1. Race
The Vertical Montserrat is an inclusive and charity stair race, organized by Obra Social de Sant Joan de Déu and Bombers de la Generalitat de Catalunya with the support of Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya, the Abbey of Montserrat and the Patronat de la Muntanya de Montserrat, which will be held on Saturday, May 16th, 2026.
VERTICAL MONTSERRAT route
Participants must climb the 2,180 steps of the service stairs of the Montserrat funiculars, from the lower station of the Santa Cova funicular to the upper station of the Sant Joan funicular, with a direct connecting section between the two funiculars. The route is 900 meters long with a 388-meter elevation gain.
The runners will start individually, following the order established by the organizers. The first runner will depart from the lower station of the Santa Cova funicular at 8:45 a.m.
2. Participants
All athletes over 8 years of age may participate, distributed as follows:
- 20 OPEN participants. Athletes over 15 years old.
- 20 FIREFIGHTERS participants. Professional or volunteer firefighters equipped with intervention gear. The gear consists of: intervention jacket and trousers, boots, gloves, F1 helmet, and self-contained breathing device without a mask.
- 50 WE ARE A TEAM participants. Aimed at companies, educational centers, sports clubs, firefighters, and other organizations participating with a maximum of four runners and a minimum fundraising goal of €500. Athletes must be over 15 years old. Athletes aged 10 to 14 may participate if there are at least two adults on the team.
- 10 INCLUSIVE participants.
People with physical or intellectual visual disabilities. Accredited with a disability card with a degree higher than 33%.
- Visual: Categories B1 and B2, according to the IBSA (International Blind Sports Federation) classification system.
- Physics: According to FEDDF regulations.
- Intellectual: According to FEDDI regulations.
- 20 CHILDREN’s category participants Athletes aged 8 to 14 (as of the day of the race) accompanied by an athlete over 18 years of age. This category only covers the Santa Cova funicular route, which has 711 steps.
The organization reserves 20 places for sponsors and advertising commitments and reserves the right to expand, reduce or modify the distribution of places for safety reasons or for other reasons that may affect the smooth running of the event.
Minors must present an authorization signed by their parents or legal guardians.
3. Registrations
Registration for the WE ARE A TEAM category opens on November 14, 2025.
Registration for the OPEN, FIREFIGHTERS, INCLUSIVE and CHILDREN’S categories will open on the websitewww.verticalmontserrat.org from 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday 18th March 2026 until all places in each category are filled or until 15 days before the race.
The registration fee for the OPEN and FIREFIGHTERS categories is 65 euros, the INCLUSIVE category is voluntary with a minimum of 1 euro, the WE ARE A TEAM category has a minimum contribution of 500 euros and the CHILDREN’S category is 45 euros.
Once registered, if the runner cannot participate for any reason, the registration fee will not be refunded.
Registration entitles you to:
- participate in Vertical Montserrat 2026.
- Personalized race number (bib), chip and ranking
- A return ticket on the rack railway (cremallera) from Monistrol to Montserrat.
- Participants’ civil liability insurance
- Liquid refreshments at the halfway point of the race
- Refreshments at the end of the route.
- Runner’s bag.
- Certificate of participation.
The Vertical Montserrat is a qualifying race for the Vertical Race Circuit (CCV) 2026.
4. Bib number and timing
The chip is integrated into the race bib and does not need to be returned after the race. It must be attached as specified in the instructions and must be visible throughout the entire course. It cannot be broken, modified, or erased. Each runner is responsible for the proper functioning of their chip.
The race number entitles you to the final refreshment station.
Timing points will be at the start and finish of the race.
The latest time to finish the race is 11:40 a.m.
5. Wardrobe
Participants can leave their belongings from 7:30 a.m. and can collect them until 12:30 p.m. on the same day as the race.
The wardrobe / cloakroom is located in Plaza Santa Maria, at the point where the race numbers are handed out.
Only the runner with the race number accreditation will be able to collect their belongings.
The firefighters category can leave their clothes in Plaça Santa Maria and pick them up at the finish of the race, in Sant Joan.
6. Healthcare and safety
Emergency teams will be stationed along the entire route. An ambulance will be present at the liaison section (Plaça del Monestir) and a rapid intervention vehicle at the finish line. Medical personnel may remove any runner they deem unfit to start or continue the race. Emergency teams have the authority to evacuate injured individuals in the manner they consider most appropriate. Any runner receiving medical attention submits to their authority and accepts their decisions.
7. Abandonament
Any participant who wants to drop out of the race must inform the emergency teams along the route or the organization and follow their instructions to leave their current location.
8. Environment
The race takes place within the Montserrat Mountain Natural Park. All runners are required to respect the environment, not to litter or damage the flora or fauna.
To prevent objects from falling during the race, the organization prohibits the use of phones, cameras, walking sticks, backpacks and any object or accessory that is not essential to be able to run the race, unless authorized by the organization.
9. Sanctions and complaints
The runner who is ahead must move to the left, where there is a railing, and must let the runner coming from behind, who will overtake him on the right.
The race jury may disqualify and prohibit a runner from participating in future editions of the Vertical Montserrat for any of the infractions detailed below:
- Improper use of the bib number or running without a bib number.
- Improper use of the chip.
- Not assisting a participant with difficulties.
- Use of cameras/video equipment, phones, backpacks or walking sticks during the race is prohibited unless authorized by the organizers.
- Not having a sporting attitude.
- Throwing any kind of trash in unauthorized places.
- Do not follow the marked route.
- Not following the instructions of the organization’s staff.
- The display of brands or sponsors outside the area designated for the race.
- Disrespect for real estate along the route
Any runner who disregards the rules of these regulations during the race will be immediately disqualified without any possibility of appeal.
Complaints must be submitted in writing to the jury within 20 minutes of the publication of the provisional results.
The jury has the authority to act in cases of non-compliance with these regulations and in any conflicts that may arise during the event. Its decisions will be final.
The jury is composed of:
- Organization
- Sporting Director
- Security Officer
- Head of medical and health services
10. Modifications or cancellation of the race
The organization reserves the right to modify any section of these regulations without prior notice.
Health measures to reduce COVID-19 infections that are in effect on the date of the race will be applied.
In case of very unfavorable weather conditions and for safety reasons, the organization may suspend, stop or postpone the race.
In the event of cancellation of the event for reasons external to the organization, the organization reserves the right to take the measures it deems appropriate.
11. Categories and Awards
Trophy for the first three in each category.
- Open category for men, women and non-binary.
- Firefighter category for men, women and non-binary .
- We Are a Team Category.
- Inclusive category: visual, intellectual and physical, men, women and non-binary.
Participants in the “We Are a Team” category also participate in the Open category and are eligible to receive the prize for both categories. For the “We Are a Team” category ranking, the two best times from each team will be considered.
All participants in the Children’s category will receive a medal.
The awards ceremony will take place at 12:30 noon in the Plaça Santa Maria de Montserrat.
12. Responsibility
All runners participating in the Vertical Montserrat declare that they have undergone a medical examination and that they do not suffer from any illness that prevents them from taking part in the race.
Any runner who has a medical problem that requires special attention must state this on the back of the bib number and in the comments section when formalizing the registration.
The runner is solely responsible in case of accident or negligence, as well as for their belongings.
The organization declines all responsibility for any damages that participants may cause to themselves or to third parties.
All participants are aware that this is a charitable and non‑political race. It is an event focused exclusively on its charitable and sporting purpose, and the promotion of propaganda, slogans or symbols of political parties, candidates or ideologies that go against the values promoted by Sant Joan de Déu is prohibited. The organization reserves the right to take the appropriate measures if this purpose is not respected, without any right to claim compensation from the registered participants.
13. Image rights
By accepting these regulations, each participant accepts and authorizes the Vertical Montserrat organization, and whoever it authorizes, to take photographs and record their participation in the race in whole or in part, gives their consent for the images to be used for the dissemination and promotion of the race, and assigns all rights of commercial and advertising exploitation without the right to receive any kind of compensation.
He also agrees that his/her/it name, race number and race time may be published in places designated by the organization, such as websites and social media.
14. Protection of personal data
The data provided by runners to the organization is subject to Organic Law 15/1999, of December 13, on the Protection of Personal Data (LOPD). In accordance with this legislation, interested parties may exercise their rights of access, rectification, and partial or total cancellation of their personal data by sending an email to verticalmontserrat@gencat.cat .
15. Consent and acceptance of the regulations
All participants, by the mere fact of registering for the Vertical Montserrat, confirm that they have read, understand and accept these regulations and that they are physically prepared to perform a test of the characteristics of the Vertical Montserrat race.