The Ultramarathon, Marathon, and Half Marathon will bring together more than a hundred elite athletes from five continents on Saturday. The Joëlette and Transvulcania Challenge events, part of the “Transvulcania Accessible 2026” initiative, have set all-time participation records.
This Saturday, May 9, the adidas Transvulcania will host the main event of its 16th edition, featuring three races taking place simultaneously along the GR-131 trail and the volcanic landscape of the Ruta de los Volcanes. The organization, managed by the Cabildo of La Palma through SODEPAL, has assembled an unprecedented international lineup featuring world champions and winners of the UTMB, CCC, Western States, and Skyrunner World Series, in what is expected to be one of the most competitive editions in the history of the La Palma race.
In addition to the gathering of elite athletes, there is a surge of enthusiasm among amateur runners, who fill the race’s more than 3,000 spots almost from the very start. And, as if that weren’t enough, the event also features a significant leap forward by the organizers in the inclusive categories—Joelette and Desafío—which are seeing record-breaking participation numbers.
Ultramarathon: A Global Race for the Crown of La Palma
The flagship race, covering 73.06 kilometers with 4,350 meters of elevation gain between the Fuencaliente Lighthouse and Los Llanos de Aridane, will start at 6:00 a.m. on Saturday. The Ultramarathon features the largest number of international stars on the roster and will bring together athletes from Europe, North America, Asia, and Oceania in what is expected to be a close race from the very first kilometer.
In the men’s category, the Spanish team will be led by one of the greatest legends in the world of trail running, Luis Alberto Hernando (ITRA 824), three-time IAU Trail World Champion (2016, 2017, and 2018), European Ultra Champion, three-time winner of the Transvulcania Ultramarathon, and the race’s all-time record holder with a time of 6h 52’ 39”. He will be joined by Mario Olmedo (ITRA 879), Zaid Ait Malek (869), Abel Carretero (869), Borja Fernández (858), Pablo Villa (845), and Rodrigo Monasor (843).
The international contingent is led by Italians Nadir Maguet (919) and Andreas Reiterer (907), Americans David Sinclair (ITRA 915), Ben Dhiman (911), and Matt Daniels (887); Dmitry Mityaev (905), Japan’s Rui Ueda (896), and China’s Jiasheng Shen (891), as well as Scandinavia’s Petter Engdahl, the 2022 winner.
In the women’s race, the list of favorites is led by France’s Blandine L’Hirondel (ITRA 791). Rounding out the field are Germany’s Daniela Oemus (746), Australia’s Lucy Bartholomew (733)—one of the most high-profile ultra-distance runners on the global circuit—neutral athletes Ekaterina Mityaeva (760) and Anastasia Davydova (705), and Italy’s Federica Zuccollo (669), all of whom have recently secured podium finishes in international events. The Spanish contenders include the tireless Azara García de los Salmones (771) and the experienced Gemma Arenas (744). Joining this lineup is the legendary Emelie Forsberg (723), who returns to Transvulcania ten years after her last victory.
Marathon: Explosiveness and Elite-Level Speed
The 43.20-kilometer marathon starts at Roque de los Muchachos and descends to the sandy shores of Puerto de Tazacorte Beach. With more than 3,300 meters of descent, it demands tremendous muscular effort and sets this race apart from any conventional marathon.
In the men’s category, Alex García Carrillo (ITRA 883) is the clear favorite. He will face stiff competition from Italians Christian Marini (852) and Giacomo Forconi (833), as well as Portugal’s Tiago Vieira (861). Names like Pablo Bautista, Zaid Ait Malek, and Fran Anguita are serious contenders for a podium finish on the Spanish side.
In the women’s category, Ikram Rharsalla (ITRA 775) leads the field. Rounding out the Spanish contingent are Julia Font (762), Leire Fernández (698), Vanessa Caba (658), and Inés Astrain. The international contingent is rounded out by Iceland’s Elisa Kristinsdottir (761), Italy’s Elisa Desco (753) and Anna Ongaro (669), Germany’s Kim Schreiber (748), and Argentina’s Florencia Milanesi (660).
Half Marathon: The Most Intense Race, Debut at the WMRA World Cup
An hour and a half after the ultra race, at 7:30 a.m., the Half Marathon starts from the Fuencaliente Lighthouse. Its 24.80-kilometer course, with 2,097 meters of elevation gain, follows the iconic Volcanoes Route to the finish line at the El Pilar Refuge. The race will make its debut in 2026 as part of the WMRA World Mountain Running Cup—an organization recognized by World Athletics—in the Classic category.
Adding to this is the arrival of talented and highly competitive Kenyan track and field athletes, who are coming to Isla Bonita with a team of elite male and female runners. Six of them are part of the Run2gether team—a regular force to be reckoned with on Alpine peaks and in WMRA events— while the NNormal club brings the powerful Joyce Muthoni Njeru (789) to the peaks of La Palma—currently number one in the WMRA rankings, three-time WMRA World Cup Champion (2021, 2022, and 2023), and 2024 Golden Trail World Series Champion: an active legend of global trail running.
The Kenyan lineup is led by Philemon Kiriago (948), a major sensation on the global trail running scene: two-time World Champion (2023 and 2025), two-time winner of the legendary Sierre-Zinal, and the star of the most epic duel in history against Kilian Jornet in 2024, losing by just a second and a half after a legendary sprint that shattered all previous records. He is joined by Richard Omaya Atuya (909), the reigning winner of the 2025 WMRA World Cup, and Ephantus Njeri (831). In the women’s category, Philaries Eruto Kisang (759), Ruth Gitonga Mwikahi (770), and Jedidah Chepkemoi Sang.
The arrival of the African runners will bring a clash of styles never before seen on La Palma: the elegant, powerful stride of the East African runners versus the technical demands and rugged terrain of the volcanic trails. The European roster is rounded out by competitors with previous podium experience on the island, including Daniel Osanz, Yoel de Paz, Damien Humbert, Onditz Iturbe, Camilla Magliano, Iris Pessey, Jessica Pardin, Silvia Lara, and Moana Lylly Kehres.
With this move, Transvulcania adidas reaffirms its status as a world-class event, opening its trails to the boundless talent of East Africa.
Inclusive events: Joëlette and Desafío Transvulcania set new participation records
The event’s growth in terms of competition runs parallel to its growth in terms of social impact. The “Transvulcania Accessible 2026” Plan has resulted in unprecedented numbers of participants in adapted categories, demonstrating that inclusive sports are no longer merely a token gesture but have become an integral part of the event.
The Joëlette category, which allows people with limited mobility to experience the mountains with the assistance of specialized teams, has reached a record high in 2026, with the number of registered teams increasing from 3 in the previous edition to 7. The organizers are also introducing cash prizes for this category for the first time, bringing its recognition on par with that of the other distances and highlighting the efforts of the participating teams.
For its part, the Transvulcania Challenge has seen a massive increase in participation: it has grown from a single participant in 2025 to 15 registered runners in this edition, following last year’s debut as a pioneering challenge featuring a guide dog. Both categories are complemented by the Transvulcania Kids-Junior Inclusive race and the Flag Parade at the finish line in Los Llanos de Aridane, ensuring that inclusion is present across all areas and categories of the event.
Live tracking
With this lineup of athletes, the adidas Transvulcania promises a world-class sporting event that can also be watched live starting early in the morning via an unprecedented broadcast on Transvulcania’s own channels and RTVC.
The adidas Transvulcania is organized by the Island Council of La Palma through the public company SODEPAL, with the support of the Government of the Canary Islands—through the Department of Tourism and Promotur with its “Islas Canarias Latitud de Vida” brand—and the companies adidas, Hotel H10 Taburiente Playa, Hotel La Palma Princess, Hotel Meliá La Palma, Fred. Olsen Express, Cicar, Spar La Palma, Coca-Cola, Libbys, Isola, and Nutrinovex.
