FUGA Penyagolosa Trails once again pushed the best runners to their limits in a top-level race day marked by unexpected heat. The atmosphere along the entire course and the pace of the competition shaped an edition that already ranks among the most outstanding.

 

In the MiM, José Ángel Fernández “Canales” was once again one of the main protagonists, claiming a highly emotional victory and securing his fourth consecutive win at Penyagolosa (5:15:09). The men’s race was decided in a spectacular shoulder-to-shoulder duel with American Dakota Jones (5:17:15), who applied constant pressure and crossed the finish line just two minutes later. Behind them, Mario Olmedo (5:23:54) completed the podium, having previously finished second in the 2023 MiM and leading the race alongside Canales and Dakota until nearly halfway through.

Rounding out the top five were Granada’s Fran Anguita (5:29:18), making his Penyagolosa debut, and Romania’s Leonard Mitrica (5:35:59), returning for his second consecutive year.

In the women’s race, victory went to Norway’s Sara Rebekka Linde (6:23:20), who, after five participations, finally reached the top step of the podium. A mother of four and deeply familiar with the course, Linde delivered a very complete performance on a day marked by early heat. She crossed the finish line more than 15 minutes slower than last year’s winning time set by Inés Astrain. Indeed, Inés Astrain (6:36:34) finished second after passing through Borriol at record pace, although the high temperatures prevented her from maintaining the lead in the second half of the race. With today’s performance—and her unmistakable smile—Inés secures her second MiM podium. Very close behind, just 10 seconds later, came Catalonia’s Anna Comet (6:36:44), after a strong negative split performance in which she kept pushing until the final metres.

The women’s top five was completed by fellow Catalans Gisela Carrión (6:39:08) and Cèlia Balcells (6:41:08), in a highly competitive field.

The CSP, which started at midnight from Universitat Jaume I, once again delivered an extremely demanding race. In the men’s category, Raúl Butaci (10:41:10) took victory after a very consistent performance, initially aiming to beat Ben Dhiman’s course record (10:35:48). Close behind, Iván Calvó and Joaquín López shared kilometres but were unable to catch the Romanian. Calvó (10:41:52) eventually crossed the line in second place, just 40 seconds behind, while López (10:46:20), a Kailas FUGA athlete arriving straight from Ecuador, secured third place. The top five was completed by Valencian runners Francisco Rodríguez (11:17:24), a regular in the race, and Arnau Seguí (11:21:22), who followed up last year’s silver medal with a fifth-place finish.

In the women’s CSP race, Gemma Arenas (13:43:19) once again demonstrated her competitive affinity with Penyagolosa. With no fewer than eight podium finishes, the runner from La Mancha returned to the podium, claiming her third victory in the long distance. Behind her, Britain’s Emi Dixon (14:07:05) finished second in what proved to be a highly technical race for her. The Canary Islands’ Yasmina Castro (14:39:03) completed the podium, showcasing excellent form by linking two ultra competitions in consecutive weekends.

Local runner Sonia Escuriola (15:42:08), another Penyagolosa regular, and Elena Mihai (16:06:51) rounded out the women’s top five in the long distance.

Beyond the results, the day once again reflected the essence of FUGA Penyagolosa Trails: a demanding course, a unique natural setting and passionate support along every section of the route. The live streaming broadcast allowed thousands of viewers to follow the key moments of the race in real time, bringing the excitement to a global audience.

Race director Tico Cervera highlighted what goes beyond sport itself: “It’s incredible to see how people come together. Volunteers are always there, from the very beginning until the end, and the towns turn the race into something much bigger than a competition. The atmosphere created is truly unique and undoubtedly one of Penyagolosa’s defining features.”

From the start at Universitat Jaume I to the finish line at Sant Joan de Penyagolosa, the race once again followed a course that combines difficulty and symbolism, reaffirming its unique character within the trail running calendar.

FUGA Penyagolosa Trails thus closes another chapter in its sporting history.