Montserrat has witnessed a historic day with the 8th edition of the Vertical Montserrat, Spain’s toughest stair-climbing race, which this year broke all its records with over 460 participants.
The athletes have successfully completed the challenge of climbing the 2,180 steps and the 388-metre elevation gain between the Santa Cova and Sant Joan funicular stations operated by Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya (FGC).
A review of a sporting and charitable success on our funicular railways:
- Race record: Josep Andreu Cortada won the men’s ‘Open’ category with a time of 11 minutes 24 seconds, breaking the race record that had stood since 2018. Rosa Maria Nieto won the women’s category with a time of 15 minutes 08 seconds.
- Team spirit: The ‘We Are One Team’ category has seen a threefold increase in participation compared to last year, with 76 teams raising funds for vulnerable children cared for at Sant Joan de Déu.
- Inclusion and role models: The race has seen the participation of athletes with disabilities, firefighters in full uniform (weighing 23 kg) and children’s categories, establishing itself as an event for everyone.
- High-profile ambassadors: Former footballer Bojan Krkić has acted as an ambassador, and the Regional Minister for the Interior, Núria Parlon, was one of the participants who completed the climb.
Social commitment
Organised by the Catalan Regional Government Fire Service and the Sant Joan de Déu Charitable Foundation, with the support of FGC, the race donates all proceeds to research projects into childhood diseases and social care programmes.
There’s still time to make a donation via ‘Dorsal Zero’ on the official website:
