The first two cyclists passed my house in Fuente de la Higuera at km 69 at 11.00 am having started out 2.25 hours earlier from Ronda football stadium. They were followed five minutes later by three more. Within 10 minutes a total of 10 mountain-bikers had passed by.
This was the 101 km of the Foreign Legion time trial for cyclists, runners and walkers, which takes place every year on the second weekend in May. There's even a shortened version of the race for children.
The first runners ran past just after 3.00 pm. They didn't look too enamoured with the wet weather!
I've written about the "101" before - see here: 101 km - Ronda, May 10, 2025 - so this year I'm going to focus on the logistics and how the race works.
Logistics
Personnel
900 legionnaires, male and female, are used;
10 doctors, 11 nurses, 150 student volunteers covering physiotherapy, nursing and podology;
150 volunteers from Civil Protection;
personnel from the Consortium of Firefighters, Guardia Civil, and National and Local Police
[Photo: Sur in English]
Equipment
four first aid posts;
six ambulances offering basic support, two with advanced support and four mobile intensive care units;
34 trucks;
25 light all-terrain vehicles from the Land Army and more from Civil Protection;
six all-terrain motorcycles;
three water tankers and two buses.
In addition 55 tents, 220 tables, 12 electrogenous groups and 10 trailers with water.
Catering
34,000 litres of bottled water and 25 litres of isotonic drinks;
27,000 oranges, 23,000 bananas and 1,000 kilos of green vegetables;
17,500 boiled sweets, 10,000 energy bars, 9,000 gels and 3,600 chocolate bars;
23,000 sandwiches;
3,200 litres of coffee and 3,000 litres of hot soup
Back to the "day job"
Within a few days of the completion of the race a company of legionnaires will be deployed to NATO's eastern flank for six months.
Others will be deployed to repair or divert the main roads in the area which were affected by the atrocious weather this winter.
Results so far:
Male cyclists:
1st Jose Maria Sanchez Ruiz 3h 59:20
2nd David Gonzalez Tirado 4h 04:46
3rd Antonio Raul Gutierrez Requena 4h 13:32
Female cyclists:
1st Maria Isabel Felipe Davila 5h 55:48
2nd Maria Jose Salvador Verde 6h 21:32
3rd Paqui Sabina Bocanegra 6h 23:20
Male runners:
1st Jose Angel Fernandez Jimenez 7h 42:46 course record
2nd Jesus Gonzalez Cidon 8h 21:31
3rd Joan Marc Falco 8h 32:50
Female runners:
1st Maria Romero 9h 42:36
2nd Maria Cardenas Rodriguez 10h 22:26
3rd Ana Marquez Gomez 10h 35:40
Link:
© Pablo de Ronda MMXXVI
PICTURES:
Cadena SER, Facebook, La Opinion de Malaga, Paul Whitelock, Sur in English, Viquipedia
THANKS:
Diario Sur, La Legion Ronda, Malaga Hoy, Mamen Quintana, Paul Whitelock, Ronda Semanal, Sporty Sam, Wikipedia
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