Alegia will serve as the start and finish location for the second edition of the UTT Erronka mountain race, set to take place on July 4th. The race will pass through several small towns in the Tolosaldea region. After being a support point last year, Alegia now becomes the main start and finish hub. The mayor of Alegia, Regina Sorarrain, has emphasized the town's readiness to host the event, supported by a strong team of volunteers.
According to Sorarrain, approximately 25 to 30 volunteers are actively involved, and without their efforts, it would be impossible for the municipality to organize the race. She highlighted their crucial role, both in the preparatory stages and on the day of the event. This year, the town aims to create a festive atmosphere, with the Culture Committee working on related activities.
The UTT Erronka aims to have a different town as its start and finish point each year. Following Irura in the first edition, Alegia now takes over. Imanol Zubillaga, a member of the organizing team, stated that Alegia is significantly easing their work due to the formation of a large volunteer group. This year's race will also see route changes: instead of last year's 76 kilometers, the distance will be 82 kilometers. Furthermore, the summit of Uzturre will not be traversed, and participants will descend to the Izaskun neighborhood in Ibarra, where the relay change will occur and an aid station will be located. Unlike last year, the route will also pass through the town center of Hernialde, with both Ibarra and Hernialde municipalities contributing to the organization.
The start time has also been adjusted; instead of 6:00 AM last year, the race will commence at 7:00 AM this year, aiming to avoid participants needing headlamps at the beginning. However, the second runner in each relay team will be required to carry a headlamp.
Organizers are very pleased with the number of registrations: around 200 participants have already signed up, counting pairs, which doubles last year's figure. The registration deadline is set for June 26th, though it may close earlier. The organizers attribute the increased participation to the earlier dates and the fact that the Ehunmiliak race is not being held.
Notable names are expected to compete. Last year's relay winners, Iñaki Olano and Amets Uzkudun, will participate, as will the mixed relay champions, Noelia Lataburu and Xabier Irazusta. Iker Karrera will team up with Ibon Artola, and in the individual category, participants will include Ion Azpiroz, Hodei Lujanbio, and Sandra Sevillano (2021 European Skyrunning Champion). The event will also feature the Euskal Herriko Ultra Championship, contested in the individual categories.
Currently, there are approximately 80 volunteers, and organizers are still seeking more individuals willing to contribute. Berria newspaper is a new sponsor, and its representative, Irati Azkue, has highlighted the importance of giving visibility to small towns and the role of volunteers.
