A thousand runners from 14 countries will cross the Strait in the Eurafrica Trail
Topics Diputación Provincial de Cádiz
The stage race will cover 81 kilometres between Gibraltar, Spain and Morocco from October 29 to November 2, with registration closed.
A thousand participants from 14 countries will take the start in the eleventh edition of the Eurafrica Trail, a mountain stage race that crosses Europe and Africa in a single event. The competition is held from October 29 to November 2 and totals 81 kilometres spread over five stages through the United Kingdom (Gibraltar), Spain and Morocco.
Five stages and three countries
The first event is on Thursday, October 29, an uphill vertical race in Gibraltar with the finish at O'Hara's Battery, the highest point of the Rock. On Friday, October 30 comes a semi-night stage from the Estación de Gaucín (Cortes de la Frontera, Málaga), between the Grazalema and Los Alcornocales natural parks.
The Cádiz stage is held on Saturday, October 31: it starts in Algeciras and runs through the Los Alcornocales natural park, passing through the canutos, the Río de la Miel, Puerto de la Higuera and Pico Vacas. Afterwards, the runners will cross by ferry to Tangier.
The queen stage, in Morocco
On Sunday, November 1, the so-called queen stage is held in Morocco, from Belwazen to the summit of Monte Blanco, a viewpoint over the Strait. The event closes on Monday, November 2 along the cliffs of Cabo Negro, with start and finish on the M'Diq seafront promenade.
According to the race director, Aitor Calle, the list of favourites includes the Pole Marcin Kubica, the Swede Martin Nilsson and the Norwegian Anders Kjaerevik, whom he described as "three of the best runners in Europe and the world right now". Calle noted that around 55% of the participants are women and that the classification has male and female categories and subcategories by age groups.
Registration closed
Registration for this edition is already closed, according to the organisation, handled by the company Muzafires. The second vice-president of the Diputación de Cádiz, Javier Vidal, highlighted the tourist impact of the event for the province and the Campo de Gibraltar and stated that "the Strait of Gibraltar does not separate territories, but connects them".