake them and arrive at the last aid station, located in Cercados de Araña in the municipality of San Bartolomé de Tirajana, in first position with a 17-minute advantage over the French and British runners.
The runner from the municipality of Agüimes managed to maintain a high pace during the last 20 kilometres until he crossed the finish line with a time of 40 hours, 47 minutes, and 55 seconds. Sébastien Raichon and Dave Phillips arrived at the finish line half an hour later, recording the same time.
Croatia’s Nenad Ostojić, who gradually improved throughout the race, finished fourth, and Gran Canaria’s Álvaro Santana finished fifth after losing three hours in the Chira ravine, one of the key points of this tenth edition of the 360º The Challenge Gran Canaria.
José Bordón stated upon finishing the race: “I was clear from the start that I had to follow my own rhythm because I knew it was a very fast area and the race was going to be very long; I was aware that those paces at the beginning of the race were not in my interest.” He added, “That meant that when I found three lost runners in the final kilometres, I tried to give them some indications but they didn’t understand me, and then it was just until the finish line.”
Bordón even played a psychological game, and in the last kilometres, he decided to turn off his headlamp and guide himself by the light of the full moon, so that his pursuers wouldn’t have a reference point. “I could see them, but they couldn’t see me; perhaps they thought at that moment that I was very far away and didn’t try to attack,” he explained upon arrival.
The 360º The Challenge Gran Canaria continues. Anita Lehmann maintains her lead among the women as she passes through Mogán, ahead of the Gran Canarian runners Nira Castro and Guacimara Suárez who are second and third, respectively. Italy’s Marina Plavan is fourth and Switzerland’s Stephanie Straub is fifth.
The women are now tackling the final part of the route between Mogán and Tejeda, passing through Cercados de Araña in the municipality of San Bartolomé de Tirajana, where the fifth and final aid station is located for refueling and rest before facing the last kilometres.
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; Jomay 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.