The town of Maçanet de Cabrenys was the setting on Sunday, August 9th, for the Fau Race, a trail running competition that was part of the Valls Catalanes Trailrunning Challenge. The main event, spanning 24 kilometers with 1,200 meters of positive elevation gain, saw Guillem Quadrado and Emma Bonnemort emerge as winners.
In the men's category, Quadrado took the top spot on the podium, followed by Sergi Bañeras and Hamal Villar. In the women's category, Bonnemort triumphed over Anna Laredo and Heura Piñol. The course included ascents to the peaks of Fau, Castell del Bac, and Puig de la Gavarra, characterized by its technical demands and aerial sections, as well as wooded areas near the Arnera River.
The event also featured other distances: the Puja i Baixa race of 18 kilometers with 950 meters of elevation gain, won by Timothé Chanu and Carolina Ballesta; and the Entre Aigües of 9 kilometers with 400 meters of elevation gain, where Pep Pagès and Jana Casellas took the victories.
The Fau Race attracted 600 registered participants from six different nationalities, transforming Maçanet de Cabrenys into a hub for trail running enthusiasts. Due to anticipated high temperatures, the organizers moved up the start time, although the thermometers eventually reached 34ºC.
The Club Excursionista Maçanetenc, founded in 1988 with over 500 members, mobilized more than 200 volunteers to ensure the smooth running of the race, managing aid stations and supporting participants. A portion of the proceeds is dedicated to the restoration of the Fau hermitage and its refuge, a project the organization has been working on for over fifteen years.
Regarding the overall standings of the Valls Catalanes Trailrunning Challenge, after six events, Thomas Villard (Gas Mountain Team) leads the men's category, and Mireia Perpinyà (Gas Mountain Team) leads the women's. The circuit will continue on September 19th in Sant Joan de les Abadesses with the Taga 2040 race.
The Valls Catalanes Trailrunning Challenge, established in 2022, aims to strengthen cross-border sporting ties between Alt Empordà, Garrotxa, Ripollès, Alt Vallespir, and Vallespir, promoting the region's natural and cultural heritage.
