Venezuelan climber Michi Matheus and Hugo Martín claimed the elite titles at the inaugural Urban Climbing Comunidad de Madrid Torrejón 2026 event, a competition that distributed over 50,000 euros in total prizes across its various categories. Held on October 17 and 18, the competition transformed the historic center of Torrejón de Ardoz into an open-air climbing venue featuring more than 40 distinct blocs with grades ranging from 5+ to 7c.
How Matheus and Martín Secured Elite Titles in Torrejón
The elite finals proceeded across the municipality’s historic architecture. Matheus triumphed in the women’s division by bonus points over runner-up Lianet Castillo and third-place finisher Julia Benach after all three finalists successfully cleared the three designated blocs. The victory comes just two weeks after Matheus announced her retirement from elite competition following a 15-year career split between her native Venezuela and Madrid, where she has lived for five years. I had participated in some exhibitions, but this is the first time I competed in urban climbing,
Matheus said. It’s cool, very interesting, and novel. The time it takes to complete the blocs enters as an important factor and that complicates it a bit.
The men’s final proved equally demanding across three technical blocs. Two routes tested the 11 finalists on the exterior masonry of the San Juan Evangelista church wall, where the tight brick crevices and slick grips denied any tops on the opening problem. Marcos Parra eventually unlocked the second bloc, paving the way for a decisive showdown on a newly constructed reglet wall near the Torrejón Town Hall. Martín, the 2025 Spanish bouldering champion, utilized superior speed and precision on the final problem to secure the top step of the podium, edging out Parra in second and Nico Amador in third. Already last year I was left wanting to try urban climbing in Potes and this year I didn’t want to miss it,
the 21-year-old Martín told, adding that he aims to elevate his standing in upcoming World Cup events.
Prizes and Categories Across the Historic Center
Designated as the European City of Sport for 2026, Torrejón de Ardoz welcomed over 600 participants who navigated the Plaza Mayor, Plaza de España, and surrounding historical sites. Morning rain forced the amateur and category finals onto a temporary climbing wall erected in the center of the Plaza Mayor, where 56 competitors vied for class titles following Saturday’s qualifying rounds. In the men’s amateur bracket, Pablo Díaz edged Alejandro López in a tiebreaker after both athletes completed three progressively difficult blocs with identical performance. Nere Ortega captured the women’s amateur crown, while Pedro Pérez and Eva Martos secured the over-50 gold medals. Youth divisions saw David Romero top the male youth bracket, with Paula Carmena and África Piedrola sharing the top step in the female youth category.
The prize purse of more than 50,000 euros was distributed through non-traditional awards tailored to each division. Winners in the elite men’s pro class received a WOW 775 electric motorcycle, while the women’s pro winner received a Wellta Ártica electric motorcycle; amateur and senior winners received electric bicycles from Alfa Romeo. Youth and junior competitors claimed electric scooters and specialized bicycles, supported by sponsors including the Community of Madrid, the Torrejón de Ardoz City Council, ABC, Vocento, B3, Interporc, Leapmotor, Renfe, La Sportiva, and Sputnik.
Inclusion and Para-Climbing Exhibitions Close the Weekend
Sunday’s program featured the brothers Pou as special guests, who joined Alberto Tomé, director general of Sports of the Community of Madrid, and Alejandro Navarro, mayor of Torrejón de Ardoz, for the official trophy presentation. The weekend concluded with an inclusive para-climbing exhibition highlighting the therapeutic benefits of the sport. Guillermo Pelegrín, the 2024 European para-climbing champion, climbed alongside members of the Dreaming Awake collective, an initiative founded by Jordi Cruz—diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease eight years ago—to demonstrate how climbing improves coordination, balance, and social integration among patients.
There are numerous studies explaining everything it brings us: broad movements, balance, coordination, strength, endurance…
Cruz told. At a cognitive level it is also beneficial, because climbing forces you to solve problems. People with Parkinson’s often don’t even want to leave the house. And with climbing they see that they can do things, they feel integrated into the climbing community. I am a lifelong climber, but I have never experienced anything like what I am living now.
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