Pico Veleta Individual Climb 2026

The Pico Veleta Climb takes place on Sunday, August 9, 2026, starting at 7:00 am from the Templete del Paseo del Salón, right in the heart of Granada, while the city air still holds the cool of early morning, around 18-20°C. It's 50 km with a staggering 2,705 meters of accumulated elevation gain, climbing without pause from the city all the way up to the 3,398-meter summit of Pico Veleta, along the highest paved mountain road in all of Europe — a genuine milestone for any endurance runner.The route opens with a festive atmosphere through the streets of Granada, passes through the towns of Cenes de la Vega and Pinos Genil on a rolling, gently graded profile for the first 10-11 km, then tackles 39 km of continuous climbing (with a few gentler rolling stretches around km 16-20 and 29 offering a brief breather) all the way to the finish near the peak. Runners who'd rather share the challenge can opt for the Relay format (25+25 km), with the handoff at Cruce del Dornajo. The weather is part of the race's character: typically warm up to the last 10 km (the Hoya de la Mora barrier), after which the atmosphere shifts into true high-mountain territory — cooler and more changeable — adding an extra sense of adventure to the closing stretch. There are 14 aid stations along the course, with solid food at km 22, 32.7, 40, and the finish, and an 8-hour-30-minute cutoff from the starting gun.