The Tenerife Bluetrail 2021 will be a qualifying race for the Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc

The Tenerife Bluetrail 2021, a race organized by the Tenerife City Council through the public company Ideco, will be a qualifying event for the Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc (UTMB), the world’s most prestigious trail running race. The Tenerife event, which will take place from June 3rd to 5th, will award International Trail Running Association (ITRA) points in five of its distance categories, which count towards UTMB qualification. The Ultra (105 km) will award 5 points, the Trail (71 km) 3 points, and the relay race 2 points per runner. The Marathon (42 km) will award 2 points, and the Half Marathon (20 km) 1 point.

The Island Councillor for Sports, Concepción Rivero, explains that this is “excellent news,” as the fact that the Tenerife Bluetrail is once again an international qualifying race “is a great incentive to attract runners from all over the world who, moreover, have the opportunity to participate in a unique race, the highest altitude race in Spain, which takes place in an incomparable setting like Teide National Park.”

Rivero highlights the interest the race generates among athletes, “as demonstrated by the fact that 86% of the available places have already been sold, with a waiting list for some categories. We have been preparing the new edition of the race for many months with great enthusiasm, and, of course, it will be adapted to the anti-COVID protocols required by the health authorities for this type of event,” states the Island Councillor.

The International Trail Running Association (ITRA) has certified the routes and characteristics of each race category. The Ultra, the flagship event of the Tenerife Bluetrail, will traverse the island, starting at sea level and reaching a maximum altitude of 3,555 meters on the ascent of Mount Teide. Its 105-kilometer course comprises 70% trails, 17% dirt tracks, and 13% paved roads.

The Trail category, with a 71-kilometer course, will include 64% trails, 23% dirt tracks, and 13% paved roads. The race will begin at an altitude of 1,378 meters and reach a maximum altitude of 2,418 meters. The total elevation gain for this category will be 8,608 meters. In the relay race, the first runner will start in Vilaflor and run to Portillo Alto to complete the first 35-kilometer leg. From there, the second runner will start and cover the remaining 36 kilometers to Puerto de la Cruz.

The marathon, a 42-kilometer race, will be 56% trails, 25% dirt track, and 18% asphalt. The half marathon will be 20 kilometers long, with 34% trails, 19% dirt track, and 47% asphalt. The total elevation gain will be 2,677 meters, and the maximum altitude will reach 1,092 meters.

The Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc, considered the most prestigious trail running ultramarathon in the world, takes place in the Alps and crosses France, Italy, and Switzerland. It covers a distance of approximately 172 kilometers and has an elevation gain of around 10,000 meters.

The organizers of the Tenerife Bluetrail, which had to be canceled last year due to the pandemic, are finalizing the details of the next edition. This year marks its tenth anniversary and will see its debut as the Spanish Ultramarathon Championship, both for individuals and regional teams, solidifying its position as a national and international benchmark.

The Tenerife Bluetrail 2021 is supported by companies such as Fred. Olsen, Hospiten, Physiorelax, Isola Frutos Secos que Acompañan, Cajamar, Libby’s Canarias, and La Fast.