Benasque He has become this weekend in the epicenter of the Trail Running with the celebration of the Las Tucas Marathon, one of the most popular tests of the Great Trail Trangoworld Aneto-Posets. This mountain marathon, 42 kilometers and 2,500 meters of positive slope, travels through some of the most spectacular places of the Aragonese Pyrenees and has gathered 911 runners in this edition.
The race has begun at 8.00 from Benasque’s avenue with the still wet terrain after night rains. The layout surrounds the imposing tucas of Ixeia (2,840 meters of altitude) and crosses emblematic enclaves such as the Ibones of Batisielles, the cascade of the spikestone, the shelter of Estós, the hill of the flat or the peoples of Eriste, Anciles and Cerler.
The Murcia Pablo Bautista Rovira has been the great protagonist of the day when crossing the goal with a time of four hours, 24 minutes and 17 seconds, lowering the previous record of the test in six minutes. “It is my first time here and it has been incredible. During the entire route there were people encouraging and they have taken me in volandas. In the end I have squeezed myself to go for the record,” said the winner.
After him, the podium has completed the Zaragozano Alberto Lasobras, second with four hours and 37 minutes, and the Oscense Javi Cabestre, third a few seconds behind. They have followed them in the Pere Rullán and Francisco Álvarez classification, which have finished fourth and fifth, respectively.
The female victory has roasted for Leire Fernández Abete. Photo: Edu Moreno
Exciting female duel
In the female category, the victory has been for the Guipuzcoana Leire Fernández Abete, who has completed the tour in five hours and 39 minutes. The athlete has overcome an exciting duel with the Turolense Patricia Villanueva, who has dominated the climb and has come to have five minutes of advantage in the hill of the flat. However, Fernández has traced in the descent and has taken the lead before passing through the Ángel Orús refuge.
“This for me was a very personal challenge. I knew that it was going to be a long and demanding race, but that is what the trail runners likes. If it was easy, it would be called paddlecloth,” Fernández joked when he reached the finish line, referring to the motto that has made it viral in recent weeks.
Villanueva has maintained the type in the second half of the test and has managed to defend the second position with a time of five hours and 42 minutes. The podium has been completed by the Basque Eneritz Aramendi, third with almost six hours. They have also highlighted the performances of Sonia Amor and Andrea Prades, fourth and fifth classified. The female record, yes, remains in the hands of Anna Comet, with a mark of five hours and 16 minutes.
The test runs through some of the most spectacular places of the Pyrenees. Photo: Edu Moreno
They have until 22.00 to complete the route
Throughout the day, the atmosphere in Benasque has been spectacular, with hundreds of fans encouraging corridors in the toughest and goal sections. In the middle of the afternoon, many participants are still in the race and have time until 10 pm to complete the demanding tour.
The Tucas Marathon is only one of the tests of the Great Aneto-poses, a reference sporting event that every summer brings together thousands of mountain runners in the natural environment of the Benasque Valley, at the foot of the highest peaks of the highest peaks of the Pyrenees.
