The Italian will try to complete his tenth consecutive 360º The Challenge
The race will be held from November 5 to 9 with start and finish in the municipality of Tejeda
The 360º The Challenge Gran Canaria is linked to the name of Italian runner Luca Papi. The specialist in ultra-distance races is the only finisher in the nine editions of one of the toughest mountain races on the planet. In addition to having reached the finish line in all the editions held to date, Papi has four victories and two podium finishes. In the 2024 edition he finished fourth after a great comeback on Friday, where he went from 13th place to almost reaching the podium at the finish line in Tejeda. Next November he will be looking to add to his legend on the island.
Photo by Ian Corless
In addition to his excellent results in the Gran Canaria race, Luca Papi has won twice in Tor des Glaciers or Trails de La Brie Des Morin. He currently has an ITRA ranking of 764, and ended the year 2024 with two good results, the aforementioned fourth place in 360º The Challenge Gran Canaria, and two weeks later he was second in the ALUT-Algarviana Ultra Trail, a 305 km race in Sagres.
The French-based Italian has made a very active start to 2025 with nine races in the first months of the year, alternating short distances with ultra-distance races. In February he was already in Gran Canaria participating in the KV El Gigante and in the Classic of The North Face Transgrancanaria. His best result this 2025 has been in his last race, the TRAILCAT200 in Tarragona, where he finished the 317 km with 13,750 meters of elevation gain in sixth position.
Photo by Ian Corless
Nearly 70 registered in just two weeks
Registrations for 360º The Challenge Gran Canaria 2025 are going at a record pace, with nearly 70 participants in the first two weeks of registration, with athletes coming from 12 countries. Registrations for the race are still available through the event’s official website: www.360thechallenge.com.
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; Ayuntamiento de Tejeda; 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.