Nira Rosa Castro leads the women and Cristian Guerra the men as they pass through Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
The more than one hundred runners remaining in the race face the stretch that runs along the north coast of the Island tonight
Canary Island runners dominate the first part of the 360º The Challenge Gran Canaria ultra-distance and self-sufficiency race, which began this afternoon from the Jardín Canario in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. The participants, who face a distance of 222 kilometers and more than 10,000 meters of positive elevation gain, passed through emblematic places in the city such as the Plaza de Santa Ana, Triana Street, and the Paseo de Las Canteras.
Cristian Guerra from Moya, of the Montaña Vergara Sports Club, started the race at a very strong pace through the Guiniguada ravine and the streets of the Gran Canaria capital, covering the first 14 kilometers to the Metropole Nautical Club life base in a time of 59 minutes and 31 seconds. A group of Canary Island runners arrived almost five minutes later, including Blas Franquis, Álvaro Santana – second in the last edition – Jesús David Velásquez Duque – of Colombian nationality and residing on the island – Jonathan Florido, and José Bordón.
Salida de carrera. Matias Novo
The first foreign runner to pass this checkpoint was the British David Phillips in seventh position, followed by the Frenchman Christophe Annaloro and the Spaniards José Luis Velázquez and Jorge Urquizu, who completed the top ten of the general classification upon their passage through Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.
Nira Rosa Castro from Gran Canaria, of the C. D. Boletrail de Teror, provided the surprise in the first section of the race by arriving first at the Metropole Nautical Club life base, entering practically neck and neck with the Frenchwoman Claire Bannwarth of the Kailas Fuga team, in 1 hour, 14 minutes and 17 seconds. Third in the general classification is also a Canary Islander, Guacimara Suárez, who arrived at the point just over a minute after the first classified.
The Swiss Anita Lehmann arrived at the control in the Gran Canaria capital in fourth position, followed by the Italian Marina Plavan, the Romanian Roxana Gabriela Dirvarenu, the Gran Canaria native Sandra Moreno, the Swiss Stephanie Straub, the Peruvian Martha CCorahua, the Spaniard Montserrat Caso, and the Moroccan Kaoutar Bendoumou.
Paso por Santa Ana. Matias Novo
The more than one hundred participants still in the race face the north coast of the Island tonight, passing through different towns such as El Puertillo, San Andrés, and San Felipe before reaching the second life base, located in the municipality of Guía de Gran Canaria at kilometer 58.5. Throughout tomorrow, Thursday, it is expected that the vast majority of the runners will cover the stretch between Guía and Mogán.
The tenth edition of the 360º The Challenge Gran Canaria is organized by Arista Eventos, sponsored by 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; Tejeda City Council; Joma and Fred. Olsen Express; and with 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, La Aldea de San Nicolás City Council, and San Bartolomé de Tirajana City Council.