Xterra European Trail Run Championship heading to Andorra

This year’s Xterra European Trail Run Championship is heading to Andorra on July 20-21, 2024. Taking in Arinsal, La Massana, and peaks of the Pyrenees, the event has a total elite prize purse of €5,200.

Xterra’s European Trail Run Championship announcement marks a milestone for the Xterra Skyrace Comapedrosa, now in its second year on the Xterra Trail Run World Series, which is getting ready to host its first Xterra continental championship.

Trail runners preparing to tackle the elevated trails of Arinsal and La Massana, will be vying for more than the European title. 116 slots in both the Half and Full Marathon will also be on the line, awarding top performing age division runners with a a place on the starting line when the Xterra Trail Run World Championship, which heads back to the trails of Sugarloaf Mountain in Maine, USA, on September 1, 2024.

Doug Hall, Xterra EMEA General Manager, said “Xterra is delighted to partner with Ocisport and the classic Skyrace Comapedrosa that has established itself as a must-do for the European trail running community. We are excited to award championship status to this event to create a phenomenal experience for everyone.”

Event organizing partner, Ocisport, noted… ‘With the Xterra European Trail Run Championship, the Skyrace Comapedrosa maintains the international vocation of this event, adding new incentives such as cash prizes and the title at stake, which will surely attract the trail running elite.’

Of the four official races offering distances to cater to various skill levels, the 8K Vertical Race greets runners at a peak of 2,953m where the finish line awaits. The 19K Arinsal Skyrace offers forest routes and views topping out at 1,456m.

The 24K Half Marathon and 36K Marathon on July 21, with altitude gains of 2,375m and 3,243m respectively, will crown the Xterra European Trail Run Champions amidst steep ascents, technical descents, and mountain vistas.

Nico Lebrun, former Xterra World Champion and Xterra’s Global Technical Director, said “Knowing this race for a long time, as a well-established race in the European trail community, it was a great honour for me to have this famous race join the Xterra Trail Run World Series. Comapedrosa, like Zegama, Sierre Zinal or Chamonix, is one of the iconic locations for trail running.”

The 2024 Xterra European Trail Run Championship is the climax of the weekend at the Comapedrosa Mountain Festival representing a celebration of mountain culture. It includes activities for all ages, from children’s races, outdoor cinema, yoga sessions to trekking expeditions amidst the backdrop of the Andorran Pyrenees.

Doug Hall added “Andorra is a trail-running paradise, with endless trails and terrain to cater for all levels of runners. The races here will challenge the very best, ensuring that whoever takes the tape will have mastered the physical and technical challenge that Xterra wishes to offer athletes.”