Published on 18/03/2026
The 15th edition of the Tenerife Bluetrail by UTMB®
, scheduled from March 19 to 21, 2026, has been officially cancelled due to the arrival of Storm Therese, a high-impact weather system that triggered the activation of Tenerife's Island Emergency Plan (PEIN).The organization confirmed the impossibility of guaranteeing the safety of participants, volunteers, and emergency teams in the face of rapidly deteriorating weather conditions. Strong wind gusts, heavy rainfall, thunderstorms, and dangerous coastal phenomena were forecast to hit the island from Thursday through the entire weekend — precisely when the races were set to take place.
The summit areas of Mount Teide, where the course reaches 3,555 meters above sea level — the highest point in Spain — were placed under pre-alert for severe storms, making it particularly hazardous for runners on the 110K and 73K routes that cross the Teide National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
This year's edition was expected to welcome over 3,400 runners from 64 countries, with women representing 25% of the field. The elite lineup was especially stacked:
Among the most high-profile casualties of this cancellation are Courtney Dauwalter and Manon Bohard, both registered for the flagship 110K race.
Courtney Dauwalter (USA, UTMB Index 837), widely regarded as one of the greatest ultramarathon runners of all time, had confirmed her participation on the Tenerife Bluetrail as a key part of her 2026 season opener. The Salomon-sponsored athlete made history in 2023 by becoming the first person — male or female — to win the Western States 100, Hardrock 100, and UTMB in the same season. After a tougher 2025 campaign that included an abandonment at the Cocodona 250 and a 10th-place finish at UTMB, all eyes were on her comeback in Tenerife.
Manon Bohard (FRA, UTMB Index 742), the La Sportiva athlete, was set to make her much-anticipated return to competition on the 110K. The French star boasts an impressive palmarès: winner of the TDS, the MIUT, and the legendary Diagonale des Fous in La Réunion, as well as world team champion and vice-champion of France. In 2025, she won the Trail 100 Andorra 80K and finished 2nd woman at the Hardrock 100.
In an exciting turn of events, Courtney Dauwalter has announced she will take the start of the Chianti Ultra Trail by UTMB® 120K in Tuscany, Italy — taking place this very weekend (March 19–22). The American champion wasted no time finding a new challenge after the Tenerife cancellation, pivoting to the rolling hills of Chianti for what promises to be a thrilling season debut. She will have no margin for error as she looks to reassert herself at the top of the ultra-trail world.
In the men's 50K, the race promised a rematch between Frédéric Tranchand (FRA, UTMB Index 932) and Manuel Merillas (ESP, UTMB Index 927) — a repeat of their Canfranc World Championships duel where the Frenchman claimed gold.Roberto Delorenzi (SUI, UTMB Index 921), looking to improve on last year's eighth place, and Alain Santamaría Blanco (ESP, UTMB Index 911), winner of ETC 2025, were also expected to challenge for the podium.
In the women's 50K, Sylvia Nordskar (NOR, UTMB Index 791) was set to face off against Spain'sRosa Lara Feliu (ESP, UTMB Index 789) in what promised to be a wide-open contest.
The race cannot be rescheduled to another date within the international UTMB World Series calendar. The overlap with other circuit events and the logistical complexity of organizing a race of this magnitude make relocation impossible. The cancellation is definitive.
All TrailSight
users who purchased the premium feature for one of the races of this event will be exceptionally refunded in full. No action is required on your part — refunds will be processed automatically. We understand the disappointment this cancellation brings, and we want to ensure that our community is fully supported.