2024 XTERRA European Trail Run Championship Recap: A Spaniard Sweep

2024 XTERRA European Trail Run Championship Recap: A Spaniard Sweep

ARINSAL – LA MASSANA, ANDORRA
The XTERRA European Trail Run Championship took place on July 21, 2024, in the Pyrenees, featuring top trail runners like Martí Lázaro Cordero (ESP) and Roser Español Bada (ESP) who won the 36K Trail Marathon, and Fabián Venero Jiménez (ESP) and Laura Orgue Vila (ESP) who led the 24K Half Marathon.
Now in its second year as part of the XTERRA Trail Run World Series, the event, one of three major championships worldwide, challenged participants with the rugged terrains of Andorra’s Arinsal and La Massana.
The 2024 edition successfully drew competitors and lived up to its reputation, offering a €5,200 prize purse in the scenic Comapedrosa Nature Park.

Course Implications and Impact
The 36K Trail Marathon and 24K Half Marathon at the XTERRA European Championship offered 116 qualifying slots for the 2024 XTERRA World Championship in Sugarloaf, Maine, with an option to defer to the 2025 championship in Snowdonia, UK.
Starting in Arinsal, the Half Marathon featured a climb through forests and steep paths to Comapedrosa, Andorra’s highest peak, demanding precision and offering panoramic views.
The technical descent challenged runners with its complexity.
The Trail Marathon pushed runners through Andorra’s rugged terrain, culminating in steep climbs and a technical descent through fast, runnable sections, testing their endurance with a total elevation gain of 3,600 meters.

Trail Marathon Recap
In the men’s 36K Trail Marathon, Martí Lázaro Cordero (ESP) clinched first place in 4h45:43, followed by Marc Pinsach Rubirola (ESP) in 4h51:04, and Marc Bernades Olle (ESP) in 4h52:40.
Lázaro Cordero described a competitive race alongside Rubirola, with both runners taking turns leading before he pulled ahead during the final climb.
In the women’s category, Roser Español Bada (ESP) won in 6h42:43, with Georgia Grobler (ZAF) close behind in 6h47:28, and Claudia Gutiérrez Lueje (ESP) in 6h48:56.
Español Bada recounted a demanding race, overcoming a tough climb to Pic de la Capa to take the lead, while Grobler and Gutiérrez Lueje described their struggles and triumphs amid the rugged course.

Half Marathon Race Recap
In the men’s 24K Half Marathon, Fabián Venero Jiménez (ESP) secured first place with a time of 3h08:09.
He was followed by Jordi Alís Sanchez (ESP) at 3h16:42, and Marc Rota Collell (ESP) at 3h26:38.
Venero Jiménez detailed breaking away early in the race and maintaining his lead through challenging climbs.
Jordi Alís Sanchez enjoyed the scenic course despite struggles to keep pace, and Marc Rota Collell emphasized a tactical climb to secure third.
In the women’s race, Laura Orgue Vila (ESP) won in 4h14:46, with Irati Azkargorta Galarza (ESP) second at 4h19:56, and Ana Peydró Sánchez (ESP) third at 4h21:39.
Orgue Vila utilized her course familiarity to manage her pace effectively, while Azkargorta Galarza overcame a slow start to enjoy the descents.
Peydró Sánchez strategically conserved energy, which helped her excel on the descents and secure a strong finish.

Over the weekend, four distinct races, including the 8K Vertical Race and the 19K Arinsal Race, offered challenges across varying terrains and distances.
The weekend kicked off on Saturday, July 20th, with children’s races, a Via Ferrata excursion, and Mountain Yoga, capped by a Dark Sky Observation.
Sunday featured additional hiking and Via Ferrata activities, concluding with an awards ceremony for the XTERRA European Trail Run Champions.

X-TERRA Planet