Ibarra stages its 16th mountain duathlon in 2026: course and fees

Plan your race pace

Ibarra will host the 16th edition of its mountain duathlon on Saturday, October 31, 2026, a race alternating running and mountain biking. The start is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. on San Bartolome Kalea, in the Gipuzkoa municipality. The published course comprises 5.58 kilometres of running, 14.10 kilometres on a mountain bike and a final 1.81-kilometre running leg.

Registration is listed as open in the available information and closes at 11:59 p.m. on October 26. Published fees are 20 euros for federated participants, 25 euros for individual open-entry participants and 35 euros per pair. Bidetxur Mendi Kluba is listed as the organizer; Lokatzetan Kirol Kluba and the Basque triathlon federation are also associated with the event and registration management.

A mountain event with a confirmed date and start time

The calendar places the race on the last Saturday in October, with an afternoon start that means much of the effort takes place during the day’s shorter-light hours. The published start time is 3:30 p.m. No detailed bib-pickup schedule is available, so that information should be checked with the official event channels before travelling.

The event takes place in Ibarra, Gipuzkoa, and the location provided for the start is San Bartolome Kalea. It is a specific address in the town centre, but the information reviewed does not identify the exact transition area or provide details about parking, access or spectator services. Those details should not be treated as confirmed without an update from the organizers.

The 2026 edition is the 16th, demonstrating the event’s continuity within the area’s mountain-duathlon calendar. Its format includes three sectors and two discipline changes: first a mountain run, then a cycling leg and, finally, another run. This is not a conventional road race, but a multisport event in which managing transitions is part of the challenge.

A duathlon combining trails and cycling

The first sector covers 5.58 kilometres of running and gains 178 metres of elevation. It is followed by a 14.10-kilometre mountain-bike segment with 436 metres of climbing. The race ends with another 1.81 kilometres of running and 56 metres of elevation gain. Together, the three legs total 21.49 kilometres and 670 metres of positive elevation.

The figures help explain the course, although they do not tell the whole story about its difficulty. Two routes with the same distance and elevation gain can feel very different depending on the surface, gradients, moisture and distribution of climbs. The available information describes the sectors as mountain running and mountain biking, but does not specify trail surfaces, track widths or the proportion of technical terrain.

The opening run and final running leg should not be treated as identical efforts. They take place at different points in the race, with the fatigue of the cycling section between them. The closing leg is short compared with the bike segment, but requires running again after more than 14 kilometres on the bike. The mix of disciplines, rather than the total distance on its own, defines the challenge.

What the distances and elevation gain tell us

The opening leg is just over five kilometres and includes 178 metres of climbing. In practice, that makes it a short run, but with enough elevation gain for pace to depend on the terrain rather than flat-ground speed alone. The published figure of 5.58 kilometres is the stated sector distance, not a rounded label replacing the official measurement.

The mountain-bike leg accounts for most of the elevation gain: 436 of the event’s 670 metres. At 14.10 kilometres, it is also the longest segment, making cycling central to the race. The available listing does not establish what proportion runs along tracks, trails or wider paths; that distinction can substantially change how a mountain course is experienced.

The final sector is 1.81 kilometres long and gains 56 metres. It is the shortest leg, but that does not make it unimportant: it comes after the cycling effort and requires runners to find an effective stride again after changing disciplines. The run-bike-run sequence calls for an even distribution of effort throughout the event, rather than treating each leg as a separate challenge.

Registration, formats and published fees

The stated registration period opens on July 27, 2026, at midnight and closes on October 26 at 11:59 p.m. The event listing says registration is open. Since the race takes place five days after the published deadline, participants should note that the stated registration period ends before race week.

The available fees distinguish between federated participants and open-entry competitors: 20 euros for an individual federated entry and 25 euros for an individual non-federated entry. A 35-euro fee is also listed for pairs. The reference information does not clarify whether that final amount covers the whole team or detail any processing charges, so the terms should be checked during registration.

The individual format requires one person to complete all three sectors; the pairs option, called bikoteka in the event information, offers a shared way to take part. The information reviewed does not explain precisely how the course is divided between teammates or which sectors each person completes. The format and fee should be confirmed in the current entry form, particularly for pairs or anyone checking what insurance coverage is included.

Requirements and equipment to check

The event information gives a minimum age of 16 for individual participation and 14 for pairs. It also says a federation licence is not compulsory, although that does not remove the need to read the specific participation rules, insurance coverage and entry requirements. Administrative details can vary between editions and formats.

For a mountain duathlon, essential equipment includes a mountain bike and helmet. The information reviewed also says participants must wear clothing that covers the torso. It does not provide a complete mandatory-equipment list or specify rules for lights, tools, footwear or additional protective gear. The regulations for this edition take precedence over general recommendations.

The reference information also distinguishes between competitive participation and alternative bikes: gravel and electric bikes are said to be permitted outside competition, but not in it. It also states that outside assistance is not allowed, except for assistance from a teammate under the permitted conditions. Since the summary does not explain the precise scope of these rules, it is sensible to check the regulations before preparing a bike or registering.

The course calls for reading the terrain, not just the clock

In an event combining mountain running and cycling, finish time depends on more than distance. Gradients affect running speed; the surface changes tire traction, while damp conditions can alter grip on trails and tracks. The public listing gives distances and elevation gain, but not a detailed profile or a full description of the course, so it does not support a reliable finish-time estimate.

Total elevation gain is a useful reference, but it does not show where climbs are concentrated or how they connect to descents. A long, gradual ascent feels different from several short climbs, just as a fast descent on a track presents different demands from a narrow trail. The event information mentions downloadable course tracks, if they remain available through the official channels.

For trail runners, the less familiar element may be the transition to cycling and the sustained effort on the bike. For cyclists, immediately returning to running changes how the legs feel: the muscles must adjust again to impact and stride rhythm. The event brings two ways of moving through the mountains together, with different demands and the same need to pace the effort.

An autumn edition in Ibarra

The date falls at the end of October, when natural light fades earlier than in summer and mountain conditions can vary. That does not make it possible to predict what the course will be like on race day: the information reviewed includes no forecast or details about ground conditions. It does make it sensible to follow pre-event updates about timing, equipment and possible route changes.

An afternoon start gives the event a different character from a morning race. The precise time is published, but the information does not say how long the event typically lasts or when awards or services close. Those details matter to participants and spectators and should be confirmed with the organizers in the days before the race.

Ibarra is in Gipuzkoa, and the start is listed at San Bartolome Kalea. The available information does not provide coordinates, a travel map or transport instructions. The address should therefore be understood as the published reference point, not a complete arrival guide. Confirming the precise start and transition locations avoids relying on incomplete details on race day.

A first taste of mountain duathlon, with some caveats

The total distance of 21.49 kilometres may seem moderate compared with a long trail race or cycling event, but the overall figure does not tell the whole story. There are three sectors, two discipline changes and 670 metres of positive elevation. Perceived intensity also depends on technique, experience and ground conditions, variables that distance alone cannot capture.

The format may appeal to runners accustomed to trails and mountain bikers who want to try a multisport event. However, descriptions of the race as accessible in third-party information are not a guarantee that it will feel easy for everyone. Mountain-bike skills and adapting to changes in pace matter as much as general fitness.

The pairs format also offers another way to take part, although task allocation and specific conditions should be checked in the regulations. If the no-licence requirement remains in place for this edition, it may simplify entry, but it does not replace the preparation needed to ride safely or comply with race rules.

Details to confirm before the start

The strongest available information places the race on October 31, 2026, at 3:30 p.m. on San Bartolome Kalea in Ibarra, and sets the registration deadline at 11:59 p.m. on October 26. It also details all three sectors and their elevation gains. These facts outline a specific event, although some practical matters — including bib pickup and services — are not specified.

Before travelling, check whether the organizers have updated the regulations, route, age requirements and fees. It is also worth verifying the conditions for the pairs format and what each entry includes. The date is confirmed in the information reviewed; operational schedules and any last-minute changes should still be checked through the event channels.

The 16th edition offers a compact challenge on paper, but one that varies across the terrain: an opening mountain run, a main mountain-bike section and a final return to running. The profile of 5.58, 14.10 and 1.81 kilometres captures its character better than a single overall distance. In Ibarra, the outcome will depend on the legs and on the ability to change pace and discipline without losing control of the effort.