Kenyan Pkemoi and New Zealander Fielder Win Flagship Races at 43rd OTSO Travessa d'Encamp

Kenyan Robert Pkemoi won the flagship 21km race at the 43rd OTSO Travessa d'Encamp on Sunday, finishing in 1:52:24 ahead of France's Louis Doumas—who took Friday's vertical kilometre—and Spain's Abel Carretero. New Zealand's Caitlin Fielder claimed the women's 21km title in 2:22:11, with Spain's Rosa Maria Nieto and Andorran Georgina Gabarró second and third.

The Pyrenees' oldest mountain race wrapped up after three days from May 22 to 24, drawing nearly 1,400 runners from 39 countries. In the 12km, Spain's Santi Hoyos led the men, while Andorran Ariadna Cerezo won the women's category. Andorran Kim Ambor topped the men's 7km, with Spain's Laia Rodríguez first among women.

The podium ceremony and prize draw took place midday at Plaça dels Arínsols, with Encamp officials including Cònsol Major Laura Mas and Cònsol Menor Xavier Fernàndez, Andorra Turisme's Enric Torres, and OTSO Sport director Jordi Solé in attendance.

The event kicked off Friday with the vertical kilometre, a 4km World Cup race gaining over 1,000m from Plaça dels Arínsols to Cap de Rep and attracting about 50 entrants. Doumas won the men's race in 47:34, followed by Andorran FAM runner Arnau Soldevila in 48:17—43 seconds back—and Colombia's Esteban Chaves, a former pro cyclist living in Andorra, in 48:21. Spain's Abel Carretero and Northern Ireland's Zak Hanna rounded out the top five. Serbia's Sladjana Zagorac dominated the women's event in 57:35, ahead of Spain's María Benito, Belgium's Charlotte Cotton in 1:00:24, Spain's Aitana Domènech and Reyes Moreno, and Andorran Noemí Fajardo in 10th.

Saturday brought the marathon and debut 84km race, both FEDME Spanish Cup events. Local runner Samuel Ponce secured his third straight marathon victory over 42km in 4:15:15, crossing to cheers before receiving his medal from Cònsol Major Laura Mas. He described home racing as always enjoyable amid growing competition. ASICS Trail's Valentin Benard finished second in 4:41:15, with ASICS Team's Genís Porqueras Simó third in 4:43:10. OTSO Sport's Rianna Nelson led the women's marathon in 5:47:08, followed by OTSO Team's Anna Fernandez in 5:49:10 and JAB Berga's Alisa Prokhorova in 5:54:53. The 265-runner marathon routed through Vall dels Cortals and Beixalís, with partial changes due to high-altitude snow.

In the 84km, EXCTA Oliana's Marc Bernades Olle prevailed in 8:05:49, ahead of Pere Aurell in 8:52:20 and Aitor Pulgarin in 9:00:20. De Naturaleza Salvaje's Sandra Cuello Capistrós won the women's race in 10:43:49, with Team Scarpa-Nedao's Sílvia Puigarnau Coma second in 10:48:00 and Míriam Llop Bielsa third in 11:24:25. Fernàndez noted runners arriving exhausted yet thrilled by the courses, reinforcing commitment to future editions. A non-competitive children's race also featured.

Solé highlighted strong feedback on route markings, volunteers, and aid stations, with over 300 in the 21km and top nationalities Spain, France, and Andorra. Snow prompted minor shortenings, especially on the 21km and 84km paths. Fernàndez called the event a success for Encamp's spring economy, filling restaurants, hotels, and shops to extend tourism beyond peak seasons. Planning for the 44th edition has begun.

Proceeds from the Memorial Jaume Bou—€1 per entry—support childhood cancer research at SJD Pediatric Cancer Center Barcelona in Hospital Sant Joan de Déu.