Blandine made history in La Palma
/ TRANSVULCANIA
David Boti
09 MAY 2026 20:11
La Palma has witnessed something this weekend that will be hard to repeat. The Transvulcania adidas 2026 has rewritten its own history with eight records across its competitive distances—two fell on Thursday in the Vertical Kilometer and six more on a Saturday that now has a name of its own in the annals of global trail running. This edition is truly unparalleled.
The Ultramarathon, the queen event of 73 kilometers with 4,350 meters of elevation gain between the Faro de Fuencaliente and Los Llanos de Aridane, delivered the most stunning moment of the day. David Sinclair crossed the finish line with a time of 6h 32:24, 19 minutes faster than the historic mark set by Luis Alberto Hernando in 2015—a record many in the trail world considered untouchable. The North American took control with authority in the final stretch before the Torre de El Time and never looked back.
Behind him, Peter Engdahl finished second with 6h 41:19, and Nadir Maguet completed the podium with 6h 42:31. Most striking: the top six male finishers all beat the previous record, something unprecedented in the history of the Palmera race.
Sinclair, center of the Ultra podium
/ TRANSVULCANIA
In the women’s category, Blandine L’Hirondel staged a roller-coaster race that ended with her name at the top. The Frenchwoman from the Kiprun team led from the start, handed the lead to Lucy Bartholomew midway, reclaimed it on the descent despite several falls, and never let go. Her time of 7h 43:47 was the sixth record of the day.
Australian Bartholomew finished second with 7h 49:26, and Emelie Forsberg completed a top-tier podium with 8h 14:40, eleven years after her last victory in La Palma and with only four weeks of real training on her legs following months of injury.
Anguita and Ikram, Marathon Kings
The day had much more to offer. In the Marathon, Fran Anguita repeated his victory with a record time of 3h 39:03, showing impeccable tactical patience on the ascent before unleashing on the descent. In the women’s race, Ikram Rharsalla was a force from halfway, stopping the clock at 4h 12:53, a new absolute record for the race, with a 4:50 lead over Julia Font.
Ikram celebrating her display at the finish line
/ TRANSVULCANIA
The Half Marathon was no less impressive. Philemon Kiriago won in 2h 07:43, another record, in a race where the Kenyans set a ruthless pace from the first meter. In the women’s event, Ruth Gitonga took the race in 2h 22:50, with a 2:50 minute lead over her compatriot Joyce Njeru.
Eight records. One single weekend. The Transvulcania adidas 2026 is now, without question, the best edition in its history and one of the most extraordinary days trail running has ever seen worldwide.
TAGS
Trail
RRSS WhatsApp
RRSS Facebook
RRSS Twitter
RRSS email
Copy URL
0
