Desafío Ultra El Cainejo vs Madrid Alpine Marathon

Desafío Ultra El Cainejo (52km, 5500m D+) vs Madrid Alpine Marathon (44km, 2500m D+). Side-by-side comparison: distances, elevation, difficulty, mandatory gear and registration. Which one suits you best?

Desafío Ultra El Cainejo Elite

Desafío Ultra El Cainejo

Caín de Valdeón, León, Castile and Leon

Mountain 3 modalities
View Pack 360
Madrid Alpine Marathon Advanced

Madrid Alpine Marathon

Cercedilla, Community of Madrid

Mountain 2 modalities
View Pack 360

Physical profile

Desafío Ultra El Cainejo Madrid Alpine Marathon
Date 23 May 2026 14 June 2026
Terrain Mountain Mountain
Difficulty Elite Advanced
Max elevation gain 5,500m D+ 2,500m D+
UTMB Category 100K

Distances — Desafío Ultra El Cainejo

Name Km D+ Max Time
Desafío Ultra 52K 52 5,500 16h
Cainejo 35K 35.7 3,200 12h
Cainejín 19K 19.5 1,800 6h

Distances — Madrid Alpine Marathon

Name Km D+ Max Time
Alpine Marathon 44K 44 2,500 9h
Cross Alpino del Telégrafo 19K 19 1,050

Logistics & costs

Desafío Ultra El Cainejo Madrid Alpine Marathon
Location Caín de Valdeón, León, Castile and Leon Cercedilla, Community of Madrid
Distance between venues 270 km
Registration opens 5 December 2025 27 February 2026
Registration closes 18 May 2026 5 June 2026
Mandatory Gear 6 mandatory items 6 mandatory items
Official website Visit Visit

Pack 360 — Services

Registration

Desafío Ultra El Cainejo

No recommendations

Madrid Alpine Marathon

No recommendations

Accommodation

Desafío Ultra El Cainejo

No recommendations

Madrid Alpine Marathon

No recommendations

Nutrition

Desafío Ultra El Cainejo

Madrid Alpine Marathon

Transport

Desafío Ultra El Cainejo

No recommendations

Madrid Alpine Marathon

No recommendations

Insurance

Desafío Ultra El Cainejo

No recommendations

Madrid Alpine Marathon

No recommendations

Body Care

Desafío Ultra El Cainejo

Madrid Alpine Marathon

Sun Protection

Desafío Ultra El Cainejo

Madrid Alpine Marathon

Summary

If you're looking for a longer distance, Desafío Ultra El Cainejo is the choice. If you prefer a shorter and more accessible race, consider Madrid Alpine Marathon. In terms of elevation gain, Desafío Ultra El Cainejo is the more demanding option. Both races offer a complete Pack 360 with everything you need for race day.

Frequently asked questions

Which is harder, Desafío Ultra El Cainejo or Madrid Alpine Marathon?
Desafío Ultra El Cainejo has Elite difficulty with up to 5,500m elevation gain, while Madrid Alpine Marathon is Advanced with up to 2,500m D+. The maximum distance is 52km for Desafío Ultra El Cainejo and 44km for Madrid Alpine Marathon.
When does each race take place?
Desafío Ultra El Cainejo takes place in May and Madrid Alpine Marathon in June.
How many distances does each race offer?
Desafío Ultra El Cainejo offers 3 distances and Madrid Alpine Marathon offers 2.
What type of terrain does each race have?
Desafío Ultra El Cainejo is classified as Mountain and Madrid Alpine Marathon as Mountain.
Do I need the same mandatory gear for both?
Desafío Ultra El Cainejo requires 6 mandatory items and Madrid Alpine Marathon requires 6. Check each race's official regulations for the full list.

Plan your race

View all similar races Desafío Ultra El Cainejo View all similar races Madrid Alpine Marathon

Compare Spain's best trail running races side by side. Analyze distances, elevation, registration prices, mandatory gear and the complete Pack 360 to make the best decision.