Ander Garaiar: Arditurri’s Locomotive & Basque Cycling Ambition

When the starting gun sounds, it explodes. Ander Garaiar is a calm, calm and collected boy who transforms when he pushes the blocks and they respond by propelling him with the same great force that he exerts. Action and reaction, as Newton would say.

The Oiartzuarra, who in August was proclaimed European under-20 champion in Finland (the fastest junior on the Old Continent), wants to step on the accelerator again, to feel that speed even higher than 40 kilometers per hour at times during the little more than ten seconds that his sprints last. What does this 18-year-old ask of the year 2026?

A leisurely walk with him through Oiartzun, where he grew up and lives, serves to discover that the Arditurri locomotive has a tremendous desire to fly again. And, although it may sound cliché, he asks for “health” in the new year. Or, in other words, getting rid of the dreaded injuries. Regarding breaking new barriers, he is clear: «Go under 10 seconds in the 100? After 2025 that I have come up with, I do not rule it out. Yes, I have thought about it sometimes, but I still see it as far away,” he admits.

The absolute Spanish record is 10.06, by Bruno Hortelano. Nobody has gone under ten seconds. At the moment, the Oiartzuarra has a valid mark of 10.28 (absolute Basque record despite his youth and being with a headwind), although it is true that with Eolo blowing slightly above what is allowed (2.2 meters per second) he managed to run in July in 10.17. “I think that if I’m fine and the conditions are good, I can be below 10.15.” Step by step he wants to go. Even if their careers last a breath, the road is long. «First I want to beat the Spanish sub20 100 meters record (10.27). I have one year left in the category. And then go for the sub23 (10.16)».

Problems in his ischium and foot forced him to opt for the 100 meters in August in the U20 European Championships, which he ended up winning, discarding the 200 meters, which seemed to be his best distance and in which he was best placed by ranking. Surprised. He competed wonderfully. And he defeated a priori superior rivals.

Del bidegorri, a Anoeta

Garaiar became the first Spanish sprinter to become champion in an international competition in the queen distance: the 100 meters. His story, which he had already told DV months before, and which is that of that young Basque who just a few months ago was training in the bidegorri of Arditurri, where the mining railway once circulated, and who competed with the team of his ikastola, the Haurtzaro, went around the world; and starred in informative pages and minutes in national and international media.

“It was five years with us,” remembers Xabi Belaunzaran, a 28-year-old physical trainer who, together with Julen Pérez, directed the sessions in which they already saw “something special” in Ander. These two young people continue working today for Oiartzuarra athletics, for Haurzaro, a club that the talented sprinter leaves to sign for Nike. «It has gone viral that Ander trained in the bidegorri. And so it is, but what can you tell me about this courtyard of the ikastola where I did all kinds of exercises? Let’s not underestimate him,” Belaunzaran jokes while showing the facilities to the young sprinter’s now coach.

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It was Pérez, 25 years old, who contacted Valentín Rocandio, who had been his coach years ago, so that he could continue polishing this pearl in Anoeta. The San Sebastian native, a nationally renowned coach, took the gauntlet. And in less than a year they achieved glory together. At the scene, in Tampere, from the stands, Julen and Xabi did not miss the moment in which Ander was proclaimed champion.

From the esplanade of the ikastola where they met and to the now famous Arditurri bike path, it is less than five minutes walk. “We have different distance measurements for the series,” they explain while Garaiar also remembers old times and poses for the photos that accompany these lines. «From his third year onwards, he started going to the Plaiaundi track in Irun one day a week to do series and gym, because we didn’t have any at the ikastola. He seemed to have a lot of talent and foundation, he was very reactive, but he had a lot to learn technically. We knew he was good, but we didn’t expect him to become European champion,” admit his first coaches in Oiartzun. The base was good. And Rocandio’s in Donostia was a safe bet. “And that in the first year together we couldn’t have the continuity that we would have liked,” continues the former national relay coach.

“I have a little problem with the Achilles tendon in my left leg, but I hope to arrive in time to be able to compete well on the indoor track,” explains Garaiar, who already missed practically all of last indoor season due to a broken ischium. “I would like to debut at the end of January in Salamanca running the 60,” he says. “And if it’s good, maybe the 60th will run days before in Donostia in the Gipuzkoa Championship,” Rocandio completes.

Will it take away the record?

The Sabadell meeting, the Madrid meeting, the absolute Spanish Championship, the sub20… These are the events that have been marked on the calendar between now and March, the duration of the indoor campaign. «Despite the discomfort and the fact that there have been training sessions that he has not been able to complete, he is having a decent preseason. He has greatly improved his strength levels,” says the coach and still the Basque record holder of 60 with 6.73. «He has 6.96. And I should pulverize that record. At first I don’t think I’ll be able to improve my record. If it goes below 6.90 it will be fine. But by February, with continuity, he will be able to run below 6.73.

However, winter is another stage on the way to the summer season. «The objective is for Ander to be competitive outdoors, both in the 100 and in the 200. The test that has visibility is the 100. And I think that Ander still has room for improvement. His 10.28 is with a headwind… and coming from having physical problems. In the European Championship he already showed what he is capable of.

«In May there are the World Relays in Botswana and he has a chance to be part of the senior team. We will work for it. And so that in August I can reach 100% at the U20 World Cup in Eugene. Let’s go for 2026 at full speed.