Malagón Trail 2027: distances, start times and prices

Plan your race pace

The fifth Malagón Trail Bisabor Energy will take place on January 17, 2027, in Malagón, Ciudad Real, with five categories ranging from 15 to 65 kilometres. The day will include the Castilla-La Mancha Ultra Trail Championship, for individuals and clubs, over the 65-kilometre route. Both the start and finish will be at the town’s fairground. The reference information lists registration as open, with prices varying by distance and registration period.

Organised by Club Trail Pelegoro, the race returns to the calendar after a year’s break in its role as host of the regional ultra championship. The course crosses the Sierra de Malagón and combines elevation gain, several distance options and a non-competitive hiking category. For travel planning, the key details are the confirmed date, morning starts and the shared start area at the fairground.

A January race hosting the regional ultra championship

The 2027 edition has significance beyond the popular race itself: the Ultra category will host the Castilla-La Mancha Mountain Running Championship in the Ultra discipline, both individually and for clubs. The reference information says the championship returns to this event after a year away. This puts Malagón at the centre of the regional calendar for long-distance specialists and teams competing in the club standings.

The championship course covers 65 kilometres and 3,174 metres of positive elevation gain. According to the supplied details, the race also scores two ITRA points and, alongside Cumbre and Cuerda, counts towards the UTMB Index. These are separate ranking and assessment systems; their inclusion does not alter the course or replace the competition’s own rules. It does add interest for runners who track trail results and benchmarks beyond a single event.

All five categories are also part of the Trail Series Ciudad Real. That brings ultra runners, participants seeking a shorter challenge and hikers together on the same day. Not every start has the same status: four routes are competitive, while Senderismo is a non-competitive 15-kilometre option with the same advertised elevation gain as Hito.

The Sierra de Malagón defines the course

The race takes place in the Sierra de Malagón, at elevations ranging from 620 to 1,040 metres. This gives a broad sense of the terrain, although it does not describe the gradient of every section or how the climbs are distributed. Positive elevation gain, which rises substantially over the longer distances, is the most useful figure for estimating the effort involved: even the 15-kilometre category includes 622 metres of climbing.

The start and finish will be at the Malagón fairground, the event’s logistics hub and a reference point for runners and spectators. From there, each category follows its own route through the hills. The available information does not specify streets, surface types, cut-off times or GPS tracks, so those details cannot be inferred from total distance or maximum elevation alone.

For a winter mountain race, the elevation profile matters as much as the kilometres. Ultra gains more than 3,000 metres, while Cumbre, Cuerda and Hito progressively reduce distance and climbing. Effort is not measured by distance alone: elevation and expected duration can affect pace, fuelling needs and exposure to the weather. Published figures help compare categories, but runners should also consider their own experience and preparation.

Five categories from 15 to 65 kilometres

The longest option is Ultra, with 65 kilometres, 3,174 metres of positive elevation gain and seven aid stations. It has 150 places and hosts the regional championship. Its distance and cumulative climbing put it in a different class from the shorter routes. It is not simply a longer version of Hito or Cuerda, but a many-hour mountain race for runners with specific ultra-trail experience.

Cumbre covers 44 kilometres, gains 2,293 metres and has five aid stations, with 120 places. Cuerda is 27 kilometres with 1,302 metres of climbing, three aid stations and 150 places. Reference details associate both with the UTMB Index, alongside Ultra. Their different distances and elevation profiles offer intermediate challenges, but neither is necessarily easy: both still involve substantial climbing.

Hito is listed as 15 kilometres with 622 metres of positive elevation, one aid station and 250 places. Senderismo has the same advertised distance and climbing, one aid station and 80 places, but is not competitive. There is a small discrepancy in Hito’s name and distance: the main information gives 15 kilometres, while the registration platform labels it Hito 14K. The reference does not explain the difference; the event rules and current registration listing should be treated as the definitive course details.

Start times and bib collection

Starts are staggered throughout the morning of Sunday, January 17. Ultra begins at 6:30 a.m.; Cumbre at 8:30; Cuerda at 9:30; Hito at 10:00; and Senderismo at 10:10. All start from Malagón’s fairground. The first wave leaves in darkness, so runners need to factor in travel, rest and winter conditions before sunrise.

Bib collection is scheduled for Saturday, January 16, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., and on Sunday in staggered time slots by category. The reference does not give the Sunday collection times for each distance. It does state that runners must present identification. Collecting a bib the day before may reduce race-morning tasks, especially for the earliest starts, although Sunday collection is also listed as an option.

When planning travel, the start time and gathering point should not be confused with the opening hours of race services. Full schedules for the bag drop, showers, fair and other activities have not been provided here. Cut-off times are also unspecified. The edition’s regulations are the document to consult for these operational details and any requirements relating to equipment, checkpoints or access to the course.

Registration, fees and available places

Registration is listed as open in the available information and is handled through DEPORCHIP. Prices vary by category and period: Ultra costs 65 to 75 euros; Cumbre, 45 to 50; Cuerda, 34 to 37; Hito, 28 to 33; and Senderismo, 23 to 28 euros. There is no single entry fee for the whole event. The final amount depends on the distance and when registration is completed.

A discount of two to five euros for federated runners is also advertised. An advance registration period exclusively for federated participants is listed from September 15 to 30, although the reference does not specify the year alongside those dates or break down the price for each registration period. The amounts should therefore be read as published ranges rather than guaranteed fees for every date. The registration platform may display the applicable price during sign-up.

Places are also limited by category: 150 for Ultra, 120 for Cumbre, 150 for Cuerda, 250 for Hito and 80 for Senderismo. That makes 750 advertised places in total, with different caps for each route. Availability in one category does not indicate availability in another, and the supplied details do not say that any category is sold out. Registration procedures, refund terms and transfers are not specified in the reference information.

Age groups and awards

The stated minimum age is 18, with participation from age 16 permitted with a legal guardian’s authorisation. Categories are Senior, ages 16 to 39; Master A, 40 to 50; and Master B, 51 and over. Men and women are classified separately. Because the Senior category includes minors with permission, the general minimum age should not be confused with the specific entry requirements for 16- and 17-year-olds.

In the competitive distances, the top three overall men and women will receive personalised trophies. Medals are also planned for the top three in each age group and in the local category. According to the published information, the local category is open to people born or registered as residents in Malagón, or those with a first-degree relative from the town. All finishers will receive a commemorative medal; Senderismo has no classification prizes because it is non-competitive.

The race pack will include a Joma short-sleeved technical shirt, running socks and sponsor products. Other advertised services include food before the start, showers, free race photography, a bag drop, a bar area, children’s activities on Sunday and a runner’s fair. Their hours and access conditions are not specified in the available information. The fairground will serve a broader purpose than a start line, bringing several event services together.

Championship prize money and a place on the regional team

The championship brings prize money under the published official scale for the Castilla-La Mancha Mountain Running Championships and Cup. For individual line, ultra and vertical championships, the listed amounts are 200 euros for first place, 130 for second and 70 for third. The Cup has a separate per-race scale of 150, 100 and 50 euros.

The reference explains that when a race is part of the Cup and also hosts a championship, championship prize money applies and is not combined with Cup awards. That rule applies to the overlap between the Malagón event and both competitions. Club championships and youth categories receive product or experience packages, according to the supplied information. The cash awards are not automatically combined simply because the event appears in more than one series.

The first man and first woman in the Ultra Championship will earn a direct place on the Castilla-La Mancha Mountain Running Team in the discipline, according to the rules described. That makes the result more than a finishing position: it may open the way to represent the autonomous community. The reference also says the 2027 Spanish Championship calendar had not yet been published, so it does not establish the date or conditions of the national event.

Different paces, one mountain setting

The event’s appeal lies in bringing together different distances and types of participants under one organisation. Ultra runners face 65 kilometres and more than 3,000 metres of climbing; Cumbre and Cuerda offer intermediate courses with substantial ascent, while Hito is shorter. Senderismo gives walkers a place in the day. More choice does not remove the demands of mountain running, but it means the event is not designed for just one kind of participant.

The range of distances also helps explain the staggered starts and the early first wave. A 65-kilometre race may continue for much of the day, while the shorter categories concentrate their activity later in the morning. The fairground provides a shared point of reference, even as the routes branch out across the hills and each entry comes with its own category-specific conditions and services.

With January 17 confirmed, Malagón regains a trail event that combines regional competition, popular participation and mountain terrain. The most reliable details for comparing options are distance, elevation gain, aid stations, start time and published entry price. As race day approaches, the regulations and updated registration information will be essential for checking any changes to places, Sunday collection times, entry requirements and technical course details.

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