The Ultra Trail Sierra de Bandoleros (UTSB) has two categories, a long race with an accumulated gradient of 12,000 metres (total up and down) and a shorter race, with an accumulated gradient of 6,000 metres (total up and down). Both events take place in the Sierra de Grazalema mountains.
Long race
The UTSB Ultra Trail Sierras del Bandolero is 166 km long and has an accumulated gradient of 10,912 metres and a cut-off time of 40 hours.
The start line is at Prado del Rey, and then runners head to the village of El Bosque, where an ascent begins to Llanos de Campo, and then Puerto del Boyar; at this point runners head towards Villaluenga del Rosario, followed by Puerto del Correo, Montejaque and Ronda, where the first backpack swap is located. The route continues to Benaoján and Jimera de Líbar, and turns first down to Cortes de la Frontera station and then up to Cortes de la Frontera itself, to return to Villaluenga del Rosario to pick up the second pack. From Villaluenga the route continues to Grazalema, up to Puerto del Boyar, and down to Benamahoma and El Bosque, the final section to the finish line at Prado del Rey.
The race starts at Prado del Rey and the final cut-off is at 10am on Sunday, also at Prado del Rey.
There are 14 checkpoints not including the finish line checkpoint, distributed as follows:
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El Bosque. Km. 7.3
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Llanos de Campo. Km. 13.9
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Puerto del Boyar. Km. 20.1
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Villaluenga del Rosario. Km. 32.7
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Llanos de Libar shelter. Km. 41.6
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Montejaque. Km. 51.1
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Ronda. Km. 59.8
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Benaoján. Km. 74.9
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Jimera de Libar. Km. 84
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Cortes de la Frontera. Km. 97
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Villaluenga del Rosario. Km. 111
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Grazalema. Km. 123
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Benamahoma. Km. 134
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El Bosque. Km. 139
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Prado del Rey, finish line. Km. 151
There will be three cut-off points, notified to all runners a few weeks before the event, located at El Puerto del Boyar, Ronda and Villaluenga del Rosario (return section).
All finalists will get a UTSB Finisher Jacket.
Short race
Also known as Bandolerita, the short version of the UTSBC Ultra Trail Sierras del Bandolero Corta, is 85km long, with an accumulated gradient of 6,142 metres, and a cut-off time of 22 hours.
Although shorter, it is by no mean easier, as the entire route follows the more technical and steep sections of the UTSB, and running will be more difficult in the majority of sections.
The start line is at Prado del Rey, and from there runners will head to the village of El Bosque, and then climb up to Llanos de Campo and Puerto del Boyar, where they turn to Villaluenga del Rosario to pick up the backpack. From Villaluenga they continue to Grazalema, climb to Puerto del Boyar, and run down to Benamahoma and El Bosque, to finally take the last section to the finish line at Prado del Rey.
The race starts in Prado del Rey and the finish line cut-off is Sunday at 10am, also at Prado del Rey.
There are 7 checkpoints excluding the finish line, as follows:
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El Bosque. Km. 7.3
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Llanos de Campo. Km. 13.9
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Puerto del Boyar. Km. 20.1
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Villaluenga del Rosario. Km. 32.7
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Grazalema. Km. 45.5
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Benamahoma. Km. 55.9
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El Bosque. Km. 60.9
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Prado del Rey, finish line. Km. 72.3
There will be two cut-off points that will be notified to all runners a few weeks before the race and located at El Puerto del Boyar and Villaluenga del Rosario.