Nearly 2,000 participants gather every year in Granada (Andalusia) to enjoy the Ultra Sierra Nevada, a demanding mountain race that exceeds 3,000 metres in altitude.
One of the most charismatic mountain areas in Spain. An imposing massif with more than twenty peak sover 3,000 metres high. In this spectacular setting, the object of desire of mountaineers, runners, skiers and cyclists, one of the most emblematic ultra-trail races in Europe is held: Ultra Sierra Nevada. Its next edition is scheduled for the weekend of 14, 15 and 16 April.
We are talking about a sporting event that offers five modalities, thus accommodating runners of all levels. And it has the privilege of being the highest mountain ultramarathon in the Iberian Peninsula, reaching a height of 3,100 metres. This is just one of the many attractions of Ultra Sierra Nevada. Its exquisite organisation, its participant services, the good atmosphere along the route, and the landscapes and trails that it covers complete a unique experience that every trailrunner deserves to enjoy at least once in a lifetime.
Thus, it is not surprising that the best national runners have taken part in the race in its seven years of existence: Azara García, Pau Capell, Miguel Heras, Gemma Arenas, Marta Molist, Mario Olmedo, etc. In addition to the great line-up of elite athletes who take part in each edition, there are thousands of amateur runners who can choose from among the five races on the programme.
An event for you: 5 races in 1
Originally, Ultra Sierra Nevada was a 100 km race starting in the historic city of Granada, internationally known for its enormous Alhambra, one of the most visited monumental and cultural sites in Spain. The great tourist attraction of the city. As the years went by, the rest of the modalities were incorporated into the programme. Last season Extrema Sierra Nevada was born, a 100-mile race that had never been run before, although the route had to be shortened by a few kilometres due to the snow fall.
Thus, nowadays, the range of 5 races of Ultra Sierra Nevada is made up of the following modalities: Half Marathon (25 km), Marathon (40 km), Trail (60 km), Ultra (100 km) and the recently launched Extrema (170 km). In addition, for this season both the Marathon and the Trail have modified part of their route to eliminate the road sections.
The ski resort of Pradollano (2,100 metres above sea level), known for attracting the best skiers and cyclists on the continent – it is common to see Pogacar, Alaphilippe, Sagan or Van Aert, among others, training on its high asphalted roads – is the place where the finish line of all the Ultra Sierra Nevada races is located.
Organised by TerraIncógnita Sport with the support of Cetursa Sierra Nevada, the USN (acronym of the event) is a bench mark for outdoor sport in Spain, as well as an exclusive opportunity to get to know the imposing surroundings of the Sierra Nevada and its famous Veleta peak, the highest place the runners will climb.
Ultra Sierra Nevada forms part of the UTMB INDEX RACES, thus facilitating access to the races of the UTMB World Series circuit for participants who wish to achieve this objective. The Extreme Sierra Nevada is a 100M category, the Ultra a 100K category, the Trail a 50K category, the Marathon a 50K category, and the Half a 20K category.
The registration fees and the number of bibs available for each category can be consulted on the website. There are currently more than 1,500 runners registered. More information: www.ultrasierranevada.com