Tabernero and Macías win Gandia 10K on a busy race day

Forsido Tabernero and Virginia Macías won the 10K Ciudad de Gandia 2026, held on Sunday 8 November. The race and the 31st half marathon attracted more than 4,000 runners between them.

The 10-kilometre race reached its 11th edition. Over the longer distance, David Belda won in 1:08:21.

The 10-kilometre race podiums

Tabernero, who according to Levante-EMV ran for CA La Esperanza, topped the men’s standings ahead of Miguel Fernández and Santiago Brunet. Available reports differ by one second on the winner’s time: one gives it as 31:33 and the other as 31:32.

In the women’s race, Macías, who according to Levante-EMV ran for CA Alicante, finished first, followed by Paula Escolano and Sofía Martínez. According to Onda Naranja COPE, the winner clocked 37:27; Levante-EMV gives her time as 37:26. Onda Naranja COPE gives Escolano’s time as 39:09 and Martínez’s as 39:19.

Beachside start and urban course

Both races were scheduled to start at 9:30 from Passeig Marítim Neptú, on Gandia beach, where the finish was also located. The event featured runners from 25 countries.

The 10K Ciudad de Gandia course went through the town centre and along the beach. The 10,000-metre route was urban, flat and consisted of one lap, with refreshment stations at kilometre 5 and at the finish.

The race was open to those over 18 and had a limit of 1,500 runners. A baggage drop and showers were planned at the beach, along with entertainment points organised by local Fallas committees.

The estimated temperature in Gandia was 15 degrees at 9:00 and 19 degrees at 12:00, with no rain during the day.

David Belda wins the 31st half marathon

Belda, who according to Levante-EMV ran for CA Les Llebres de Muro d’Alcoi, won the 21,097-metre race. Juan Gimeno completed the men’s podium in third place. According to Onda Naranja COPE, Ramón Ojeda (Ejeda in Levante-EMV) clocked 1:08:39 and Gimeno 1:08:43.

In the women’s standings, the winner finished in 1:18:00, ahead of Alicia Álvarez and Alba Martínez. Onda Naranja COPE gives Álvarez’s time as 1:20:28 and Martínez’s as 1:23:34.

More entries and greater female participation

Before the race, Gandia’s councillor for sport, Jesús Naveiro, announced that there were more than 4,300 entries, a figure he described as a participation record. At the presentation, nearly 3,000 runners were expected in the half marathon and around 1,300 in the 10K.

Lourdes Vidal, president of Club de Córrer El Garbí, said before the race that female participation had increased at both distances: women accounted for almost 50% of the 10K field, and their participation in the half marathon had grown by 2%. “We are proud that women are taking up this type of racing,” she said.

By comparison, the 2025 event recorded more than 3,200 finishers. That edition had 3,813 entries: 2,513 in the half marathon and 1,300 in the 10-kilometre race.