The North Face Transgrancanaria
Transgrancanaria Marathon
Tejeda → Maspalomas
Race guide
Updated 19 July 2026
The Transgrancanaria Marathon is the mid-distance flagship of the The North Face Transgrancanaria weekend, covering 46 km and 1373 m of climbing as it threads south from the mountain village of Tejeda down to the coastal resort of Maspalomas. Starting at 1047 m above sea level and reaching a high point of 1719 m at the rim above Tejeda, the race is fundamentally a point-to-point descent — but one that demands respect. The early kilometres climb hard before the course gives way to a long, sustained drop through the island's interior pine forests and scrubby ravines, finishing within sight of the dunes on the southern coast at just 31 m elevation. This is not a flat marathon. The 1373 m of positive gain is front-loaded, and the 2700+ metres of cumulative descent that follows will shred undertrained quads long before Maspalomas. The cut-off structure gives you roughly eight hours and ten minutes from the Friday start, which is generous enough for strong hikers but tight for anyone who cramps or blows up on the climbs. Understanding where each segment sits — both in terms of elevation and remaining time — is the key to finishing comfortably.
Course & Terrain
The race begins in Tejeda (0 km, 1047 m), a white-walled village perched in Gran Canaria's volcanic interior. From the start line runners immediately begin climbing toward El Garanon Lodge at 11.7 km, gaining roughly 630 m of elevation to reach 1679 m — the highest checkpoint on the course and just 40 m below the race's absolute high point of 1719 m. The trails here are rocky, rooty mountain paths typical of the Cumbre ridge, often narrow with exposed sections. Beyond El Garanon the course descends to Tunte at 19.3 km (1265 m), losing over 400 m across roughly 7.5 km of winding track. From Tunte the descent intensifies: Ayagaures at 31.9 km sits at only 306 m, meaning the 12.6 km middle section drops nearly 960 m. The final 14.1 km from Ayagaures to Maspalomas is almost entirely flat coastal runout, finishing at 31 m elevation amid the tourist infrastructure of the south. Surfaces transition from mountain rock and compacted dirt in the first half to sandy, dry ravine trails and eventually sealed or compacted coastal paths in the closing kilometres.
Decisive Climbs & Where the Race Is Won or Lost
The race is effectively decided in the opening 11.7 km climb to El Garanon. Go out too hard from Tejeda and you will arrive at the lodge with burning legs and a depleted glycogen store before the real descending has even begun. The 630 m climb is consistent but relentless — power-hike the steepest pitches rather than trying to run everything. The descent from El Garanon through to Ayagaures (km 11.7 to 31.9) is where the race is truly won or lost for mid-pack runners: nearly 1400 m of cumulative descent across 20 km of technical trail. Runners who bank time here by running the descents confidently will arrive at Ayagaures with plenty of buffer against the 17:50 cut-off. Those who are timid or whose quads are already failing will hemorrhage minutes. The flat final 14 km to Maspalomas sounds like relief but can become a death march if you have nothing left — keep something in the tank through Ayagaures.
Pacing & Cut-Off Strategy
The cut-off at El Garanon (km 11.7) closes at 12:40 on Friday. Depending on the race start time, this segment demands steady, controlled effort on the climb — do not treat it as a warm-up jog. The Tunte cut-off at 14:50 gives you just over two hours to cover 7.6 km of descending from El Garanon, which is very achievable, but signals how quickly the cut-off window tightens if you are slow on technical terrain. Ayagaures at 17:50 is the critical gate: you have three hours to cover 12.6 km of steep descent from Tunte, which again sounds comfortable but steep, rocky descending in the midday Canarian heat is genuinely taxing. Aim to reach Ayagaures at least 30–45 minutes inside the cut-off so the 14.1 km flat run-in to Maspalomas (cut-off 20:50) is stress-free. A sensible split is: allow 2.5–3 hours for the climb to El Garanon, then bank time aggressively on the long descent to Ayagaures.
Fuelling & Hydration
El Garanon (11.7 km) and Tunte (19.3 km) are both crew points, making them the best opportunities to refuel with specific foods or drop bags if the race permits. The climb to El Garanon is the highest caloric demand section — start fuelling from the gun and do not wait until you feel empty. Aim to eat something every 30–40 minutes across the whole race. Hydration is critical: Gran Canaria's southern interior can be warm and exposed, particularly between Tunte and Ayagaures where the trail drops through dry barranco terrain with little shade and temperatures can climb significantly above what you experienced on the shaded ridge. Carry at least 1.5 litres capacity and top up at every checkpoint. Electrolytes matter from the midpoint onwards, especially on the long descent where muscle cramping is a genuine risk. The flat coastal finish section is deceptively draining — keep drinking even when your effort level feels low.
Conditions to Expect
The Transgrancanaria Marathon takes place in late February or early March, but Gran Canaria's micro-climates mean you must prepare for multiple weather scenarios in a single race. At the start in Tejeda (1047 m) and near the high point of 1719 m, temperatures can be genuinely cold at race start — single figures Celsius with wind are possible on the Cumbre ridge, and light rain or mist is not unusual at altitude. Carry a mandatory layer for the high section. As the course descends toward Ayagaures and Maspalomas, temperatures rise sharply and the terrain opens out under direct sun. By the time you reach the coastal flat, conditions may feel like a warm spring day even in February. Plan your layering accordingly: you will likely want to strip off as you descend. The terrain from Tejeda to Tunte can be slippery after rain; the lower barrancos tend to be dry and dusty regardless of conditions higher up. Trail shoes with a versatile, multi-terrain lug are the sensible choice for the full range of surfaces.
Race Transgrancanaria Marathon with Crux
Get the strategy, fuelling and crew plan dialled for this exact course — built from the real route, climbs and cut-offs. Your first race is free.
Plan this race — freeCourse profile
Checkpoints & cut-offs
✓ Course data verified against the official source (2026-07-05) · official source
0 km · 1047 m · Fri 09:50
11.7 km · 1679 m · Fri 12:40
21.2 km · 1056 m · Fri 14:50
32.8 km · 342 m · Fri 17:50
47 km · 31 m · Fri 20:50
More races
More in Spain
Similar distance (50–100 km)
Racing Transgrancanaria Marathon?
Get a complete race strategy — pacing, fuelling, crew plan and the crux moments — built on this exact course.
Plan your race in Crux →Strava is your training. Crux is your races.