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?
Elite Desafío Ultra El Cainejo
Caín de Valdeón, León, Castile and Leon
Advanced 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
Gear
Desafío Ultra El Cainejo
-
Salomon Speedcross 6Recommended for bothSalomon
-
Petzl Actik CorePetzl
-
-
Gore Wear R7 GTX ShakedryRecommended for bothGore Wear
Madrid Alpine Marathon
- Salomon Speedcross 6Recommended for both
Salomon
- Gore Wear R7 GTX ShakedryRecommended for both
Gore Wear
-
Buff ThermonetBuff
-
Lifesystems Thermal BlanketLifesystems
-
Salomon Soft Flask 150 mlSalomon
Nutrition
Desafío Ultra El Cainejo
-
Maurten Gel 100Maurten
-
Precision Fuel & Hydration PH 1500Precision Fuel & Hydration
-
Recommended for both -
Bocadillo de Guayaba Gourmet LatinoRecommended for bothGourmet Latino
Madrid Alpine Marathon
-
226ERS Isotonic Drink226ERS
- Recommended for both
- Bocadillo de Guayaba Gourmet LatinoRecommended for both
Gourmet Latino
Transport
Desafío Ultra El Cainejo
No recommendations
Madrid Alpine Marathon
No recommendations
Car Rental
Desafío Ultra El Cainejo
-
Recommended for both -
Recommended for both
Madrid Alpine Marathon
- Recommended for both
- Recommended for both
Insurance
Desafío Ultra El Cainejo
No recommendations
Madrid Alpine Marathon
No recommendations
Body Care
Desafío Ultra El Cainejo
-
After Bite Xtra GelAfter Bite
-
Buff CoolNet UV+Recommended for bothBuff
Madrid Alpine Marathon
-
Julbo AerospeedJulbo
- Buff CoolNet UV+Recommended for both
Buff
Sun Protection
Desafío Ultra El Cainejo
-
Recommended for both -
Piz Buin Mountain SPF 50+Piz Buin
-
Recommended for both
Madrid Alpine Marathon
- Recommended for both
- Recommended for both
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?
When does each race take place?
How many distances does each race offer?
What type of terrain does each race have?
Do I need the same mandatory gear for both?
Plan your race
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.