Olympus Race Andorra Hosts Spain's First Overseas OCR Championships

The Olympus Race Andorra, a homegrown obstacle course event created by Jürgen Espejo, Guillem López-Cross, and circuit designer Edu Salerno, will host Spain's national OCR championships for the first time from May 1 to 3 at El Tarter in Canillo parish.

Launched in 2020 amid the pandemic with 220 entrants, the race has grown steadily: 350 participants in 2021, 500 in 2022, over 600 in 2023, and more than 700 in both 2024 and last year. Organizers expect 1,500 competitors this edition, drawn from Spain, France, Portugal, the Netherlands, and Italy, alongside 4,000 spectators, 3,000 visitors, and 150 volunteers.

This marks the first time the Spanish OCR championships leave the country, featuring new categories alongside established ones. Debuting are the 3K Sprint—a high-intensity 3-kilometer course with 15 obstacles—and the 3K Teams, also 3 kilometers with 15 obstacles emphasizing group strategy. Returning events include the Family Kids race, the OCR-100 with 100 meters and 12 obstacles designed for skill-building, the 8K Classic with 25 obstacles, and the flagship 15K Standard. The latter covers more than 40 obstacles and 750 meters of elevation gain, where Spain's 2026 national champions will be crowned.

Unlike the high-profile Spartan Race held annually in Encamp, Olympus Race focuses on steady growth and features the highest number of federated athletes in its circuit. Challenges will include tire and sandbag carries, rope climbs, walls, and technical suspended obstacles requiring balance without ground contact.

The event will stream live on YouTube, with organizers projecting over €750,000 in economic benefits for Canillo parish and Andorra. They view this as a stepping stone toward hosting a European championship in the coming years.