Grit and glory at UTMB World Series European Major, HOKA Val d’Aran by UTMB
Grit and glory at UTMB World Series European Major, HOKA Val d’Aran by UTMB
Over 5,400 runners from 80 countries took part in the fourth edition of HOKA Val d’Aran by UTMB® in the Central Pyrenees on July 3-7.
As a UTMB® World Series Major, the event also attracted an impressive elite field and a HOKA prize purse of 73,500 euros to match.
With the 100M Torn dera Val d’Aran – VDA suspended due to adverse weather conditions, affected runners were invited to race the 50K EXP, while also obtaining Running Stones and prizes relative to their position on the course at the time the race was neutralised.
All eyes turned to the 100K Camins d’Hèr – CDH race, and an unforgettable and courageous day for Luke Grenfell-Shaw (GBR, UTMB Index 849) who crossed the line first in 12:05:03, ahead of Andreu Simon Aymerich (ESP, UTMB Index 897) and Goar Lopetegui Nieto (ESP, UTMB Index 831).
Running on the anniversary of his brother’s death, the British runner Luke Grenfell-Shaw made an emotional tribute, “My brother passed away 5 years ago. No matter how bad it was up there, in my mind I only thought about John. He has given me strength to continue. If I have learned anything from my brother, it is that no matter how much pain you have to endure, it is worth it to live.”
Allison Baca (USA, UTMB Index 732) was in a class of her own in the women’s race, dominating from start to finish to win with a gap of 45 minutes, finishing eleventh overall in the process.
Silvia Puigarnau (ESP, UTMB Index 689) and Maite Maiora Elizondo (ESP, UTMB Index 754) rounded out the podium.
With 1,707 runners taking to the start in the 50K PDA race, it was Víctor del Águila (ESP, UTMB Index 865) who was the first to ring the iconic finish line bell in Vielha, just nine seconds ahead of Andre Rodrigues (POR, UTMB Index 880) in second.
Daniel Castillo (ESP, UTMB Index 866) rounded out the podium in third.
In the women’s race, Inés Astrain (ESP, UTMB Index 706) crushed her first UTMB World Series race, finishing first ahead of Gisela Carrion Bertran (ESP, UTMB Index 723) and Marta Perez Maroto (ESP, UTMB Index 698).
Astrain said, “I have dreamed of a race like this, my first ever UTMB race. I set the pace for myself, and I enjoyed it a lot, until the last descent when I was told that Gisela was just three minutes away.”
In the 50K Experiència d’Aran – EXP, Pablo Bautista Rovira (ESP, UTMB Index 849) managed to back-up his race win from the previous edition and retain his title in a location that he has fallen in love with.
Just over three minutes behind, Josep Miret (ESP, UTMB Index 831) and Yoel de Paz Baeza (ESP, UTMB Index 887) crossed the line together.
Mireia Pons (ESP, UTMB Index 733) improved on her third place from 2023, taking the top spot ahead of Maeva Danois (FRA, UTMB Index 655) and Moana Lilly Kehres (ESP, UTMB Index 705).
In the EXP VDA 50K, Sebastien Soulans (FRA, UTMB Index 715), Alban Becker-Tonnelier (FRA, UTMB Index 629) and Arthur Caffier (FRA, UTMB Index 726) secured the podium in the men’s race, alongside Marija Pipiraite-Grumbine (LIT, UTMB Index 582), Angélique Thiou (FRA, UTMB Index 551) and Fleur Mountjoy (GBR, UTMB Index 528) in the women’s race.
In the 20K Sky Races, it was the 16–21-year-olds in the SKY Promesas category that set the benchmark over the course, with Guillaume Lherisson (FRA, UTMB Index 714) winning the men’s race in 01:18:20 and Judith Soriano Sancez (ESP, UTMB Index 566) winning the women’s race in 01:42:13.
Setting off thirty minutes after, the SKY Master race was won by Jan Torrella Oller (ESP, UTMB Index 861) in the men’s race with a time of 01:11:57 and Núria Tarrago Clop (ESP, UTMB Index 660) in the women’s race in 01:26:26.
Alongside the elites racing for glory in a prestigious UTMB World Series Major, Hoka Val d’Aran celebrated and encouraged the future stars of the sport.
At the Trail Festival Baqueira Beret, an outdoor festival dedicated to families and friends, 70 young trail runners aged 8-16 years participated in a fun 5km race while more than 300 future stars between 4-12 years olds enjoyed the shorter children’s race.
The 550 volunteers also got their opportunity to race, taking part in a race dedicated to them – the TR2.
Text Credits: UTMB
Photo Credits: UTMB
TV broadcasters: Media-Sport.com
