Siyasa Gran Trail

Siyasa Gran Trail

Siyasa Gran Trail is the big mountain race of Cieza (Murcia), in the Upper Segura plain and the Ricote Valley. Its name comes from Siyasa, the Andalusi name for Cieza. The queen race is a 65-kilometre ultra with 3,100 metres of positive elevation linking Ulea and Cieza along the Segura river, alongside a marathon, a 25-kilometre trail and a 15-kilometre short trail. It scores for the Trail Tour FAMU and Ultra Trail Tour FAMU circuits.

A 65-kilometre course

The ultra sets off before dawn from Ulea and works up the valley on dry gullies, scrub paths and limestone ridges overlooking the Segura. It links short, dry climbs, technical limestone descents and long gully sections, with the Almadenes gorge as its most spectacular stretch. At nearly 50 metres of climbing per kilometre and in the dry Murcian heat, it is a harder ultra than the profile suggests.

The Ricote Valley, the last Morisco corner

The Ricote Valley was the last Morisco stronghold in Spain: its inhabitants were not expelled until 1614, later than anywhere else. The traditional market-garden landscape, with palm trees, citrus and waterwheels, still follows irrigation channels of Andalusi origin. Blanca, Abarán, Ojós, Ricote and Villanueva keep that air of an oasis wedged between arid mountains.

Cieza beyond the race

Cieza is famous for the springtime blossom of its 30,000 hectares of fruit trees, but it is worth visiting all year for the Medina Siyasa, an Islamic-period site of 11th-13th century houses, and for the Almadenes gorge with the Serreta Cave and its rock art. See more races in Murcia and plan your weekend with the planner.