News

Vall de Núria, a mountain resort managed by Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya (FGC), will be dressed up this weekend, September 20 and 21, to host the 18th edition of the Olla de Núria, the star event and great festival of Catalan trail running. This competition, already consolidated as one of the most internationally renowned mountain races in Catalonia, promises to once again be a meeting point for fans of high mountain sports. It is a race where not a single meter of asphalt is stepped on and is held in this privileged environment, only accessible by the Rack Railway or on foot.

The competition will bring together more than 900 participants throughout the weekend in the different races, among which the presence of Gabriela Lasalle, Laura Orgué (with a record of five victories in 2010, 2014, 2016, 2017 and 2018), Blanca Batlle, Anna Guirado and Ohiana Kortazar, in the women's category, and Robert Pkemoi, winner of the 2023 Olla, Albert Ballús, Jan Margarit (winner in 2016 and 2017), Pere Rutllan, Jan Castillo and Josep Miret in the men's category stands out. The registrations by modality are distributed as follows: Valls de l'Olla with 594 participants, Mitja Olla with 157, Olleta with 83, Olla Júnior with 32 and Vertical with 59 participants.

With the Olla de Núria, organised by the Unió Excursionista de Vic, Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya once again demonstrates its desire to deseasonalise and promote sporting events in order to place the Catalan Pyrenees on the international map. This year, as a novelty, there will be a first departure differentiated for women at 8.35 am and for men, at 8.50 am. The aim is to give more prominence to women during the broadcast and try to level the arrivals of men and women in the elite category.

The competition on Sunday 21st can be followed live on TV3 or 3CAT from 8.30 am to 12.30 pm, which will allow for wide visibility of the event and promote sport and healthy habits. In addition, as a novelty, this year it will be possible to follow the broadcast of the race on the Prat de Núria with a giant screen.

Due to the Olla de Núria race, the Rack Railway will run exclusively between Queralbs and Vall de Núria. The ascent will be every 30 minutes from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and the descent from Núria to Queralbs every 30 minutes until 5:30 p.m. Book tickets here.

A weekend full of excitement

The event will begin on Friday, September 20 with the challenging Vertical Olla de Núria. This highly demanding race will test the endurance of the participants, starting from the Santuari de Núria, located at an altitude of 1,960 meters. Runners will have to overcome a 3.78-kilometer route, with an impressive positive elevation gain of 986 meters, until reaching the summit of Puigmal, the highest point in the valley at 2,909 meters. A considerable climb in a relatively short distance that guarantees a spectacle.

Saturday, September 21st will be the turn of the queen race, the new version of the Valls de l'Olla de Núria. This edition will maintain the same route that captivated runners in the last edition. It will offer an authentic skyrunning route that runs most of the route above 2,700 meters of altitude, without stepping on a single meter of asphalt.

In addition, in this edition the popular Olla or Mitja Olla race is recovered, doing the same itinerary as the Olla júnior. They allow those who are not yet ready for the Valls de l'Olla to enjoy the atmosphere and the landscape by doing a half race.

Finally, the Olletes modality reinforces the family and festive character of the event, which allows the little ones and their families to experience the excitement of the Olla de Núria. Designed to be safe and accessible, this race offers children the opportunity to feel part of the great trail running festival.

L'Olla de Núria is not just a competition, but a celebration of sport in an incomparable natural environment, inviting both elite athletes and popular runners to enjoy the passion for the mountains.