The countdown begins for the tenth edition of the Tenerife Bluetrail

The Tenerife Bluetrail, the highest mountain race in Spain, organized by the Cabildo through the public company Ideco, the Sports Department and Tenerife Tourism, will celebrate its tenth anniversary this year, with the participation of 2,200 runners, new competition categories, route changes and a strict anti-Covid protocol. The President of the Tenerife Island Council, Pedro Martín, presented today in Puerto de la Cruz the main new features of the upcoming edition of the race, which will be held from June 3rd to 5th, with the added attraction of having become, for the first time, the Spanish Ultra Championship for both individual and regional teams.

Pedro Martín emphasized that “this top-level event will feature significant new elements, generating excitement for everyone and attracting those who may come from elsewhere.” He added that “the tourism aspect of the Bluetrail is essential, as important as its ability to transcend municipal boundaries and showcase Tenerife in all its glory.”

The event was also attended by the Councilor for Sports, Concepción Rivero; the Island Director of Sports, Laura Castro; the Mayor of Puerto de la Cruz, Marco González; and the CEO of Tenerife Tourism, David Pérez. Runner David Lutzardo, winner of the Trail category in 2018, also participated. Second in the Ultra in the 2011 edition and third in the same category in 2019, as well as the CEO of Ideco, Santiago Romero, mayors, and representatives from the municipalities along the race route, were present. They unveiled the design of the t-shirt that participants will wear in the next edition of the race, chosen through a social media contest.

The Minister of Sports, Concepción Rivero, highlighted “the value of this flagship event from a sporting and tourism perspective, with its significant impact on the island of Tenerife.” She added that “a great effort has been made to ensure it takes place safely, balancing sporting activity with environmental protection.”

The island’s director of sports, Laura Castro, explained that “this race knows no gender or barriers; it’s an accessible event that welcomes everyone regardless of their abilities, and above all, it aims to let people enjoy the sport and the scenery, while striving to reduce its environmental impact year after year.”

The mayor of Puerto de la Cruz, Marco González, announced that “the race will have a certificate from the Spanish Institute for Tourism Quality recognizing it as a safe municipality from a health perspective.”

The Tenerife Blue Trail, which for the first time will finish at Lago Martiánez in Puerto de la Cruz, will offer seven distances in this tenth edition: the Ultra, 105 kilometers; the Trail, 71 kilometers, which also has a relay option; the Marathon, 42 kilometers; and the Half Marathon, 20 kilometers. The Bluetrail Challenge for people with disabilities includes three distances: 8, 3.7, and 1.2 kilometers, and a 3.1-kilometer nighttime vertical race will be held on June 3rd. All events will be adapted to the anti-Covid protocols required by health authorities for this type of event.

The race will traverse Teide National Park in both its Trail and Ultra versions, with the latter reaching La Rambleta at 3,555 meters, making it the highest race in Spain and the second highest in Europe. Furthermore, the Tenerife Bluetrail is considered one of the most attractive races on the national and international scene, not only for its technical difficulty but also for the diversity and uniqueness of the landscapes it crosses.

The race has already filled 98% of its available places. Within days of registration opening on February 19th, all available spots for the Marathon, Half Marathon, and Trail races were filled, demonstrating the high level of interest the race generates among athletes. Currently, only the Ultra and Vertical races remain open, both with fewer than twenty places available. The ranking of participating countries is led by Spain, the United Kingdom, France, and Germany, followed by runners from Belgium, Switzerland, Poland, and Italy.

So far, runners of the caliber of Briton Tom Evans, third in the 2018 Trail World Championships and winner of the CCC Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc (101 km and 6,104 meters of elevation gain) that same year; Luis Alberto Hernando, three-time Trail World Champion; and Jord have confirmed their participation.