360º The Challenge Gran Canaria 2026: Lehmann, Bordón and Santana win

360º The Challenge Gran Canaria, which started in Gáldar on Wednesday, November 4, and finished in Tejeda, crowned Anita Lehmann the women’s winner in 57:44:37, while José Bordón and Álvaro Santana shared the men’s victory in 51:22:22. The 11th edition brought 106 runners to the start and its closing stages were altered because of a weather alert.

The race, organised by Arista Eventos, took participants over 254 kilometres and 12,216 metres of ascent on an unmarked course under semi-self-sufficient conditions. Runners from Gran Canaria took the leading men’s places, while two first-time entrants joined Lehmann on the women’s podium.

A shared finish and a Gran Canaria podium

Bordón and Santana stayed together for almost the entire race and crossed the finish line side by side. For the Agüimes runner, it meant retaining his 2025 title; Santana had finished fifth the previous year after losing time to navigation problems before reaching Cercados de Araña.

Their last stop was the Santa Brígida aid station, which they reached at around 1:41 a.m. After a break, they continued towards Tejeda. Cristian Guerra completed the podium roughly two hours later, having withdrawn in 2025 with muscle problems near Tasarte.

These were the remaining podium and leading men’s places:

• 3rd: Cristian Guerra.
• 4th: John F. Jahre, 17 minutes behind Guerra.
• 5th: Dionisio García, 54:09:48.
• 6th: Luca Papi.

José Bordón described the work that went into preparing for the race: “It was one of my big goals for the year. I’ve spent a long time preparing for this moment, training, sleeping little and going out to train even when I don’t feel like it. Everything was geared towards this.” On finishing alongside Santana, he added: “We were lucky to experience it together and make it here. The position almost matters least.”

Lehmann wins again as two newcomers make the podium

The Swiss runner crossed the line shortly before 7 p.m. on Friday and finished seventh overall. Her second consecutive victory brought her level with Annemarie Gross on the women’s winners list; Claire Bannwarth remains ahead, having won the first five editions.

The two runners who completed the women’s podium were both making their race debuts:

• 2nd: Justine Houteer, France.
• 3rd: Gro Siljan Hjukse, Norway.

Lehmann said the opening hours were difficult: “My body wasn’t responding and I thought I still hadn’t recovered from my previous race in Corsica. But when I reached Artenara, I told myself that couldn’t be right because I knew I was in good shape. I started running, changed my mindset and finished really well.” She also fell on the first descent and experienced discomfort during the night after contact with cacti.

The winner reached Santa Brígida at 8:31 a.m. alongside Luca Papi and was able to refuel before the final stretch. Justine Houteer reflected on her debut: “It was a very special and beautiful race. I had a great time and I’m very happy I came for the first time.”

Gro Siljan Hjukse also spoke about the difficulties on the course: “It was a challenge, but I had a great time despite the difficulties. It’s beautiful to run in places that are different from Norway.” Navigation, cacti and reeds were all part of her first race experience.

Navigation and technical terrain across the island

The race started in Gáldar’s Plaza de Santiago and finished in Tejeda. The route combined technical sections and rocky ground with long stretches, including the approximately 50 kilometres between Santa Lucía and Santa Brígida.

With no course markings, the race demanded navigation skills as well as endurance. The race guide describes navigation using GPS, a track and maps, and a route crossing mountain, coastal, ravine, arid and pine forest landscapes. Aid stations provided places to stop during the journey.

Bordón and Santana raced their final day in very favourable weather. Later, the competition was affected by a strong wind alert issued by the Canary Islands government.

Weather alert changes the race’s closing stages

Organisers established mandatory intermediate finish points at La Pasadilla and Santa Brígida from 8 p.m. on Friday. Runners who reached those points before that time could continue to the next aid station or to Tejeda. The revised finish deadline was set at 10 a.m. on Saturday, November 7.

Of the ten women who started, eight completed the race within the revised limits. They included Ann Andries and Guacimara Suárez. Claire Bannwarth’s participation was affected by physical problems in her left calf, while Lucía González made her debut in this edition.

Nira Castro, the 2025 runner-up, was the last woman to reach Tejeda. Along with her, Nataniel Rodríguez and Eduardo Falcón were among the final arrivals, at around 9 a.m. on Saturday. The awards ceremony was attended by Ancor Bolaños, Gáldar’s sports councillor, and Verónica Espino, Tejeda’s sports councillor.

Eleven editions and eleven finishes for Luca Papi

Italy’s Luca Papi completed his 11th consecutive participation, becoming the only runner to have finished every edition of the race. He had met Lehmann at Santa Brígida before continuing towards the finish.

Other runners also added to their finishing records: Stéphane Higueret has seven; Juan González, Alfredo Vila and Eoin Keith have six each; and Vittorio Benvenuti has five. Papi explained his connection to the island: “I like coming back every time. It’s a race I enjoy because every edition is different and it lets me discover places in Gran Canaria that I don’t yet know. For me, the island is a unique place.”