UPDATE – The UTMB World Series heads this weekend to Mallorca, Spain and to Sweden for the Kullamannen Ultra Trail. However, in Mallorca the M5000 is cancelled due to the storm that is expected to hit the island on Friday, November 1, 2024. At this moment – Thursday October 31 – all other races will go ahead as planned.
UPDATE: The Serra de Tramuntana has been shortened to 90 kilometres and will start Saturday morning, due to the bad weather.
Earlier this week the area between Valencia and Malaga was hit by severe weather. Hundred and fifty five people died. In some places, like Chiva, almost 450 litres of water fell per square metre in eight hours. That is the amount that normally falls in a year, according to the daily El Mundo. The Balearic Islands, which Mallorca is part of, are located off the coast of Valencia. Parts of Mallorca have been struggling with heavy rainfall as well.
More rain coming
The severe weather in Spain is caused by a weather phenomenon called DANA, a Spanish abbreviation for a low pressure area. Although the phenomenon isn’t new, never has there been so much rain in such a short period of time. According to meteorologists, more rain is on the way for Friday. The M5000 – 69 kilometres with 4.350 metres of altitude – was supposed to start at 6am. Camilla Magliano, Martina Valmassoi (both Italy), Henriette Albon (Norway), Eleanor Davis (Great Britain), Dakota Jones, Rod Farvard (both USA) and Bart Przedwojewski (Poland) were some of the big runners who had set their eyes on this race.
Weekend races go ahead
The Serra de Tramuntana, the 146 kilometres long (6.000m+) race starts Saturday morning. Pablo Villa (Spain), Philipp Ausserhofer (Italy), Josh Wade (Great Britain), Johanna Antila (Finland), Claire Bannwarth (France), Mali Noyes (USA) and Martina Klancnik Potrc (Slovenia) are the favourites to win this race.
Camille Bruyas (USA), the number two of the Hardrock 100 this year, and Theres Lebouf (Switzerland) are the most interesting names in the Els Tres Mils race; 47 kilometres, with 2.300 metres of altitude. This race is planned for Saturday.
Sunday it’s time for the Camins de s’Arxiduc, the 26 kilometres (1.000m+) race. Judith Wyder, the number two of the Golden Trail World Series, is racing this one.
Kullamannen
Kullamannen in Bastad, Sweden, kicks off tomorrow. Emma Stuart (Ireland), last year’s winner of Ultra Trail Snowdonia (Wales) and the number three of Lavaredo Ultra Trail (Italy) runs the hundred miles. Yngvild Kaspersen (Norway) races the 100 kilometres. Petter Engdahl (Sweden) and Daniel Pattis (Italy) will go head to head on the Seventh Seal, the 57k race.
Photo: UTMB Archive Pablo Villa winning UTMB TDS in 2019