MADEIRA AT THE CENTER OF TRAIL RUNNING ON A WORLD SCALE

Here is the 15th edition of the Madeira Island Ultra-Trail.

In the coming days, the Autonomous Region of Madeira will be the stage for all the attention in trail running, with the particularity of reaching a record number of registrants: 3,481 in total.

2,300 are foreign athletes. 58 nationalities will be represented. France with 1,192 athletes is the most represented country, followed by Portugal (1,003).

MIUT is one of the founding events of the World Trail Majors, the new global trail running circuit.

Official site

Madeira Island Ultra-Trail

The event organized by the Funchal Mountain Club consists of races over five distances: 115 km, 85, 60, 42 and 16.

The first four start on Saturday, April 27th, while the shortest distance is scheduled for Sunday, 28th, the day on which the awards ceremony also takes place.

The main event of the MIUT, of 115 km, has the particularity of crossing the island of Madeira in a northwest-southeast direction, starting in Porto Moniz, at sea level, with passages through the highest points of the island, and then returning again at sea level for the target installed in Machico.

The start, in Porto Moniz, is at midnight on Saturday, April 27th, with the first phase of the race continuing throughout the night, which always provides images of great beauty, with the athletes’ flashlights shining light up the trails.

Highlight, in this particular, the descent to Ribeira da Janela, when the athletes practically go in a line, forming zigzag lines of light.

But there are many other spectacular crossing points, such as Fanal, Pico do Areeiro, Portela or Porto da Cruz, before reaching the finish line, in Machico.

MIUT with worldwide recognition

MIUT had its first edition in 2008.

Over the years, it gained prominence on a national and international level and is now recognized as a worldwide event.

MIUT was, in fact, the first trail running event organized in the Autonomous Region of Madeira. Over the years, it has come across different formats.

In the first edition, in 2008, 141 athletes were present, who accepted the challenge of connecting the Ponta do Pargo lighthouse to the city of Machico.

From 2013 onwards, the MIUT organization definitively opted for the current format, starting in Porto Moniz and finishing in Machico.

The event was not held in 2010 and 2020, in the latter case due to the covid-19 pandemic.

In the 2023 edition, victory in the main race smiled at French athletes.

In males, Lambert Santelli (RC FURIANI) completed the 115 km in 14:01:26 hours.

In women’s, the first to cross the finish line was Manon Bohard (HOKA) at 15:48:58.

Registered per race: MIUT’115 km (1,051 athletes), MIUT’85 km (526 athletes), MIUT’60 km (547 athletes), MIUT’42 km (834 athletes) and MIUT’16 km (523 athletes).

115 km the queen race with the presence of Miguel Arsénio

In the queen race, 115 km, the presence of big names in the sport is guaranteed, such as the Portuguese Miguel Arseniowho became national Trail Ultra champion this year.

But there are many elite, international-level athletes who will be present at MIUT 2024.

The 115 km race starts at midnight on Saturday, April 27th, in Porto Moniz.

The 85 km race starts at 7 am, in São Vicente.

From 9 am, athletes registered for the 60 km race begin the route in Boaventura.

Still on Saturday, from 12 noon, the 42 km race will begin in Monte, parish of Funchal.

On Sunday, April 28th, the race with the shortest distance, 16 km, begins in Porto da Cruz, at 8 am.

In all races, the goal is set in Machico, where the prize giving ceremony will also take place on Sunday, April 28th, starting at 12:30 pm.

The race naturally has enormous logistics in terms of organization.

The 2024 edition will have 850 volunteers, distributed across various tasks, such as cleaning paths, gas stations (there are 13 stations), security, appointments, secretariat, as well as a time system, communication and other essential aspects for the running of the event. Madeira Island Ultra-Trail.

“The expectation is that it will be another great success.”

Below are the statements from the race director, Sidónio Freitas: “The expectation is that it will be another great success.

The number of athletes is record. We also have the record for athletes from outside Madeira.

We have an excellent list of entries for the 115 km race and this will certainly contribute to the interest around MIUT.

Many take the test as a personal challenge, but there is a competitive part.

There are top athletes, some of them professionals. MIUT is also a world elite test”