DOMUSA TEKNIK 2022: ARITZ EGEA & OIHANA AZKORBEBEITIA WIN BASQUE ULTRA CHAMPIONSHIP

DOMUSA TEKNIK 2022: ARITZ EGEA & OIHANA AZKORBEBEITIA WIN BASQUE ULTRA CHAMPIONSHIP Our TRAIL RUNNING EUSKADI section is in Azpeitia today with this new event by the Lagun Onak mountain club, which thus celebrated its 75th anniversary with great success.

The race was launched yesterday at 8AM taking on a gorgeous green course over 65k/D+3,700m over dense forests and rolling mountains. Champions were Aritz Egea in 6h00m and Oihana Azkorbebeitia in 7h14. START VIDEO: Last 10 minutes and take off, as narrated by our editor-in-chief Mayayo


 

DOMUSA TEKNIK 2022:

ARITZ EGEA & OIHANA AZKORBEBEITIA

WIN BASQUE ULTRA CHAMPIONSHIP

Yesterday May 14th the inagugural edition for DOMUSA TEKNIK 40 MLK was held. It is a unique evento, in which the beautiful Urola valley in the heart of Gipuzkoa province is ran through with the main villages along the way being Azpeitia, Errezil, Beizama and Bidania-Goiatz.

DOMUSA TEKNIK 2022. THE BASQUE CHAMPIONSHIP

Even with sensitive casualties like Jordi Gamito or Maite Maiora in the last few days, the squad registered to take the start was still remarkable.

In the men´s field, Aritz Egea (Salomon) and Pere Aurell (Merrell) were clearly the top seeds. Behind them, Basque runners like Iñigo Arantzamendi (Ondarroa), Borja Zubizarreta (Azkoitia), Goar Lopetegi (Ibarra), Hodei Lujanbio (Goizueta), Adur Mendizabal (Zaldibia), Arkaitz Iturriagaetxeberria (Abadino)  And also local talents from Azpeitia village itself, such as Xabat Manzisidor Unai Zialtzeta Aitor Mimenza and Josu Imaz.

 Among the women, the great favorite was Oihana Azkorbebeitia (Merrell). Other notable runners from the Basque Country are Amaia Razkin (Uharte Arakil), Lur Basterretxea (Elorrio), Oihane Perez (Gernika), Leire Baraibar (Zumaia), Uxoa Irigoien (Getaria), Arantzazu Larrañaga Urien (Uharte Arakil), Elixabete Ursua (Irun). And as locals from Azpeitia we point to Jone Urkizu and Onintza Zeberio.

The atmosphere before race day was great, as the very first great mountain running race from Azpeitia was about to be launched: Volunteers, federation officials, and of course the top runners happily posed for our team.


 

DOMUSA TEKNIK LIVE

ARITZ AND OIHANA LED FROM START TO FINISH.

The route totals 65k/D+3700m with most of it runable terrain, track and trail through that Basque mid-mountain : Green hills, thick forests, farmhouses lost in El Monte.

Fortunately for this time of the year, there was hardly any of the traditional and much dreaded basque  mud. Both favourites, both Pere and Aritz, therefore chose to run with short lugs (3,5mm) and shoes with some cushioning, yet no extreme. Aritz would not use poles even, whereas Pere did go. for them. 

This was the race profile awaiting them.

 

8AM: KICK OFF to a great atmosphere in Azpeitia !

A very warm day was anticipated, with temperatures topping over 33ºC below the sun, made worse by the traditional high humidity of this thickly forested area. The hot weather and the afternoon storms were to be the great challenge.

The peloton took off at surprising speed.  The first runners complete the first hard climb reaching the summit  of Arrotia, where they already pass with the favorites in their positions. Roosters don’t want surprises…

Among the men, Aritz Egea took charge right away, followed by Aitor Mimentza and Pere Aurell. For the girls, Oihana Azkorbebeitia, Uxoa Irigoyen and Leire Baraibar pass

After reaching the 20k mark, with almost 1/3 of the race under way, Artiz lead on over the Santa Agueda pass with enthusiasm. His run was quite impressive, blasting like a rocket, without poles or hardly anything on top.

His rivals took a more classic ultra attitude moving with poles and backpacks. Pere was chasing him in second place, solid without letting himself get off the hook too much.

Timings for the top5 males at this point were: 1. Aritz EGEA 1:40:44; 2-Pere Aurell 1.45.30; 3- Goar Lopetegui 1.48.03; 4- Ugaitz Artola 1.49.01; 5. Aitor Mimenza 1.50.33.

After them came the girls with Oihana always very solid in the lead, plus also becoming a contender for the top10 overall. She was pursued in these early stages by Uxoa Irigoyen and Leire Baraibar

MANDUBIA PASS 34K: Aritz keeps on pushing

Nice climbs low in altitude welcomes you now. The meadows and forests in the area are splendid these days.  It rained a lot until a couple of weeks ago and the subsequent sun has brought out a dazzling new green. Marimurumendi, peak with legend.

Beyond the charming peak of Marimurumendi (868m) positions were yet stable  These summit is located to the north of Beasain and houses several corners that relate this mountain to Basque mythology.

TOP5 MASC:1. Aritz EGEA 2.47; 2-Pere Aurell +13m; 3- Goar Lopetegui +15m; 4- Ugaitz Artola +17m; 5. Inigo Aranzamendi +23m.

Here we have the “Mari” caves, the Trikuaizti burial mounds, the Beizama dolmens and the Larrate complex, among other points that are always worth visiting. Mari the witch watched the peloton pass by “her mountain.” with a smile.

PASSING THROUGH LOIOLA: ARITZ IS SUFFERING FROM THE HEAT…

Last 10k to the finish line, which leaves us with Aritz still an outstanding leader, but already punished by the great pace he has set on a truly embarrassing day.

That’s how we saw him pass, among a tide of fans, spectacular support. We will wait for you at the finish line 13.15-13.30 if everything goes well and you manage to keep up the pace.

¡FINISH DOMUSA TEKNIK! AEGEAN ARITZ GOLD. 6h00

We were waiting for the champion ARITZ Egea, with the doubt of whether he would be able to lose 5h30m. However, the last kilometers were a real ordeal for the champion.

Already in Loiola we saw him cool off by pouring water on top… and there was still the last big climb, in full sun. In the end, he was right with the 6h00 of his forecast.

It was the time that he himself had set as possible the day before and, despite the tremendous final impact of a temperature that has exceeded 33ºC in the sun today, he managed to comply.

In exchange, that is for a tremendous overload that logically will make it very difficult for him to play Zegama to the fullest in just two weeks. Pere Aurell silver with 6h29m.

Great career of the Catalan who was not primed with the Aritz rocket and knew how to make his career. A constitution, that of Pere that logically penalizes him more with high temperatures than lighter runners. Behind, Igon Maintzizidor bronze with 6h31.

He knew how to read the race very well and went from less to more and more, threatening silver until the last kilometer. In the end, bronze for him after 6h31m. The photo of the first three at the finish line, exhausted by the effort, is perhaps the best testimony of everyone’s dedication today in the race.


OIHANA AZKORBEBEITIA GOLD AFTER 7H14 (9th Overall)

OIHANA CHAMPION! Huge in this hard edition. Women’s gold with 7h14 and ninth total. Sensational. This is how she crossed the finish line to be crowned champion of Euskadi ultras. Silver for Leire Baraibar with 7h54 and bronze for Oihane Perez with 8h13

DOMUSA TEKNIK FINAL, NEUTRALIZED AT 6PM BY STORM.

From mid-afternoon, the storm fell on the Urola Valley. The Org. NEUTRALIZES the race at 6:00 p.m. for security. Those who have arrived at Ikasberri will be picked up there by bus.

Those who have reached Xoxote (last peak) and those who were on their way from Loiola will be able to decide whether to continue with the race or get out in the car.  Evacuation by the Goierri Red Cross was fast and smooth as is already a tradition in the are whenever needed.


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