The Almazán Triathlon celebrates 30 years with the national qualifier
The Almazán Triathlon celebrates its 30th anniversary this Sunday with the 29th edition and the second qualifying round of the Spanish Triathlon Championship.
The Soria race will once again take center stage nationally in La Arboleda park, where the men's and women's starts will be held in an event that combines history, federation calendar and sporting tradition.
Almazán returns to the national calendar
El Almazán Triathlon It will be played this Sunday in the park of The grove, with the men's start scheduled for 10:30h and the female one to the 12:00h.
The event will host the second qualifier of the Spanish Triathlon Championship, a key event within the Spanish Triathlon Federation's calendar and an important opportunity for athletes seeking a place in the national phase.
The qualifying format adds competitive weight to a race that, beyond Sunday's result, is marked by a special anniversary: 30 years since its first edition.
Thirty years since the first edition
The Almazán Triathlon was held for the first time on August 24th, 1997Since then, the event has consolidated its presence on the regional and national calendar, although this year it will be held in XXIX edition.
The difference between the 30th anniversary and the number of editions held has a clear explanation: the test planned for the summer of 2020 It could not be held due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
That first edition in 1997 had a different setting than today's. Although the complete rankings are no longer available, newspaper archives allow us to remember the first winners: Rubén Herrero Martínez y Mercedes Ortega García.
A test linked to Abel Antón and to the sport of Soria
Over the years, the competition also became known as Almazán Triathlon “Abel Antón”, in reference to the historic marathon runner from Ojuel and his connection to the sport of Soria.
From 2005The test was moved forward to July. 2008 It hosted for the first time the Championship of Castilla y León, And in 2015 It entered the national calendar of the Spanish Triathlon Federation as the venue for the then Spanish School Championship by Autonomous Communities, now known as CESA.
Since joining the national calendar, Almazán has maintained a very stable presence in federated events. In every edition held since 2015, with the exception of one, the town has hosted some type of national competition.
Kevin Tarek Viñuela and Yolanda Magallón, prominent names in the list of winners
The history of the Almazán Triathlon also includes some notable names. The man from León. Kevin Tarek Viñuela GonzálezThe athlete, with experience in the World Triathlon Series, is the triathlete with the most victories in the event, with six wins.
In the women's category, the best record belongs to Yolanda Magallón Vallejo, winner in four editions.
Another interesting aspect of the race is the victory of Daniel Mateo Angulo in the popular race of 2006. The athlete from Adnamantino, who would later become an Olympian in the marathon, is also part of the sporting history of this event.
A match with sporting significance and historical value
The 30th anniversary comes at a time when the Almazán Triathlon maintains its role as a benchmark event for the town and for triathlon in Castile and León.
The combination of history, federation-sanctioned route, and national presence makes this Sunday's edition more than just a qualifying race. For Almazán, it will also be a way to look back and remember three decades of triathlon.
