GORBEIA SUZIEN 2024, SKYRUNNER WORLD SERIES: RACE PREVIEW

GORBEIA SUZIEN 2024, SKYRUNNER WORLD SERIES: RACE PREVIEW.Our SKYRUNNING brings us the latest news from the race taking place this Saturday 28th in the Basque Country.

Approximately 600 runners, including some of the world’s top athletes, will gather at the start line of the skyrace in the heart of the Basque Country. In Zeanuri in Bizkaia.

Read here in Spanish CARRERASDEMONTANA.COM: GORBEIA SUZIEN 2024, ÚLTIMA HORA, PROGRAMA, TRAZADO Y FAVORITOS

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GORBEIA SUZIEN 2024, SKYRUNNER WORLD SERIES:

COURSE OVERVIEW

The race left today, Saturday at 9:00 from the Plaza de Zeanuri and at the hermitage of San Justo they entered the Parque Natural de Gorbeia. The first part of the race is made up of steep slopes, after which we reach Zanburu where the peloton took the straightest and fastest path to the vicinity of Monte Lekanda.

Before reaching the rocky summit of Lekanda they marched towards the green meadows of Arraba. After crossing the fields and its crest, they reached the Zastegi area, from where they will begin the climb to the mountain that gives its name to the race, to the top of Gorbea.

Afterwards, they went down to the Acero area, with the last steep climb to Monte Aldamin. To finish, a long descent until reaching the finish line in the town of parque natural de Gorbeia, Zeanuri, after having faced some hills along the way.

Palms were sweaty around the world today as thousands tuned in to watch the live broadcast of the tenth edition of Gorbeia Suzien. The elite field was stacked with big names trying to score points towards the overall ranking at the final premier race before the SkyMasters, resulting in a thrilling race unfolding in Zeanuri, in the heart of the Basque Country, Spain.

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GORBEIA SUZIEN 2024, SKYRUNNER WORLD SERIES:

RACE PREVIEW

This Saturday, September 28th, the heart of the Basque Country will pulse with adrenaline as the Gorbeia Suzien Skyrace, the third stop in Spain of the 2024 Merrell Skyrunner® World Series, takes place. The town of Zeanuri in Bizkaia will welcome 600 runners from over 30 countries, ready to face the challenging 32-kilometer course with 2,400 meters of elevation gain, offering one of the most iconic settings for skyrunning.

FAvourites Men’s category

This year, Gorbeia Suzien will once again feature an impressive roster of international elite runners. Among the athletes who will be on the starting line of the SkyRace Gorbeia Suzien is Manu Merillas of Spain (New Balance), the champion of the Skyrunner® World Series 2023, Antonio Martinez (Asics), the Basques Aitor Zunzunegi (Euskal Selekzioa) and Ander Iñarra (Euskal Mushing), Luca del Pero (Scarpa), Zaid Ait Malek, the japan Hiroki Kai, Dimas Pereira (ASICS), Morgan Elliot (Merrell), Loic Robert (Kiprun), José Manuel Quispe (Merrell) and Omi Ryunosuke (Adidas Terrex) among others.

In the men’s category, Japanese runner Omi Ryunosuke is enthusiastic ahead of his participation, stating that: “I chose Gorbeia Suzien as one of my SWS races this year mainly because of its location. The mountains are so green and resemble the mountains in Japan, where I am from, so I was very curious to experience skyrunning in the Basque Country.”  “Gorbeia always looks like a fun event and this year, with the support of the organization and SWS, I was lucky enough to travel from Japan to Europe to participate in these amazing races. I’m looking forward to another great race with the best athletes from around the world,” he says.

FAvourites Women’s category

In the women’s category there will also be a high level in the list of elite runners, with the presence of the winner in Acantilados del Norte, Lide Urrestarazu (Euskal Selekzioa), as well as Júlia Font of Brooks Running, Iris Pessey (Scott), Onditz Iturbe (Basque Selection), Daniela Oemus (Nike Running), winner in 2023 Zegama-Aizkorri, Theresa Dahl (Salomon), Oihana Zubillaga (Euskal Selekzioa), and the frenchs Olivia Magnone (Esclops d’Azun) y Lucille Germain (Team Sidas Matryx) and Catalan runner Georgina Gabarró(Merrell).

The French runner, Iris Pessey, explains that: “I’m coming back to Gorbeia for the third year trying to score points after a not very good start of the season. I have a love-hate relationship with Gorbeia Suzien. Last year I got a great place with a podium, but the year before was a disaster for me, so hopefully third time’s the charm. I love the course, the atmosphere of the Basque Country and the atmosphere surrounding the race.” 

GORBEIA SUZIEN 2024. REACTIONS

The Gorbeia Suzien Skyrace is set to deliver an extraordinary experience in its 2024 edition, with race director Jurek Ziemkiewicz promising a spectacular event. “We’ve been preparing for this all year with dedication and love. The whole town comes together to make it special, creating a welcoming atmosphere for every runner,” said Ziemkiewicz.

As part of the prestigious Merrell Skyrunner® World Series (SWS), the race not only showcases the technical terrain of the Basque Country but also puts Zeanuri on the global map. “Being part of the SWS circuit is a fantastic opportunity to show the world our beautiful environment, and the best athletes want to be here,” he added.

Seana Forbes, a representative of the SWS, highlighted Gorbeia’s growing reputation: “In just a few years, Gorbeia has become a classic in the World Series. The Basque spirit, the incredible organization, and the warmth of the community make it stand out.”

With elite runners from countries as far away as Peru and Japan, Gorbeia Suzien will be one of the most exciting events on the 2024 calendar. As race 15 of 21 in the series, the stakes are high, and athletes will be fighting for valuable points in the overall standings.

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SKYRUNNING 2024 CALENDAR

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1. 2nd May – Acantilados del Norte – La Palma, Spain – 29km, 2,250m+
2. 6th April – Calamorro Skyrace – Benálmadena, Spain – 27km, 2,270m+
3. 4th May – Skyrace des Matheysins – St Honoré, France – 25km, 2,000m+
4. 18th May – Skyraces Des Gorges Du Tarn – Ste Enimie, France – 24km, 1,800m+
5. 25th May – Orizaba Skyrace – Orizaba, Mexico – 45km, 3,200m+
6. 1st June – Hochkönigman Skyrace – Maria Alm, Austria – 31km, 2,600m+
7. 15th June – Madeira Skyrace – Santana, Portugal – 45km, 3,600m+
8. 22nd June – Minotaur Skyrace – Crowsnest Pass, Canada – 33km, 2,900m+
9. 23rd June – Skyrace du Mercantour – Saint Martin Vesubie, France – 30km, 2,150m+
10. 29th June – Kaiserkrone Skyrace – Scheffau, Austria – 25km, 2,770m+
11. 6th June – Cordillera Blanca Skyrace – Huaraz, Peru – 27km, 1,550m+
12. 23rd August – Matterhorn Ultraks « EXTREME » – Zermatt, Switzerland – 25km, 2,900m+
13. 25th August – Trofeo KIMA – Valmasino, Italy – 52km, 4,200m+
14. 22nd September – Maga SkyMarathon – Zorzone, Italy – 39km, 3,000m+
15. 28th September – Gorbeia Suzien – Zeanuri, Spain – 32km, 2,400m+
16. 12th October – Limone Extreme Skyrace – Limone, Italy – 22km, 2,200m+
17. 26th October – 2 Peaks Skyrace – Ulju County, South Korea – 26km, 2,080m+
18. 2nd November – Kailas Penang Skyrace – Penang, Malaysia – 42km, 3,800m+
19. 9th November – Sagalassos Skyrace – Burdur, Turkey – 27km, 2,200m+

SKYMASTERS

20. 16th November – Marato dels Dements – Eslida-Aín, Spain – 42km, 3,800m+

As in previous years, the SkyMasters is reserved for athletes who have qualified throughout the season only. Qualification criteria will be published at the time of the event announcement, early next year.

 

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