Chaigneau makes his mark at the Trans Grancanaria
Sebastien Chaigneau at the Trans Gran Canaria 2012
Sebastien Chaigneau and Fernanda Maciel, were men’s and women’s winners at The North Face® Transgrancanaria at the weekend, with Chaigneau setting a super time of 12:54:18 for the 123km route…
The North Face® report
At the stroke of midnight (GMT) Friday 2nd March 2012, 600 ultra-runners from across Spain and Europe began the long night’s run of either 123km or 96km through Gran Canaria’s National Park, tackling the varied and demanding terrain that the island has on offer.
Starting at Playa Del Ingles, in the south of the island, the 300 runners of the 123km race climbed to an accumulated height gain of 11,000m, to a maximum height of 1,949m at the highest point of the island, finishing at the capital, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria in the north throughout Saturday afternoon and long into the night.
Competitors in this year’s races faced unusually strong winds and variable temperatures from 4-22°C.
Despite falling and injuring his knee at the beginning of the race, renowned French ultra-runner, and The North Face® performance athlete, Sebastien Chaigneau (FRA) was thrilled to take 1st place, finishing with a record time of 12h:54m:18s.
Upon his win Chaigneau stated:
“The race was tough as 70 percent of it is run during the night and there is a big change in temperature. I am really happy that I broke the record, although it was never my objective. When I run my main focus is the pleasure that I get out of it”.
Chaigneau led the race from 42km in, cruising at a remarkable average speed of 10km per hour. Claiming the 2nd spot just over half an hour behind was Portuguese athlete Armando Teixeira (POR), with Uruguay based runner, John Tidd (ESP) taking 3rd place with a time of 14h:31m:50s.
In the women’s category, The North Face athlete, Fernanda Maciel (BRA) claimed women’s 1st place and 5th overall in a strong time of 15h:02m:29s. After leading the women’s race for the first third Lizzy Hawker (GBR) stopped her race at 54km due to muscular leg pain.
Of the result, a delighted Maciel commented “I am very happy because I had a great race, along a beautiful route and I really enjoyed myself”.
Fernanda arrived over two hours ahead of the second woman, Spanish runner Esther Fernandez Gonzalez (ESP) and more than four hours in front of Denise Zimmerman (SUI), who placed third.
Marking the start of the ultra-running season, The North Face Transgrancanaria featured races for all levels of runners at various distances: from the full 123-km race; a coast-to-coast 96-km race; a 42-km marathon; and a starter run of 24-km. More than 1800 people from 21 different countries took part in the four races.
The North Face® Transgrancanaria 2012 Podium:
Men
1. Sebastien Chaigneau (FRA) 12h:54m:18s
2. Armando Teixeira (POR) 13h:27m:19s
3. John Tidd (ESP) 14h:31m:50s
Women
1. Fernanda Maciel (BRA) 15h:02m:29s
2. Esther Fernandez Gonzalez (ESP) 17h:25m:45s
3. Denise Zimmermann (SUI)19h:23m:45s
A short highlights film of the race (Get Ready for Season 3) can be found here.
