La Calzada Mountain Race 2026: route, schedule and events

Plan your race pace

Vícar will host the second edition of the La Calzada mountain race on Sunday, Nov. 15, 2026, starting and finishing at the Vícar Sports Centre in Las Cabañuelas. The event offers three ways to explore the municipality: a 24.5-kilometre Trail, a 15-kilometre Mini Trail and an 18-kilometre hiking event. The start is scheduled for 9:30 a.m.

The routes run through the municipality and link footpaths, trails and dry riverbeds in the Sierra de Gádor. The descent along the historic Roman Road is one of the most distinctive parts of the course, along with places such as La Envía Golf, La Espartera and Mirador del Amor. Organizers set a limit of 250 participants per event and include aid stations, accident insurance, a race pack, a post-event meal and a finisher gift for those who complete their route.

A race connecting Vícar with the Sierra de Gádor

The second edition of this mountain race puts the local landscape at the centre of the experience. Rather than staying on an urban circuit, its routes leave Las Cabañuelas and head along paths in the municipality, where the terrain shifts between footpaths, trails and dry riverbeds. That variety shapes an event combining sport with an encounter with the surroundings, all within Vícar.

The Roman Road gives the course a tangible link to local history. The descent along this old route is one of the event’s highlighted sections, although the available information does not specify its length or describe the surface in technical terms. This detail suggests a course with its own character, but the full profile, checkpoints and any changes should be confirmed in the organizers’ documentation.

Other locations named along the route include La Envía Golf, La Espartera and Mirador del Amor. Together, they suggest a course through different parts of Vícar and the Sierra de Gádor, with views and changing terrain that set it apart from a road race. Its mountain character is not defined by distance alone: trails, elevation gain and natural surfaces also require runners to adapt their pace.

Three ways to take part

The longest event covers 24.5 kilometres with 1,100 metres of positive elevation gain. It is the most demanding option and offers the fullest mountain-running experience, with climbs and descents across a mix of trails and dry riverbeds. The elevation figure helps put the effort in perspective: distance alone is not enough, since the accumulated climbing affects pace and time on the course.

The Mini Trail covers 15 kilometres and gains 640 metres. It keeps the mountain profile but reduces both distance and elevation compared with the main Trail. That does not make it a flat or easy race by definition; it still crosses natural paths and calls for careful management of climbs, uneven ground and sustained effort. Choosing between the two distances depends on each participant’s experience and preparation, not just speed on easy terrain.

The third option is an 18-kilometre hiking event, also listed with 640 metres of positive elevation gain. It is designed as a noncompetitive way to move through the area on foot and enjoy the surroundings. Although it does not focus on race results, the distance and climbing make it a multi-hour activity, so suitable footwear and fitness in line with the course are important.

Trail, Mini Trail and hiking share the day, but they are not interchangeable versions of the same event. Each offers a different distance and level of effort, and the 250-person limit applies to each event rather than to a single overall cap. Available information does not specify age groups, fees, registration dates or cut-off times; those details should be checked through official channels when released.

Date, start and planned services

The event is scheduled for Sunday, Nov. 15, 2026, with a 9:30 a.m. start at the Vícar Sports Centre. The venue is in Las Cabañuelas and will also host the finish. Having a single reference point makes it easier for participants and spectators to find the start and finish, although details about parking, bib collection, bag storage and road closures have not been provided.

Organizers have announced aid stations during the event and accident insurance coverage. The package also includes a race bag, a meal afterward and a finisher gift for those who complete their chosen route. These are common services at events of this kind, but their precise scope — such as the number and location of aid stations or the contents of the bag — is not specified in the available information and should not be assumed.

The limit of 250 entries in each event establishes the published participation cap, but it does not indicate how many places are currently available or whether registration has opened. No entry fee has been announced either. Confirmation of the event date should not be confused with the status of registration; the two details may be updated at different times.

For visitors from outside Vícar, the sports centre is a clear reference point for the start and finish. Before race day, however, it will be important to check organizers’ instructions about access, bib-collection times and possible changes. Final logistical details may clarify points that are not yet included in the published information.

A mountain course with different paces

The three distances offer different ways to experience the Sierra de Gádor. At 24.5 kilometres, with 1,100 metres of positive elevation gain, the longest course points to a substantial physical challenge and makes measured pacing important. Starting too fast on the early climbs can take its toll when the route still has changing terrain and descents ahead. In the mountains, saving energy for the final kilometres is often more useful than trying to hold an even pace.

The Mini Trail’s 640 metres of climbing still matter over 15 kilometres. A shorter distance does not remove the need to handle the climbs carefully, and the terrain can make progress very different from a road race. For runners with less mountain experience, elevation gain and surface type are more useful guides than distance alone.

The 18-kilometre hike has the same published elevation gain as the Mini Trail, but a different purpose. Walking gives participants more time to take in the paths and scenery, but it does not turn the route into an urban stroll: its length and climbs require time, hydration and sensible planning. A suitable pace is one that allows participants to finish safely, rather than trying to match the speed of competitors.

The reference information does not include a detailed map, course cut-off times, mandatory equipment or official regulations. As a result, it is not possible to say which footwear will be required or recommended, or where each checkpoint will be located. The general description does provide some guidance: this is a mountain event, with footpaths, trails and dry riverbeds rather than paved roads alone.

Landscape and heritage are part of the course

The event’s appeal is not limited to competition. The route connects natural areas with familiar local landmarks and gives a special role to the Roman Road. In a mountain race, the landscape is not a static backdrop: it changes as runners gain elevation, cross a dry riverbed or begin a descent. That succession of settings is part of what distinguishes this event from an urban race.

References to La Envía Golf, La Espartera and Mirador del Amor help place the course on the map, although they are not enough to reconstruct the exact order of the route. The steepest sections and surface conditions have not been detailed either. To avoid creating inaccurate expectations, these place names are best understood as references along the announced route, not as a complete course description.

The combination of sport, nature and heritage also helps explain why the programme brings together competitive events and a noncompetitive hike. Some participants may take on the long Trail; others may test their pace in the Mini Trail, while some will choose to walk. The mix of participants broadens the event without erasing the differences in effort and purpose between the routes.

Vícar will provide the shared start and finish, while the Sierra de Gádor will shape much of the event’s character. Together, they offer a way to explore the municipality beyond its streets, linking physical effort to paths with natural and historical features. For spectators, the appeal will lie both in following the race and recognizing the places that form part of local identity.

What remains to be confirmed before November

The available information includes the date, start location, three event options and their main distances and elevation figures. It does not include prices, the registration period, an entry link or possible participation requirements. Age groups, awards, cut-off times and programme changes have not been specified either. These details should not be treated as confirmed until the organizers publish them.

The lack of a detailed map also leaves practical questions about the route unanswered, including exact segment lengths, aid-station locations and the full course profile. The description confirms that the race takes place in Vícar and the Sierra de Gádor and includes the Roman Road, but it is not a substitute for regulations or technical information that may be released later.

For a mountain event, each participant’s plan should be based on the actual route and current rules, not assumptions drawn from other races. Once the regulations are published, they will be the reference for required equipment, support arrangements and safety instructions. Until then, the confirmed information is straightforward: the event will take place on Nov. 15, 2026, starting at 9:30 a.m. from the Vícar Sports Centre.

The second edition of La Calzada sets out a day when the same landscape can be experienced at different speeds: running a mountain race, taking on a shorter distance or walking. The descent along the old Roman route and trails in the Sierra de Gádor give the programme a distinctive identity, with room for different levels of participation. In November, the event will once again bring sport, landscape and local heritage together on Vícar’s paths.