Fotis Zisimopoulos and Nina Kreisherr win the 2022 Tenerife Bluetrail Ultra, the race’s premier event

Runners Fotis Zisimopoulos and Nina Kreisherr won the Ultra category of the Tenerife Bluetrail today—the race’s flagship event— after covering the 102 kilometers separating El Médano Beach (Granadilla) from the finish line at Lago Martiánez in Puerto de la Cruz. Zisimopoulos, from Greece, completed the course in 12:25:44, and Nina Kreisherr took first place with a time of 16:24:01.

Athletes Anders Johnny Kjaervik and Yasmina Castro (Trail); Albi Aridani Cedrés and Gema del Valle (Marathon); and Alejandro Díaz and Silvia Álvarez (Half Marathon) were the winners in their respective events. In addition, a new edition of the Bluetrail Challenge was held, in which 25 people with disabilities participated in races of 7.2, 5, and 1.2 kilometers.

The eleventh edition of the Tenerife race, organized by the Tenerife Island Council through the public company Ideco, drew 2,223 runners from 36 countries. Considered one of the most attractive races on the national and international scene, it has been selected by the Spanish Federation of Mountain and Climbing Sports (FEDME) as one of the races that will determine the members of the Spanish national team that will compete in the upcoming Ultra World Championships.

The awards ceremony was attended by the Regional Minister of Sports, Concepción Rivero; the mayor of Puerto de la Cruz, Marco González; the island directors of Sports and Roads, Ángel Pérez Peña and Tomás Félix García; the council members for Sports and Tourism, Alberto Cabo and Carlina Rodríguez; as well as representatives from the event’s sponsoring and partner companies.

The race has traversed Teide National Park in both its Trail and Ultra versions, with the latter reaching an elevation of 3,555 meters at La Rambleta, making it the highest race in Spain and the second highest in Europe.

The race is also endorsed by the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc (UTMB), the most prestigious event in the sport, which this year is replacing its traditional points system with a ranking of races based on their distance and elevation gain.

The 2022 Tenerife Bluetrail is supported by companies such as Fred. Olsen, Hospiten, Physiorelax, La Fast, Fonteide, Libby’s, Cajamar, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, Clínica del Pie La Orotava, Tirma, Vertresa, and Isola Frutos Secos are supporting the event.

Safety and Incidents

The weather cooperated during the Tenerife Bluetrail, allowing the race to proceed without any major issues, aside from the usual incidents typical of this type of event. A total of 91 athletes withdrew during the race, and as for the reported incidents, most were related to exhaustion, general discomfort, or injuries. Four athletes had to be evacuated by helicopter from Pico Viejo due to physical exhaustion.

The Tenerife Bluetrail is a very complex event. The various routes and the terrain require the coordinated mobilization of some 700 people, including staff from the Cabildo (Sports, Natural Environment and Safety, Tourism, and Roads), Ideco, the Red Cross, the Civil Guard, the local police forces of the municipalities through which the race passes, staff from Teide National Park, civil protection agencies from across the island, QRV Emergencias, the Tamadaya Protection and Emergency Association, trail running clubs, and various volunteer associations and groups, among others.

This equipment was strategically placed along the entire course to assist the runners and address all the needs that arise during an event of this magnitude.

The organization also relied on about a hundred volunteers who carried out various tasks, such as preparing the runner’s bags, distributing race numbers, providing support at the starting lines for the different race categories, handing out supplies and meal tickets at the finish line, coordinating transportation to take runners to Santa Cruz or La Laguna, and providing refreshments along the various race routes, among other duties.

Results by category

Ultra

Fotis Zisimopoulos of Greece completed the 102-kilometer Ultra race in 12:25:44. Second place went to Yerai Durán with a time of 12:28:51, while third place went to Alexis Martín, with a time of 12:31:55.

In the women’s category, Nina Kreisherr crossed the finish line in 16:24:01, finishing six minutes ahead of the runner-up, Melissa Paganelli, who clocked 16:32:20. The third athlete to cross the finish line was Raquel Rivero, who clocked a time of 17:00:19.

The flagship race of the 2022 Tenerife Bluetrail crosses the island, starting at sea level and climbing to 3,555 meters, the highest point reached during the ascent of Mount Teide. Of its 102 kilometers, 67% is on trails, 22% on dirt roads, and 11% on paved roads.

Trail

Anders Johnny Kjaervik was the first to cross the finish line at Lake Martiánez in the 73-kilometer race, with a time of 6:41:02, ahead of Alejandro Mayor, who finished about 13 minutes later at 6:54:15, and David Prades, who clocked in at 7:04:40.

In the women’s category, Yasmina Castro won the Trail event with a time of 8:13:09, ahead of Sara Peña (8:16:46); Alba María Reguillo finished third with a time of 8:40:30.

The Trail course consists of 67% trails, 23% dirt roads, and 10% paved roads. The race started at an elevation of 1,390 meters and reached 2,420 meters at its highest point, with a total elevation gain of 7,125 meters.

Relay Trail

The duo of Brayan Padilla and Aythami Peraza won the men’s division of this event at the Tenerife Bluetrail after completing the 73-kilometer race (28 kilometers + 45 kilometers) in a time of 7:18:16. Rounding out the podium were Manuel González and Luis Jacob González with a time of 7:44:00, and Francisco Pérez and José Diego Blanco with a time of 7:56:23.

In the mixed category, Iván Pérez and Crina Westphal won with a time of 9:24:11.

The first runner set off from Santa Catalina Street in Vilaflor, along with the rest of the athletes in the trail running category, and the second started from the San José Mines, at an elevation of 2,365 meters.

Marathon

Albi Aridani Cedrés was the winner of this event with a time of 4:15:30, followed by Samuel Ortega with 4:20:25 and Albert Houghton, who finished in 4:26:13. In the women’s division, Gema del Valle, with a time of 5:47:08, was the winner, ahead of Beatriz López at 5:54:42 and Guada Arnedo, who clocked in at 6:11:06.

The 44-kilometer route consisted of 55% trails, 15% dirt roads, and 30% paved roads, with a total elevation gain of 5,270 meters.

Media

Alejandro Díaz “flew” through the mountains of Tenerife to take first place in this 24-kilometer race, with a time of 1:53:56. Second place went to Santiago Castellano with a time of 1:55:08, while the third to cross the finish line was Raúl Díaz—who also won the night vertical race held last Thursday from Barranco Hondo to Las Lagunetas—with a time of 1:56:25.

In the women’s category, Silvia Álvarez took the top spot on the podium with a time of 2:13:57, followed by Mónica Vives (2:24:08) and Vero Suárez (2:36:20), who finished second and third, respectively.

The runners set off from Aguamansa Square (La Orotava) on a course that consisted of 40% trails, 27% dirt roads, and 30% paved roads. The total elevation gain was 3,212 meters, with a maximum altitude of 1,750 meters.

Bluetrail Challenge: An Inclusive Event

Once again this year, inclusion has been one of the core values of the 2022 Tenerife Bluetrail. This category, in which 25 athletes participated, was once again part of the event with a 7.2-kilometer course that began in Santa Úrsula; 5 kilometers to the finish line from Plaza Viñátigo in the La Paz neighborhood; and a third 1.2-kilometer leg from Martiánez Beach to the lake.