Cristian Ibáñez Wins 15th Edition of CMG Transgavarres Trail Race

Cristian Ibáñez Valero won the 50.3-kilometer Transgavarres on Sunday in 3 hours, 43 minutes and 53 seconds as the Cursa de Muntanya de Girona celebrated its 15th edition.

Diari de Girona reported that the race drew runners from Palamós to Girona under clear skies and ideal temperatures. The event spans three distances across the Gavarres massif, using forest tracks and singletrack trails that organizers say form the identity of the competition.

The 50.3-kilometer Transgavarres started at 8 a.m. from the Passeig del Mar at the Nau dels 50 metres in Palamós. Runners left the Mediterranean Sea behind to traverse the hills toward Girona.

Ibáñez Valero, running for Dynafit, crossed first in the men’s division with his 3:43:53 finish. Xevi Brangolí Vaquerizo took second in 3:47:19, and Rajiv Marroig of Temple Running Girona placed third in 3:50:47, Diari de Girona reported.

Sarah Forbes-Smith won the women’s race in 4:27:44. Nicole Millar finished second in 4:54:25, and Mar Bosch Cabrisas took third in 5:00:53.

Pep Matas, a former Girona lawyer, writer, and historian of the Gavarres who created the event with friends nearly twenty years ago, completed the final 15 kilometers of the course alongside Xavi and Toni. Matas helped establish the route before it became part of the official race schedule.

While the long-distance runners crossed the massif, Sant Domènec hosted the starts and finishes for the 13-kilometer Express and 21-kilometer Trail races. The square served as a gathering point for participants, families, and spectators throughout the morning.

Benoit Galand of Thouy Sport won the Trail event in 1:22:41, ahead of Aníbal Navarro Tomás of Team Gozalbo at 1:23:12 and Francesco Martini at 1:27:27. Celia Balcells Serra of CIMALP won the women’s Trail in 1:35:25, followed by Anna Comet Pascua at 1:40:14 and Cristina García Hombravella at 1:41:09.

In the Express race, Isabella Holmgren set the overall best time of 53:30, beating Paula López Forés at 1:01:32 and Venla Pirhonen at 1:03:06. Àlex Mestre Ruiz won the men’s Express in 53:44, ahead of Eston Sutherland at 54:04 and Juan Garcia Lopez at 54:23.