Montserrat welcomes another edition of the Cursa de l’Alba

Plan your race pace

The Cursa de l’Alba returns to Collbató on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026, for its 38th edition, held in memory of Martí Gil. The event brings together two mountain races: the main route, around 22 kilometers long, and the 12-kilometer MitjAlba. The organizer says entries are sold out, so bib availability should be checked only through its official channels.

The appeal goes beyond distance. The race crosses the Montserrat landscape, taking participants from Collbató’s streets to rocky trails, staircases and high mountain paths. On the longer route, the monastery and the climb to Sant Jeroni make it a test of elevation, endurance and technical trail skills, not just speed.

A mountain race with a history in Collbató

The 2026 edition is scheduled for Nov. 7 in Collbató, a municipality in Barcelona province beside the Montserrat massif. The main start is listed at 9 a.m. from Passeig Mansuet. The race is dedicated to Martí Gil and reaches its 38th edition, a notable run of continuity in the mountain-racing calendar.

The landscape explains much of its identity. Montserrat rises in a succession of rock spires and walls, but the route is more than a static postcard: it demands changes of pace, careful footing and the ability to handle very different terrain. The transition from the town center to tracks and trails brings together village atmosphere and demanding mountain terrain in one morning.

Available information lists two distances for the event: the Cursa de l’Alba, at about 22 kilometers, and the MitjAlba, at 12. The longer race is also listed as 22.2 kilometers in the route details. That small difference reflects how the course is described, not a third event. There is not enough reliable evidence to treat the 42 kilometers mentioned in a secondary search result as a confirmed distance for this edition.

Two routes, with different demands

The main race has around 1,200 meters of elevation gain, according to published data for the 22.2-kilometer course. Elevation gain does not tell the whole story: the succession of staircases, narrow trails and technical descents can matter more than a single figure. It is a distance that calls for mountain-running experience or, at minimum, specific preparation for running and hiking comfortably over uneven ground.

The MitjAlba covers 12 kilometers and about 600 meters of elevation gain. It is shorter, but that does not make it a flat or necessarily easy race. The slopes and surfaces still require runners to pace their effort and watch every step. The reference information lists its start at 10 a.m., an hour after the longer race.

Each distance is a separate event. The material reviewed says participants cannot switch distances after choosing their entry, so the decision should account for elevation, trail experience and the time available to finish. Mileage is a useful guide, but in mountain racing the profile and technical difficulty matter as much as distance.

The long course from Collbató to Sant Jeroni

The 22.2-kilometer route starts in Collbató, at about 360 meters above sea level according to the available description. The opening kilometers pass through town streets and lead to a stretch of road and staircases. The course then gains ground on paths around the middle of the massif, with a gentler opening profile before the main climb begins.

The ascent leads toward Pla de Sant Miquel and continues along a broad concrete track to the Montserrat monastery area, around kilometer 8. It is one of the route’s most recognizable points and a place where supporters may be able to reach the course by following available access guidance. In a race crossing a protected natural area, spectators should follow local rules and avoid interfering with runners.

After the monastery comes the course’s most distinctive and demanding section: more than 1,200 steps mixed with trail on the way to Sant Jeroni, at 1,236 meters. The climb does not necessarily have to be run; purposeful hiking may be more efficient, especially when the grade and uneven surface increase the effort required for every stride. The summit is the route’s high point, and runners need to save energy for the return.

The descent includes a short return along the same section before continuing toward Pla de Sant Miquel and the final downhill. The course description identifies this last part as technical. On rocky terrain, fatigue can affect balance and foot placement, so the race does not end at the top of Sant Jeroni: managing the descent is an essential part of both performance and safety.

Schedule, checkpoints and time limit

The main race is scheduled to start at 9 a.m. and the MitjAlba at 10 a.m. For the longer course, published information sets a maximum time of 4 hours and 30 minutes, with the finish closing at 1:30 p.m. It also lists checkpoints at the Les Coves parking area, near kilometer 2, with a 9:30 a.m. cutoff; at the monastery, around kilometer 8, before 10:30 a.m.; and at the concrete ramps, near kilometer 11, before 11:15 a.m.

These cutoffs help manage the event and remove runners who can no longer finish within the scheduled time. They are not universal pace targets: ground conditions, fitness and congestion on narrow sections can all affect progress. The overall time limit applies to the long course and should not automatically be assumed to cover the MitjAlba without checking its specific rules.

In the mountains, race times also depend on the environment. A cold morning, damp rock or warmer-than-expected temperatures can change perceived effort and traction. The race falls in November, so temperature variations between the start, exposed sections and shaded areas are reasonable to anticipate, without assuming a specific forecast this far in advance.

Aid stations and course conditions

The long course lists aid stations at Pla de Sant Miquel around kilometers 7 and 17, at the Sant Jeroni hermitage near kilometer 12, and at the finish. Available information mentions water, isotonic drinks, fruit and nuts. It also says that cups are not provided, so runners should consult the rules and organizer instructions to confirm which reusable container is required or recommended.

Mobile phone coverage may be limited or unavailable in some sections. That matters on a mountain route: navigation and communication should not depend entirely on a phone. Race markings and instructions from event staff are the main references, and each participant should follow safety directions and stay on the marked course.

Montserrat is a sensitive natural area, with shared trails and rocky sections where leaving the path can cause damage or increase the risk of a fall. Staying on the route, carrying out all waste and avoiding bottlenecks on narrow passages help protect the landscape and keep the race moving. On descents, allowing space and avoiding reckless passes also contribute to everyone’s safety.

Entries, prices and bib pickup

The race page included in the reference information says entries are sold out. However, another platform lists an entry period through Oct. 31, 2026, and marks the event as open. Given that discrepancy, the safest approach is to rely on the organizer’s current announcement and check whether a waiting list or update is available, rather than assuming that bibs remain.

Published prices for the long course range from 35 to 45 euros, depending on the registration date. The information also lists a 5-euro discount for members of the 4000 Peus club and a 3-euro day-insurance charge for runners without an FEEC or FEDME license. These amounts may depend on each registration tier and do not, by themselves, confirm that places are available.

Bib pickup is listed for Friday, Nov. 6, from 5 to 8 p.m., and Saturday, Nov. 7, from 7:30 to 8:45 a.m., at El Casinet on Passeig Mansuet. The organizer recommends Friday pickup to reduce queues on race morning. According to the information reviewed, entry includes a timing chip, commemorative technical shirt, aid stations and bag storage.

The listed refund terms offer a 50% refund through Oct. 31 and no refund from Nov. 1 onward. Because deadlines and policies can change if the rules are updated, runners should read the terms attached to the entry before paying. For this edition, the most practical point for anyone not yet registered is that availability is not reported consistently across every platform.

An edition linked to the XTERRA championship

The event is associated in the reference information with the XTERRA European Trail Run Championship and has support from FEEC. That connection raises the race’s sporting profile and may attract competitive runners as well as participants drawn by its history and setting. It does not, on its own, make every runner part of an elite competition: the event can still be experienced in different ways.

The combination of a long-running race and such a recognizable landscape creates a distinctive atmosphere. Near town, Collbató feels close; farther up, the noise of the race gives way to footsteps on stone, breathing and brief exchanges between runners. The mountain sets a different pace, less uniform than an asphalt race and much more dependent on reading the terrain.

The Martí Gil Memorial name also gives the day a commemorative dimension. The race’s continuity and local roots distinguish it from events built only around a brand or distance. For people following Catalonia’s trail calendar, it is an autumn fixture shaped by tradition, landscape and technical terrain.

What to consider before choosing a distance

The shorter race may look manageable at 12 kilometers, but its approximate 600 meters of climbing call for an adequate fitness base and familiarity with hills. The long course raises the challenge to about 22 kilometers, around 1,200 meters of gain and a technical final descent. These routes do not translate directly to their road-running equivalents: pace per kilometer matters less when surface and incline keep changing.

Trail experience helps runners decide when to run and when to hike, how to descend under control and how to avoid spending too much energy on the opening climbs. Footwear matters too: the outsole should grip uneven surfaces, and the shoes should be tested before race day. Trying new gear during the event adds an unnecessary variable, especially on staircases and stone.

Preparation is not just about adding miles. Strength work, balance and practice on climbs and descents can help runners respond to broken terrain. In mountain races, a cautious strategy often saves energy for the second half, when fatigue and downhill technique may matter more than early speed. General guidance is no substitute for medical advice or an individual plan, particularly for anyone with an injury or existing health condition.

Montserrat, the star of a November race day

The Montserrat massif changes the scale of each section: Collbató’s streets fall away as rock walls fill the horizon. The monastery provides a recognizable point midway through the course, but the climb to Sant Jeroni shifts attention back to the immediate effort. On the steps, the race becomes a series of small decisions: where to place a foot, how much energy to save and when to catch a breath.

The Nov. 7, 2026, edition brings a long mountain race and a shorter event to the same setting. The sold-out status shown on the race page, schedules and access information may change, so final details should be checked with the organizer. The challenge itself remains clear: a Montserrat route where technique and patience count as much as strong legs.