Bilbao hosts an extraordinary sporting event this Saturday, an event for athletes from seventy countries that brings together long-distance specialists and amateurs. The sixteenth TotalEnergies Bilbao Night Marathon, in which EL CORREO collaborates, has even increased the number of competitors from previous editions, since more than 15,000 people will run through the circuit enabled in the capital of Biscay, a participation record. The 21 kilometer race has 8,000 registered, 6,000 have signed up for the pirate race (10 kilometers) and more than 1,500 are expected for the marathon. The departure for the three distances has been scheduled from 7:00 p.m. from the SanMamés esplanade, while the arrival will be at the Guggenheim.
With the passage of time, the TotalEnergies Bilbao Marathon has increased its international status and, for the second year, it scores points and is included in the World Athletics calendar, which means that it is at the level of the best races in the world. In fact, athletes from other continents come to Bilbao seeking to improve their records and their position in the official rankings. So much so that those responsible for the competition have received more than 17,000 applications, which exceeds the limit established by the organization by two thousand. In any case, this year’s experience will serve to study whether it is possible to expand participation in future editions.
Almost 6,000 runners come from Bizkaia and more than 5,000 from other provinces. The international nature of the night marathon is confirmed by the presence of 4,000 people from 72 countries, with more than a thousand French, followed in terms of foreign participation by the British, Italians and Germans.
There will also be fourteen African athletes, the main candidates for victory in the half marathon. Four Ethiopians, nine Kenyans, including five women, and a Ugandan will try to take the win and the race records, set last year by Peter Mwaniki (1.00.37) and Nelly Jeptoo (1.11.22). The Ethiopian Adisu Negash Wake, winner of the Marrakech Half Marathon, attends; Ezekiel Mutai, winner in Lille; and Vincent Kimutai Towett, second in Milan. Eleven hares, identified by a flag they will carry on their backs, will help set the pace. The last champion in Lugano, Rabecca Chepkwemoi, and Leonidah Jemwetich Mosop are a priori the strongest distance runners in Bilbao.
traffic cuts
The circuit enabled for the three events includes Euskalduna, Gran Vía, Teatro Arriaga, El Arenal, City Hall, Campo Volantín, Avenida de las Universidades, Sarriko, Deusto and San Ignacio. As a result of the passage of the runners, there will be traffic restrictions from 6:30 p.m. until midnight in Abando, Indautxu, Basurto, Olabeaga, Casco Viejo, Uribarri, Castaños, Deusto, San Ignacio and Ibarrekolanda. Traffic cuts and limitations on entry and exit to parking lots and garages are planned, and usual directions of circulation will be modified. Detours will also be enabled for pedestrians and parking areas will be occupied that will be fenced in advance.
