The Tenerife Island Council, through the public company Ideco, will hire experts to certify whether the Tenerife Bluetrail by UTMB® has any environmental impact along its route. Applying for the “Green CXM Trail” environmental quality seal—a green charter of best practices issued by the Spanish Federation of Mountain and Climbing Sports (FEDME)— and the first-ever hiring of a specialized firm to conduct pre- and post-event environmental studies within Teide National Park are some of the actions the Island Council plans to implement starting with the next edition of the race.
The island’s Sports Minister, Yolanda Moliné, emphasizes that “respect for the environment has always been one of the race’s core values—a principle we consistently convey to all athletes participating in the event, as well as to our sponsors. We must not forget that this is a unique race that takes place in a very sensitive environment that we all love and must work together to protect.”
Mountain races certified under the “Green CXM Trail FEDME” program must meet a series of very strict requirements, which are evaluated by environmental adjudicators and subsequently reviewed by a committee to ensure the race’s sustainability based on environmental criteria.
In addition, the organizers of the Tenerife Bluetrail by UTMB® will commission a specific environmental study of Teide National Park in order to implement corrective measures, if necessary, before or after the race. This study will detail all activities planned in that area to ensure they comply with all regulations governing this type of sporting event.
The support shown by the runners for the restoration of the forests burned in last summer’s fire is proving particularly significant, as more than 500 registered participants have so far decided to donate funds to this cause, which will be managed through the Cabildo’s “Tenerife Renace” initiative.
The various categories of the Tenerife Bluetrail By UTMB® pass through areas of high ecological value and great fragility that are subject to very specific administrative regulations, which runners must respect; failure to do so will result in immediate disqualification.
The mandatory use of hiking poles with rubber tips when entering Teide National Park and their prohibition on the Roques de García trail, the elimination of plastic cups, the placement of recycling bins along the route, reducing paper use, providing pre-cut fruit at aid stations to minimize waste, and using reusable trail markers are some of the other measures imposed by the organizers to preserve the environment.
This year, the Tenerife Bluetrail by UTMB® has been included for the first time in the UTMB® World Series, the world’s most important trail running circuit. The upcoming edition of the event features ten categories, including four race categories that allow participants to earn Running Stones and qualify for the sport’s premier mountain race: the Dacia UTMB® Mont-Blanc, held in late August in Chamonix, France.
Specifically, these are the Tenerife Bluetrail 110K / 6,250m+ (100M category – 4 Running Stones); the Tenerife Bluetrail 73K / 3,150m+ (100K category – 3 Running Stones); the Tenerife Bluetrail 47K / 2,600m+ (50K category – 2 Running Stones); and the Tenerife Bluetrail 24K / 1,300m+ (20K category – 1 Running Stone). These races are joined by other events such as the Tenerife Bluetrail 47K Relay, a 47-kilometer relay race, and the Vertical Night Challenge, a 3.5-kilometer race.
The children’s and family categories, along with the adapted races—the Reto and Joëlettes—round out the lineup of events for the 2024 edition. Registration to take part in this sporting experience is still open here.
