Andorra Ultra Trail Vallnord, the 2015 edition breaks all records

The town of Ordino hosted the finishing line of the star race, the Ronda dels Cims (170km, 13,500m vertical height gain and loss), in which 357 brave runners have faced the tough and wild traverse across the summits of Andorra. The first to cross the finishing line was Francesc Solé and he was joined on the podium by Jérôme Lucas and Nahuel Passerat. Nerea Martinez won the women’s event, while second place went to Irina Malejonock and third to Marta Muixí. In the end, 45% of participants who started the race managed to complete the challenge.

Many of the contestants of the second race, Mític (112km 9,700m vertical height gain and loss) reached the centre of Ordino within 24 hours. These included race winner Eduard Barceló from Andorra, as well as Ion Aspiroz who came second and both Julien Jorro and Jordi López who shared third. The women’s podium was headed by Roser Español and followed by Eva Zbornikova and Angnès Francastel, who all arrived late at night. Out of the 324 runners who set out, 148 crossed the finishing line. Celestrail and Marathon runners completed their respective races with victories for Marc Casal and Olatx Alvariño. Marc Pinsach clinched a record-breaking victory in Marató dels Cims, while Núria Picas won the women’s race. 65% of the 345 Celestrail athletes reached the finishing line, while 574 out of 627 athletes managed to complete the grueling Marathon.

Excellent work of volunteers
Thanks to the work of volunteers this event is much more than just a race, and this is highly appreciated by all participants. For three long days more than 400 volunteers provided the best possible service to athletes, supporting the runners at all times with cheers, words of encouragement or even playing the bagpipe at the top of Pic de Comapedrosa to alert and encourage the athletes’ arrival at the summit. Furthermore, 100 professionals including doctors, emergency personnel, podiatrists and physiotherapists were positioned at different checkpoints to ensure the health of every athlete.
At each checkpoint a person was in direct contact with the organizers to coordinate all athletes from the first to the very last. Some controls and checkpoints were manned for up to 30 hours, with the necessary logistics that this entails, e.g. re-signalling the route (as grazing animals often eat or trample on flags), coordinating the helicopter to bring food, drinks and any necessary equipment to the checkpoints as they are located in places that are difficult to access.

Successful live streaming and social networks
Viewers from around the world followed the five races in live streaming on the web and on social platforms. More than 100,000 views from countries like Japan, South Korea, USA, France, Poland and Italy were registered from more than 60 countries altogether. There were even connections from the island of Kerguelen at the South Pole. Social networks also played an important role in this edition. Runners had the opportunity to link their accounts to the official timer and to update their pass time at each control in real time.

The most international edition ever
This year more languages than ever before could be heard at the Andorra Ultra Trail Vallnord. Runners from up to 39 countries competed in some of the five races. Among them were also runners from countries with little trail running tradition such as the United Arab Emirates, Mexico, Uruguay or New Zealand. All said and done, this was an event marked by thousands of personal stories of self-improvement, of travels and emotions. One such story is that of Canadian Jean Labedan, for example, who has raced in six of the seven editions of the Andorra Ultra Trail Vallnord and explained upon reaching the finishing line: ‘Every year I come to Andorra on holiday to take part in this event. This year I felt very good and I decided to run faster at the end because I wanted to see the start of Solidaritrail. It's great.’

Solidarity, the real value of the race
Once again, solidarity was the value that prevailed over everything; solidarity among the athletes who lent each other gear or who arrived at the finishing line together after this great adventure. One such example is that of Julien Jorro and Jordi López, who shared the Celestrail podium.
Solidarity was also tangible on Sunday morning with the celebration of the popular Solidaritrail walk that which included nearly 700 runners. Among them, athletes in joëlettes (adapted wheelchairs) or students from Nostra Senyora de Meritxell Special School, children and families. All leftover food from the checkpoints was donated to the Food Bank.

Heat, a friend and foe
The hot temperatures were undoubtedly the main protagonist of this competition and for many runners the high temperatures were the enemy to beat. This required excellent logistics and the organizers had to increase fruit and liquid provisions at the checkpoints and manage their distribution.
9,360 litres of coke, sparkling water and isotonic were originally planned, in the end though more than 13,400 litres were distributed. The same holds true for water: the forecast quantity was more than doubled.

Very positive assessment of the Andorra Ultra Trail Vallnord
The town of Ordino, and the country Andorra, gave their very best for this event. All hotels were full and the atmosphere during the three days was great. TheAndorra Ultra Trail Vallnord draws to a very positive close as event director Gérard Martinez explained: "It all went extremely well. Despite the heat we managed to enjoy three authentic days in the mountains. We are very satisfied with this edition. As always, we would like to thank the volunteers, because without them this would not have been possible, and also all those who came to Ordino to cheer on the runners. Obviously, we also thank them for coming to Andorra to enjoy its mountains."

Andorra Ultra Trail - Solidaritrail


Andorra Ultra Trail - il primo giorno


INFO: www.andorraultratrail.org

Facebook: facebook.com/AndorraUltraTrail
Instagram: instagram.com/andorraultra
Youtube: youtube.com/UCl3ELFISG7Gnh5Q0vU6T0Gw
Twitter: twitter.com/andorraultra