TRANSVULCANIA 2024. Thibaut Baronian makes his debut

Posted by Corriendo la Vida on March 9, 2024 in trail running, trail running spain, trail running spain 2024, transgrancanaria races, transvulcania, transvulcania 2024, Ultra Trail | Leave a comment

TRANSVULCANIA 2024. Thibaut Baronian makes his debut. Our TRANSVULCANIA section brings you a new runner confirmed for the race, Thibaut Baronian

The French Trail champion and fourth in the last World Cup will run Transvulcania for the first time. While you can see the start of last year’s race.

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TRANSVULCANIA 2024.

Thibaut Baronian makes his debut

With just two months remaining until the fourteenth edition of Transvulcania, organizers are unveiling the names of top athletes set to compete in the event’s four competitive modalities. Among them is Thibaut Baronian, athlete of the Salomon team runner, who will be making his debut in the ultra-marathon distance.

The French runner is considered to be one of the best runners on the international. His impressive track record includes a fourth-place finish in the recent World Trail Championships in Austria, as well as in the last edition of the Ultra Trail of Cape Town or the third places in the CCC and the OCC of UTMB or the Basque Zegama-Aizkorri, among others.

In 2022, Baronian was runner-up in the Golden Trail World Series,, being only beaten by the Swiss Remi Bonnet and surpassing runners such as Elhousine Elazzaoui, Ruy Ueda or Eli Hemming, among others. Additionally, he holds the title of French Short Trail Champion, highlighting his versatility and capability of performing at a high level at any distance.

As Baronian gears up for his first ultra-marathon on the challenging terrain of La Palma island, anticipation builds for an showdown between him and other confirmed contenders, including Dakota Jones, Germain Grangier, and Jonathan Albon, with more to be announced leading up to the event on May 11th.

Photo CCC – Michel Cottin

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Sergio Rodríguez, President of the Cabildo de La Palma

Sergio Rodríguez, President of the Cabildo de La Palma, emphasises the event’s ability to attract world-class athletes and provide them with a unique opportunity enjoy their sport in La Palma like in few other places in the world, surrounded by the hospitality and encouragement of the island.

Registration

Registration for the event is progressing steadily, with certain modalities such as the Ultramarathon, Marathon, and Half Marathon nearing capacity, they are already at around 91% on average, and some of them are about to be completed, and the Vertical Kilometre, the shortest modality, at 37%.

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TRANSVULCANIA 2024: THE RACES

ultramarathon

The Transvulcania racing race. The route begins at the Faro de Fuencaliente and continues along the “Gran Recorrido” trail GR 131, also known as the ‘Ruta del Bastón’, to the Puerto de Tazacorte. From there, it connects with the GR 130, Camino Real de la Costa, to the finish line, located in the Plaza de España – Los Llanos de Aridane.

Without a doubt, Transvulcania is one of the toughest trail running races in the world, with a distance of 73.06 kilometers and 4,350 meters of accumulated positive gradient and 4,057 meters of accumulated negative gradient. From its starting line, located at sea level, the route ascends to Roque de los Muchachos (2421 m.), the highest point on the Island, then descends to Tazacorte and ends in Los Llanos de Aridane where the line goal is surrounded by an incredible environment with many people

TRANSVULCANIA MARATHON

The route begins in the Recreational Area of ‘Refugio de El Pilar’ (El Paso) at 1,450 meters above sea level, and continues along the Long Distance Trail GR 131 – Ruta del Bastón, until reaching the Port of Tazacorte where the race ends at sea level, next to the beach.

With a total distance of 43.08 km and 1,884 meters of accumulated positive slope and 3,329 meters of accumulated negative slope, this type of race requires a special physical condition because the final part of the route descends from the highest point of the Island, Roque from Los Muchachos (2,426 meters above sea level) to sea level (Puerto de Tazacorte Beach) so participants must take it into account for their previous training programs.

transvulcania media maraton

The Transvulcania Half Marathon is not as tough as the Ultramarathon, as it is only 25 km long.

It starts at the Faro de Fuencaliente, just an hour and a half after the Ultramarathon. The Half Marathon runs along the emblematic Ruta de los Volcanes to the Recreational Area of ‘Refugio de El Pilar’, but this involves running in the opposite direction to the route, so we must add a climb through a ‘Malpaís’ of volcanic lava.

The short version of Transvulcania has 2,097 meters of accumulated positive gradient and 689 meters of accumulated negative gradient over a distance of 24.28 kilometers.

All of this, passing through several emblematic points such as the place where the inhabitants of the town of Fuencaliente and other parts of the island meet in the early hours of the morning to cheer on the runners as they pass. Another important place is Las Deseadas, one of those places that runners fall in love with for its wonderful views.

TRANSVULCANIA KILÓMETRO VERTICAL

The Vertical Kilometer begins at Puerto de Tazacorte Beach (0 m.), and continues along the emblematic GR-131, in the opposite direction to the Ultra Trail route. In this section, the trail ascends the wall of the El Time ravine to the municipality of Tijarafe, in the old Almacén de Plátanos (273 m.). There you can enjoy a wonderful panoramic view of Tazacorte and its coastline. Then, the route continues its ascent alternating path and road until reaching the Mirador El Time Restaurant (513 m.).

The climb continues along the GR-131 track, until reaching the emblematic Hungarian House (624 m). At this point, you leave the GR-131 track and enter a local trail, in the municipality of Tijarafe. The TV antenna (722 m.) and the emblematic Mirador de Piedra del Guanche (750 m.) will witness the passage of the runners.

The trail continues its ascent and connects again with the GR-131 (1,000 m) to finally reach the forest tower of El Time (1,600 m.) (Tijarafe). A route with a length of 7.6 kilometers and 1,203 meters of elevation gain where runners will be rewarded with impressive views of the northeast side of the Island and the Aridane Valley.