The competition, which started in Granada and aimed for the Veleta peak, had its final route adjusted for safety reasons, cutting the last three kilometers of ascent due to strong wind gusts. The highest point reached was in the ski area of Borreguiles, at an altitude of 2,700 meters, bringing the total distance to 93.5 kilometers.
Calvó and Gracia proved to be the most strategic in managing their efforts from the start on Friday at 10:00 PM. Double Olympic medalist Ana Alonso was in charge of giving the starting signal, in an event that also paid tribute to Miguel Torres, former director of the Unicaja Ultra Sierra Nevada, who passed away the previous year.
“"It's nice to have company when you run in the dark because it helps you orient yourself better and avoid getting lost."
After a night of running through the mountains of Beas, Quéntar, and Güéjar Sierra, Iván Calvó arrived alone near Pradollano, clocking a time of ten hours, 42 minutes, and two seconds. Dutch runner Pablo van Hoorn and Jesús Maya Gómez completed the men's podium.
In the women's category, Julia Gracia, who finished second in the 2023 edition, won decisively. The Barcelona athlete took the lead after leaving the forests of the Alhambra and Cerro del Sol, maintaining her position until the finish line.
“"I ran my own race; I encountered groups but no one I knew to say 'come on, let's run together'."
The day also included the 60-kilometer Trail event, with victories for Esteban Herrero and Cristina Ortiz. In the marathon, Miguel Heras and Pilar Media were the fastest. This twelfth edition of the Unicaja Ultra Sierra Nevada has been the most international to date, bringing together 1,800 runners from 45 nationalities, solidifying its reputation as an experience that merges sport, nature, and culture.
