The Tenerife Bluetrail joins the UTMB® World Series circuit

The Tenerife Bluetrail is joining the UTMB® World Series family. Starting in 2024, the Tenerife race—organized by the Cabildo de Tenerife through Ideco —will be part of one of the world’s most important trail running circuits, becoming the second Spanish event where national and international runners can earn Running Stones and increase their chances of qualifying for the Dacia UTMB® Mont-Blanc, held in late August in Chamonix, France.

The race, which will take place from June 6 to 8, 2024, will open registration next Monday, December 4, starting at 10:00 a.m., with 48 hours of priority access for participants with a valid UTMB® Index—that is, athletes who have completed any UTMB® Index event, including the last two editions of the Tenerife Bluetrail. Starting Wednesday, December 6, at 10:00 a.m., any runner, with or without a valid UTMB® Index, will be able to purchase a race number through the website tenerife.utmb.world.

The race, which will celebrate its 13th edition in 2024, offers four race categories through which participants can earn Running Stones: 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).

In addition to these events, there is a 47-kilometer challenge for pairs, the Tenerife Bluetrail 47K Relay; the 3.5-kilometer Vertical Night Challenge; children’s and family races; and two categories exclusively for people with disabilities— Reto and Joëlettes—who can also enjoy the experience of participating in this unique sporting event.

Race fees range from 176 euros for the 110K to 10 euros for the Family Race, although significant discounts are available for the fastest runners and an additional 25% discount for athletes residing in the Canary Islands.

Lope Afonso, vice president and director of tourism for the Tenerife Island Council, has highlighted the importance of the Tenerife Bluetrail—Spain’s highest mountain race and the second highest in Europe—being included in the UTMB® World Series “because it will mark another step toward the race’s internationalization and will serve as a showcase to demonstrate to the world the opportunities Tenerife offers for outdoor sports 365 days a year, thanks to its excellent climate and first-class hotel infrastructure.”

For her part, the island’s Sports Minister, Yolanda Moliné, is convinced that the merger with the UTMB® World Series “will allow our race to continue growing worldwide and attract more athletes who want to participate in a unique race that winds through exceptional landscapes and, at the same time, make the most of their stay on the island to enjoy everything Tenerife has to offer.”

Xavier Pocino, CEO of UTMB® Iberia, has highlighted the importance of hosting a UTMB® race on the islands to make it easier for Canarians to participate in the UTMB® World Series Finals. “The setting of the Tenerife Bluetrail makes it a race unlike any other in the world. Without leaving home, Canarians will be able to earn Running Stones to qualify for the three key distances of the Dacia UTMB Mont-Blanc: the OCC (50k), the CCC (100k), and the UTMB (100M), while non-residents of Tenerife will discover a unique, very welcoming island with exceptional landscapes and weather.”

New Routes

The Tenerife Bluetrail by UTMB® has adapted the courses for the different race categories to accommodate recovery efforts throughout the area affected by last August’s wildfire. Another new feature of the upcoming edition of the race is that it will bring back the legendary climb to Asomadero in Los Realejos for all competitive categories—one of the most challenging and attractive routes for athletes.

The race, which will once again finish in Puerto de la Cruz, is changing the starting location for almost all of its categories. Thus, the Ultra—the race’s flagship event—is scheduled to start from Los Cristianos Beach, in the municipality of Arona, while the Trail will continue to start from Vilaflor. The new starting location for the Marathon will be the Pinolere Ethnographic Park (La Orotava), and the Half Marathon will start in the Realejo neighborhood of Palo Blanco. Participants in the Vertical race will tackle the Asomadero, which is the planned location for this night race.

As for the Challenge, the 8-kilometer race will start at the San Pedro Lookout, as will the Joëlette and Family Race categories. The 4-kilometer Challenge route will start at the San Felipe ravine, and the 1-kilometer race will start at the Casa de la Aduana, just like the Peque Race.

For more information, visit: tenerife.utmb.world.