{"id":2664,"date":"2026-03-12T07:13:13","date_gmt":"2026-03-12T06:13:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/snaprace.app\/blog\/?p=2664"},"modified":"2026-03-12T07:13:15","modified_gmt":"2026-03-12T06:13:15","slug":"transgrancanaria-classic-2026-the-albons-dominate-the-125-km-ultramarathon","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/snaprace.app\/blog\/en\/transgrancanaria-classic-2026-the-albons-dominate-the-125-km-ultramarathon\/","title":{"rendered":"Transgrancanaria Classic 2026: the Albons dominate the 125 km ultramarathon"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

For almost three decades, Transgrancanaria<\/strong> has established itself as one of Europe\u2019s premier ultra-trail<\/em> races. Its 27th edition, held from 5 to 8 March 2026, marked another milestone: more than 6,000 runners from 70 countries took part, female participation increased by 70% compared with 2024, and over 220,000 viewers followed the live broadcast. The race is part of the Gran Canaria World Trail Majors<\/strong> circuit and in 2026 once again distributed \u20ac36,000 in prize money across its Classic, Advanced, Marathon and Half distances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Transgrancanaria is not a single race but a true trail-running festival that crosses the island from north to south. Distances range from the 12-km Promo to the iconic 125-km Classic, with the 46-km Marathon and the 81-km Advanced in between. The course traverses volcanic ravines, pine forests, traditional villages and landmarks such as Roque Nublo, with elevation gain that tests both physical strength and mental resilience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Course and features of the 125-km Classic<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Classic distance<\/strong> is the heart of Transgrancanaria. It covers 125 kilometres (one kilometre shorter in 2026 due to a mandatory route change) with 6,764 metres of elevation gain. The race begins at 11:59 pm on Friday on Las Canteras beach in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, where hundreds of headlamps light up the sand before the runners head into the mountains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The route crosses the island\u2019s interior before finishing in Maspalomas on the southern coast, combining highly technical sections with more runnable terrain. The highest point reaches 1,724 metres above sea level, and most of the climbing is concentrated in the second half of the race, making pacing strategy crucial.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Conditions in 2026 were especially challenging: the first half of the night brought rain and cold temperatures, forcing participants to carry additional warm layers. By midday, however, the heat led many runners to fill their vests with ice at aid stations. Managing clothing and hydration proved essential to finishing the race.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Women\u2019s race: Henriette Albon defends her title<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

With the top two finishers from 2025 \u2014 Norway\u2019s Henriette Albon<\/strong> and Spain\u2019s Claudia Tremps<\/strong> \u2014 on the start line, the women\u2019s race promised excitement. Tremps pushed the pace from the start and led until Fontanales (43.6 km), when Poland\u2019s Katarzyna Dombrowska<\/strong> moved into the lead. Tremps later suffered stomach problems and lost time, while Albon maintained her rhythm several minutes behind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The race turned around kilometre 79 on the climb to Roque Nublo. Dombrowska began suffering cramps and eventually withdrew before reaching 100 km, allowing Albon to take the lead. The Norwegian, accustomed to training in similar conditions back home, showed excellent efficiency on the technical descents and extended her advantage to reach the finish in 15:16:33<\/strong>, more than an hour and a half ahead of her rivals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The battle for second place came down to the final kilometres: Switzerland\u2019s M\u00e9lanie Delasoie<\/strong> closed the gap on Tremps and the two runners crossed the finish line together in 16:49:20<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The women\u2019s top five was completed by Britain\u2019s Robyn Cassidy<\/strong> (17:14:03) and Lithuania\u2019s Zita Kosa\u010d<\/strong> (17:26:08), while Canadian Stephanie Case<\/strong> finished seventh. Notably, Albon did not only win the women\u2019s race but also placed 10th overall<\/strong>, highlighting the extraordinary level of the women\u2019s field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Men\u2019s race: Jonathan Albon triumphs in a thrilling duel<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The men\u2019s field included some of the world\u2019s best ultra-distance runners: Britain\u2019s Jonathan Albon<\/strong>, Tom Evans<\/strong> and Josh Wade<\/strong>, Germany\u2019s Hannes Namberger<\/strong> and Spain\u2019s Borja Fern\u00e1ndez<\/strong>, among others. After the first 10 km, a compact group featuring Albon, Evans, Wade and Namberger set the pace while other contenders gradually dropped back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The decisive moment came on the climb to Roque Nublo (89 km). Albon accelerated and opened a two-minute gap over Wade. Namberger managed his hydration better and later overtook Wade on the descent toward Ayagaures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite the German\u2019s strong finish, Albon held his advantage and crossed the line in 12:58:08<\/strong>, followed by Namberger (13:03:10) and Wade, who repeated his third place from 2025 with 13:07:54. Borja Fern\u00e1ndez finished fourth and Victor Richard fifth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The victories of Jonathan and Henriette Albon mark one of the rare occasions in which a married couple wins both the men\u2019s and women\u2019s races at a major ultra-trail event. Their story highlights the value of training together, sharing strategies and supporting each other during the toughest moments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lessons from the Transgrancanaria Classic for your next ultra<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Finishing a mountain ultra of more than 100 km requires more than just miles in your legs. Here are some lessons drawn from Gran Canaria:<\/p>\n\n\n\n