The North Face Transgrancanaria Classic 126K
Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain · February · 126K Classic
- Distance
- 126 km (78.3 mi)
- Point to point
- Climbing
- 6,764 m (22,190 ft)
- Mountain: 54 m per km (284 ft per mi)
- Overall cutoff
- 30 hours
- 23:00 per mi (14:17 per km) average
Why runners love it
- Midnight start on Las Canteras beach, finish at Parque Sur in Maspalomas, 126 km (78 mi).
- The full cut-off table is published for ten checkpoints, with a 30 h limit.
- Crew is allowed at seven of ten checkpoints; life bags at two.
- Open registration at 180 to 225 EUR (about 210 to 260 USD), no qualifier.
- Roque Nublo and the Tejeda caldera on the island's spine.
Watch out for
- Cold wet nights, then heat near 30 °C (86 °F); the route was shortened for storms in 2022.
- 6,764 m (22,190 ft) of gain with technical rocky descents.
- A medical certificate must be uploaded by 14 January 2027 or the entry is invalid.
- Tenoya, El Hornillo and Ayagaures are closed to crews; El Garañón is reached on foot.
- The official page does not state a pacer rule or the high point.
Race
How runners feel about it, how well it is run, and the community around it. Counts for 25% of the overall score.
Toughness for its distance: Very tough
- Runner satisfactionLoved4.3
A top field, island scenery and strong support, but weather swings; most first-person reports cover the shorter races or other years. · Medium confidence
- OrganizationWell run4.2
Detailed cut-off and bag tables, pre-race weather warnings, and a quick course fix after landslides in 2026. · Medium confidence
- Community and vibeWarm4.3
Thousands on the beach at the midnight start and helpful volunteers, per 2018 and 2024 reports. · Medium confidence
Support
Aid stations, crew access, drop bags and pacer rules. Counts for 25% of the overall score.
- Aid stationsGood3.9
Ten checkpoints, longest gap 14.1 km (8.8 mi); oranges and tomatoes praised and ice handed out in the heat. · Medium confidence
- Crew accessGood4.0
Crew is allowed at seven of the ten checkpoints. · High confidence
- Drop bagsSome stations3.1
Two life-bag points, at Moya and El Garañón. · High confidence
- PacersVery late only1.5
The official Classic page does not mention pacers. · Low confidence
Course
Course marking, scenery, and how runners rate the trail itself. Counts for 15% of the overall score.
- Course markingClear4.2
No navigation complaints found, but few accounts mention marking. · Low confidence
- ScenerySpectacular4.6
The island's spine past Roque Nublo and the Tejeda caldera, from a beach start to a dune-side finish. · Medium confidence
- Trail experienceGreat4.2
Varied terrain with technical rocky descents; the second half is less technical. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- FootingTechnical2.3
Volcanic rock, narrow technical descents and mud in wet years. · Medium confidence
- RunnabilityMixed2.8
Long climbs and descents with some runnable tracks; limited direct evidence. · Low confidence
- ClimbingMountainous1.0
Climbs 283 ft per mi (54 m per km), from the official elevation gain. · High confidence
Conditions
Race-day temperature and how predictable the weather is. Counts for 14% of the overall score.
- Race-day temperatureWarm or cold3.0
Cold, wet, windy nights then heat near 30 °C (86 °F) the next day in several years. · Medium confidence
- Weather reliabilityUnsettled2.4
The 2022 route was shortened for storms, 2024 was harsh, and a 2026 landslide changed the course. · High confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- AltitudeModerate2.9
High point about 1,724 m (5,656 ft) per iRunFar; most of the course is lower. · Medium confidence
Cutoffs
How generous the overall and intermediate cutoffs are for the terrain. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Overall cutoffGenerous3.7
30 h for 126 km (78 mi) and 6,764 m (22,190 ft) is about 4.2 km (2.6 mi)/h (2.6 mph). · High confidence
- Intermediate cutoffsReasonable3.2
Ten cut-offs; the first at 10.7 km (6.6 mi) after 2 h, Tejeda at 79.2 km (49 mi) by 18 h; later gaps loosen. · Medium confidence
Intermediate cutoffs (2027 official page (2026 conditions from iRunFar))
| Where | Distance | Cutoff |
|---|---|---|
| Tenoya | 11 km (6.6 mi) | Sat 02:00 (2 h 01 elapsed, liquids only) |
| Arucas (Barreto) | 19 km (12 mi) | Sat 03:40 |
| Teror | 32 km (20 mi) | Sat 06:10 |
| Moya (Fontanales) | 43 km (27 mi) | Sat 08:50 |
| El Hornillo | 53 km (33 mi) | Sat 11:30 |
| Artenara | 67 km (42 mi) | Sat 15:10 |
| Tejeda | 79 km (49 mi) | Sat 18:00 |
| El Garañón | 91 km (56 mi) | Sat 20:45 |
| Tunte | 98 km (61 mi) | Sat 23:25 |
| Ayagaures | 112 km (70 mi) | Sun 02:25 |
| Maspalomas finish | 126 km (78 mi) | Sun 06:00 (30 h) |
Not part of the score
- First timer friendlyDoable2.6
Technical terrain, 6,764 m (22,190 ft) of gain, and cold wet nights are possible. · Medium confidence
- Getting inUsually open3.6
Open registration with a medical certificate and no qualifier, but the Classic sold out for 2025. · Medium confidence
Stay and travel
Getting there, places to stay, race-day logistics and value. Counts for 8% of the overall score.
- Travel easeEasy4.2
Island airport, with start and finish both on Gran Canaria; transfer distances were not checked. · Low confidence
- Places to stayGood4.4
A large tourist island with a partner hotel offer; no shortage reported. · Low confidence
- LogisticsSome complexity2.6
Point to point at midnight, with crew and bag logistics across the island. · Medium confidence
- ValueGood value3.9
180 to 225 EUR (about 210 to 260 USD) for 126 km (78 mi) with ten stations. · Medium confidence
Key facts
Checked against the 2027 official page (2026 conditions from iRunFar) edition on the official race site. Rules change, so confirm before you enter. Blank means the race does not publish it.
- Location
- Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, Spain
- Region
- Outside the US
- Typical month
- February
- Latest or next date
- 26 February 2027
- Start time
- 23:59
- First held
- 2003
- Distance
- 126 km (78.3 mi)
- Course shape
- Point to point
- Surface
- Trail: Sand beach start, dirt and rocky volcanic mountain trails, finish on a rocky riverbed and Parque Sur in Maspalomas (iRunFar 2026).
- Footing
- High point of 1,724 m (5,656 ft) is from iRunFar's 2026 report; the official page does not state one. Narrow rocky climbs and technical rocky descents, most climbing in the second half is less technical. Dust turns to slippery mud in rain (2022).
- Elevation gain
- 6,764 m (22,190 ft)
- Climbing rate
- 54 m per km (284 ft per mi)
- High point
- 1,724 m (5,660 ft)
- Overall cutoff
- 30 hours
- Pace to make the cutoff
- 23:00 per mi (14:17 per km)
- Cutoff notes
- Official 2027 table; times are clock times from the Friday 23:59 start, and the cut-off is the time you must leave the checkpoint (leaving late means disqualification). First runner passage times are also published.
- Aid stations
- 10
- Longest gap between aid
- 14 km (8.8 mi)
- Drop bags
- Some stations
- Crew access
- Many points
- Support notes
- Ten checkpoints; Tenoya (10.7 km) is liquids only. Longest gap is El Hornillo to Artenara, 14.1 km (8.8 mi). Life bags (35 x 50 cm / 14 x 20 in) at Moya (Fontanales) and El Garañón. External assistance allowed at Arucas, Teror, Moya, Artenara, Tejeda, El Garañón and Tunte; not at Tenoya, El Hornillo or Ayagaures. El Garañón is reached on foot from the parking at Los Llanos de La Pez. The official Classic page does not mention pacers.
- Water notes
- Not stated on the official page.
- Night running
- Most runners run through one night
- Mandatory gear
- Official list: race bib, photo ID, emergency blanket (at least 100 x 200 cm / 39 x 79 in), working mobile phone with credit, 1.5 L (51 oz) water capacity, cup, headlamp of at least 200 lumens with spare batteries, red rear light, enough food, breathable waterproof jacket, cap or bandana, at least 50 EUR cash, and a cold kit (warm gloves, windproof trousers, thermal top and long thermal pants) that the organisers confirm or waive two days before depending on forecast.
- Entry
- Open
- Qualifier needed
- None; a signed medical certificate issued within the last year must be uploaded before 14 January 2027, otherwise the paid entry is not valid.
- Entry fee
- About $260
- Fee notes
- About EUR 225.
- Field size
- About 870 runners
- Entry notes
- 2027 fee 180 EUR (1 to 3 July 2026), 205 EUR to 15 September, then 225 EUR (about 260 USD at roughly 1.15 USD per EUR) to 2 February; Canary Islands residents save 30 EUR. field_size is the just over 870 starters iRunFar reported for 2025. Awards 5 ITRA points.
- Air temperature
- 3–30 °C (37–86 °F)
- Weather notes
- A runner's note describes about 15 C (59 F) at the start, about 3 C (37 F) on mountain nights and near 30 C (86 F) at the finish. 2026 had a cool cloudy night with light rain then strong sun and ice at stations; 2022 had wind, rain and sleet that shortened the high section near Roque Nublo.
- Nearest airport
- LPA (Gran Canaria)
- Stay notes
- Start in Las Palmas, finish at Maspalomas in the south of the island; the official site lists a Lopesan hotel group runner offer. Unclaimed life bags go to Expomeloneras and can be collected Sunday 09:00 to 14:00 only.
- Course record (men)
- 12:17:25 (Caleb Olson, 2025)
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What runners and reviewers say
- Carnethy Hill Runners (Phil Humphries)Raced 2022 · blog · Mixed
Dropped at Artenara (66 km / 41 mi) and was bussed to the finish. Rain all night turned dust to mud, steep climbs had no traction and descents became mud slides in the dark. Organisers had warned by email and advised long windproof trousers; he had no dry base layer left before the drop bag at El Garañón.
“pack long windproof trousers and you will be ok”
- iRunFar 2022 resultsRaced 2022 · article · Mixed
Rain, high wind and fluctuating temperatures from the start; officials shortened the high section near Roque Nublo for safety. About 7,500 m (24,600 ft) climbed with an 11 p.m. start at Las Canteras and finish at Parque Sur.
“Harsh weather hounded the runners from the get-go”
- iRunFar 2026 resultsRaced 2026 · article · Positive
Cool cloudy night with light rain, then strong sun, ice at stations and leaders carrying ice for the last climb. Volcanic rugged trails, technical descents, a beach start and a rocky riverbed finish. Landslides cut the course about 1 km (0.6 mi). Several favourites dropped near El Hornillo.
“through a cold and wet night and a quickly warming day”
- Carrerasdemontana 2024 ClassicRaced 2024 · article · Mixed
About 850 starters at 23:59. Rain and cold at altitude, with the cold worst between Artenara and El Garañón, then heat in the day, and many dropouts including the men's leader at Tejeda.
“Harsh conditions we have lived through this year.”
- Ian Corless (Transgrancanaria 2018)Raced 2018 · blog · Positive
Storms the day before postponed the marathon but Las Palmas was calm for the 11 p.m. start. Live music and thousands of spectators on the beach. Course follows the spine of the island past Roque Nublo with over 7,000 m (23,000 ft) of gain.
“one of the toughest races in the world”
Show 3 more
- Carnethy Hill Runners (Dorothy and Billy)Raced 2024 · blog · Positive
Ran the Marathon distance rather than the Classic. Technical volcanic rock and scenery highlights, about 30 C (86 F) in the day, praised aid with oranges and tomatoes, and every finisher got a jacket. Entry was 80 EUR for their race. Applies to the Classic only as a read on terrain and heat.
“never have oranges and tomatoes tasted so good”
- Greenock Glenpark Harriers (Vicki)Raced 2024 · blog · Positive
Ran the roughly 29 mi (47 km) Marathon from Tejeda: climbed to Roque Nublo, a technical descent on the La Plata trail, two more hard climbs then a gradual descent. Hot, helpful checkpoint volunteers, praised expo and bus transfer up the mountains.
“The volunteers at checkpoints were so helpful.”
- Supervaroni newsletterRaced 2026 · blog · Mixed
Weather note from a runner: about 15 C (59 F) at the start, around 3 C (37 F) in mountain nights and near 30 C (86 F) at the finish; his parents crewed his first race and he suggests sending dry clothes to checkpoints where allowed. Published in Latvian.
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Sources
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