Zach Miller's feet tremble under a warm blanket in a shady spot in Maspalomas. Curled up for half an hour, smiling and greeting, without asking for medical attention, without anyone being surprised: it is an almost common sight, the price of running 126 kilometers through the mountains. The big favorite, second last year at the Ultra Trail of Mont Blanc – UTMB, the queen of the ultra distance – has given up, but seventh place is no excuse not to sprint when he crosses the finish line. The American, a revolutionary who takes the knife in his hand in every race, leaves in a wheelchair after spending one of his three balls of the year in the Transgrancanaria, a decision that is not trivial since it represents his critical voice towards UTMB, which he accuses of monopoly, in which he will not participate this year.
Miller, The North Face athlete, was one of the big stars of the event, which crosses Gran Canaria from north to south, and took advantage of the fact that his brand is the main sponsor of the event, with prizes of up to 5,000 euros for winners. Jim Walmsley, the compatriot who had overtaken him in the UTMB when he was already in the lead, fell due to injury. “I'm very happy with my performance, I didn't have any major slumps.” Maybe the best version of his life. “It's hard to compare, but it was one of the best.” However, he won't be in Chamonix to try again this time. “I’m open-minded, that doesn’t mean I won’t come back, but there has to be changes.”
Both he and Kilian Jornet have held discussions with the UTMB organizers to express their dissatisfaction. “I want them to be more aware of their impact on the sport.” It is asking that races not owned by UTMB be included in the classification system – a mandatory procedure – in order to share the cake. “I don't know if their goal is to be a monopoly, but they have taken a lot of steps in that direction recently.” The inclusion of the Ironman or the devaluation of other events due to the attraction that Chamonix has for athletes, those of their brands is given priority there. “They promote the professionalization of the sport, but if they are not fair, it is dangerous.” He defends a “respectful” system with the already existing careers: “Working together instead of trying to run the show.” Both shared their ideas with others athletes, with their presence being an element of pressure.
Zach Miller in action. Ian Corless
This presence led him to Las Canteras beach in Las Palmas at 11:59 p.m. on Friday to begin his odyssey. Between fine rain and sand, 931 Cinderellas set out for a terrible night. “We spent six or seven hours in rain and strong gusts of wind. “The thermal feeling was below zero,” explains winner Raul Butaci, who completed a route with 6,800 meters of positive gradient in 13 hours, 22 minutes and 32 seconds. From the cold in the north to the sun of justice in the south. So many kilometers for a script that dissolves into 10, the last big climb between Tejeda and Roque Nublo, where Miguel Heras, rejuvenating his 48 years with every step, approaches him within seconds but does not catch him. With the clouds at his feet, the leader keeps looking to the left and knows that there are still 38 kilometers ahead of him. “I thought until the end that he was going to beat me.”
But Butaci, a Romanian as Catalan as Botifarra, flies in the favorable leg and ten minutes pass before the Bejaran, true to his custom, reaches his ham sandwich at the aid station while his rivals finish the gels. “Dreams rarely come true, you never really believe you can win one of these races,” admits the winner. La Trasgrancaria, with six distances spread over five days and about 4,000 registered participants – half of them foreigners – leads the World Trade Majors, a young circuit that replicates UTMB with a democratic structure: nine events shared between the owners own organization and Turismo de Gran Canaria as a global sponsor.
Butaci agrees with Miller and Jornet “on many things.” “UTMB takes advantage of the runners; All the prestige it has is thanks to them.” But he defends a pyramid scheme even though power is more divided. “There has to be a race track that is like the Champions League final.” Really let it be known who the best runner is. Nowadays you don't know. Now it's UTMB, but it would be nice if a circuit was created based on federations.
Raul Butaci, winner of the race in Gran Canaria.Jordi Zaragoza
As Butaci speeds up his words, almost two hours after he pressed the stop button on his legs, Courtney Dauwalter arrives, the best distance runner in history, winner of the world's three most prestigious hundred-mile races last year. in just two months. The American who fell in love with Gran Canaria last February and kept her promise to come back every year. It lasts almost half an hour longer (15 hours, 14 minutes, 54 seconds), with fatigue increasing his figure, he reverses his steps to thank each step of the Batucada dancing in circles around him. An island with its mountains surrendered to his weary feet.
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