Desafío Ultra El Cainejo vs GTPE Picos de Europa
Desafío Ultra El Cainejo (52km, 5500m D+) vs GTPE Picos de Europa (70km, 5300m 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
Elite Physical profile
| Desafío Ultra El Cainejo | GTPE Picos de Europa | |
|---|---|---|
| Date | 23 May 2026 | 27 June 2026 |
| Terrain | Mountain | Mountain |
| Difficulty | Elite | Elite |
| Max elevation gain | 5,500m D+ | 5,300m D+ |
| Max ITRA | — | 2 |
| 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 — GTPE Picos de Europa
| Name | Km | D+ | ITRA | Max Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GTPE 70K | 70 | 5,300 | — | 18h 30min |
| GTPE 48K | 48 | 2,700 | 2 | 11h |
| GTPE 35K | 35 | 2,200 | — | 9h |
| GTPE 22K | 22 | 1,383 | — | 6h |
| GTPE 10K | 10 | 500 | — | — |
Logistics & costs
| Desafío Ultra El Cainejo | GTPE Picos de Europa | |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Caín de Valdeón, León, Castile and Leon | Benia de Onís, Asturias |
| Distance between venues | 31 km | |
| Registration opens | 5 December 2025 | — |
| Registration closes | 18 May 2026 | 23 June 2026 |
| Mandatory Gear | 6 mandatory items | 11 mandatory items |
| Official website | Visit | Visit |
Pack 360 — Services
Registration
Desafío Ultra El Cainejo
No recommendations
GTPE Picos de Europa
No recommendations
Accommodation
Desafío Ultra El Cainejo
No recommendations
GTPE Picos de Europa
No recommendations
Gear
Desafío Ultra El Cainejo
-
Salomon Speedcross 6Recommended for bothSalomon
-
Petzl Actik CorePetzl
-
Recommended for both -
Gore Wear R7 GTX ShakedryGore Wear
GTPE Picos de Europa
- Salomon Speedcross 6Recommended for both
Salomon
- Recommended for both
Nutrition
Desafío Ultra El Cainejo
-
Maurten Gel 100Recommended for bothMaurten
-
Precision Fuel & Hydration PH 1500Precision Fuel & Hydration
-
-
Bocadillo de Guayaba Gourmet LatinoRecommended for bothGourmet Latino
GTPE Picos de Europa
- Maurten Gel 100Recommended for both
Maurten
- Bocadillo de Guayaba Gourmet LatinoRecommended for both
Gourmet Latino
Transport
Desafío Ultra El Cainejo
No recommendations
GTPE Picos de Europa
No recommendations
Car Rental
Desafío Ultra El Cainejo
-
Recommended for both -
Recommended for both
GTPE Picos de Europa
- Recommended for both
- Recommended for both
Insurance
Desafío Ultra El Cainejo
No recommendations
GTPE Picos de Europa
No recommendations
Body Care
Desafío Ultra El Cainejo
-
After Bite Xtra GelRecommended for bothAfter Bite
-
Buff CoolNet UV+Buff
GTPE Picos de Europa
- After Bite Xtra GelRecommended for both
After Bite
Sun Protection
Desafío Ultra El Cainejo
-
Recommended for both -
Piz Buin Mountain SPF 50+Piz Buin
-
Recommended for both
GTPE Picos de Europa
- Recommended for both
- Recommended for both
Summary
If you're looking for a longer distance, GTPE Picos de Europa is the choice. If you prefer a shorter and more accessible race, consider Desafío Ultra El Cainejo. 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 GTPE Picos de Europa?
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.