Alicante has officially launched the seventh edition of the Gran Carrera del Mediterráneo 21K Alicante-Santa Pola, taking place on Sunday at the gates of the Provincial Palace on Avenida de la Estación. Organised by the Club Atlético Montemar, this event marks the beginning of four major athletic events in the city.
Following this weekend's race, upcoming events include the Elche-Alicante Marathon on 13 December, the San Silvestre Solidaria on 30 December, and the Alicante Half Marathon on 21 February.
Local officials, including Luis Barcala, who started the race alongside provincial deputy José Antonio Bermejo, councillors Manuel Villar and Carlos de Juan, and Montemar president José Pedro García, emphasised the significance of the event. Barcala noted, “This well-established athletic event has become a must on the calendar for national and international runners. Its route, which runs parallel to the Mediterranean, makes it iconic and exemplifies what sports tourism entails. This is underscored by the fact that 46% of participants are foreign.”
On Sunday, 6,000 runners, an increase of 1,000 from last year, set off at 9:00 am to complete the 21.097 kilometres from Alicante to Varadero Beach in Santa Pola. The course passed several notable landmarks, including El Palmeral Park, the beaches of Urbanova, Arenales del Sol, Carabassí, and the Santa Pola Lighthouse.
Of the 6,000 registered participants, 54% were national athletes while 46% were from abroad. Notably, 35% of the participants were women, reflecting a 10% increase compared to 2025.
The first athlete to cross the finish line was Munke Nicholas Saitoti, with a time of 1 hour 4 minutes and 55 seconds. In the women's category, the winner was Nikola Baumová, finishing in 1 hour 20 minutes and 8 seconds. In 2025, the male and female winners were Eric Murundi (1:04:43) and Odile Nintije (1:13:58), respectively.
Throughout the course, various hydration stations provided water and isotonic drinks, accompanied by entertainment groups playing music. Participants were also offered a cloakroom service to store their belongings at the start in Alicante and retrieve them upon reaching the finish line at Varadero Beach.
The excitement for the Gran Carrera del Mediterráneo began building on Friday and Saturday at the Runner's Fair, held in the gardens of the Provincial Palace, where participants collected their race numbers and runner's bags.
