This Saturday at 8:30 a.m., the VIII Vertical Montserrat took place, the most demanding vertical race in Spain. More than 460 participants climbed the 2,180 steps and 388 meters of elevation gain separating the lower station of the Funicular de la Santa Cova from the upper station of the Funicular de Sant Joan of Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya (FGC). This is the edition with the highest number of participants in the race’s history.
The main highlight of this edition was the ‘Som Un Equip’ category, the most solidarity-driven category of the race. A total of 76 teams, each made up of up to four athletes — representing companies, organizations, sports clubs, educational centers, and individual initiatives — reached or exceeded the challenge of raising €500 before competing. This figure triples last year’s total and reflects growing commitment to the cause: vulnerable children supported at Sant Joan de Déu centers.
For the first time, the race included ‘Som Un Equip’ teams made up of firefighters, reinforcing the event’s founding connection with this group. The strong presence of Off Diabetes also stood out, with seven teams mobilized from Catalunya, Jaén, and Madrid, along with the pioneering participation of two teams made up of educators and young migrants supported by Sant Joan de Déu Serveis Socials as part of a socio-labor inclusion program.
Former Catalan footballer and FC Barcelona football area coordinator Bojan Krkić served as ambassador of the event, which also saw the participation of the Minister of Interior and Public Security of the Generalitat de Catalunya, Núria Parlon Gil, as one of the athletes who completed the 2,180 steps.
Among the attending authorities wereAlícia Valle Cantalejo, Director General of Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya; David Borrell Anglada, head of the Cos de Bombers de la Generalitat de Catalunya; Father Bernat Juliol Galí, steward-administrator of the Abadia de Montserrat; Juanjo Ortega, director of the Obra Social Sant Joan de Déu; Xavier Aparicio, manager of the Patronat de la Muntanya de Montserrat; and Núria Carreras, mayor of Monistrol de Montserrat, among others.
Vertical Montserrat results by category
Open Category
In the most competitive category, the 75 ‘Open’ athletes delivered outstanding performances with very close times. Josep Andreu Cortada won the men’s race in 11:24 minutes, breaking the course record previously held by Joan Freixa since 2018. In the women’s race, Rosa Maria Nieto took first place with a time of 15:08 minutes. The race is part of the Circuito Nacional de Carreras Verticales (CCV) and featured international participants, including two athletes from Brazil and Àngel López Amor, Spain’s 2023 vertical racing champion. A special moment was the participation of Pere Marsé Vidal, who ran together with his 10-year-old son in the ‘Som Un Equip’ category representing Off Diabetes and celebrated his 100th vertical race worldwide.
Firefighters Category
Vertical Montserrat continues to be a benchmark event for firefighters. A total of 80 members from eight different corps — Generalitat de Catalunya, Bombers de Barcelona, Bomberos del Ayuntamiento de Madrid, Comunidad de Madrid, Diputación de Zaragoza, Ayuntamiento de Sevilla, Consorcio Provincial de Bomberos de Toledo, and two firefighters from France (Pompièrs de Meusnes-Couffy) — climbed the 2,180 steps wearing full intervention gear weighing around 23 kg.
The best time was achieved by Ferran Alboquers Aliberch of Bombers de la Generalitat (Parc de Maçanet de la Selva) with 18:16 minutes. In the women’s category, Natàlia Prat Vives of Bombers de la Generalitat (Parc de Granollers), representing the company Fusté Carreras, won with 24:34 minutes, narrowly missing the 2024 record (24:32) held by Mireia Quirós of Bombers de la Generalitat, who finished second. This marks the fifth consecutive edition with female firefighter participation, totaling 11 participants.
Inclusive Category
With seven athletes, the race reaffirmed its commitment to inclusion through sport. The best times were recorded by Edgar Toapanta (18:05, visually impaired men), Juanjo Ruiz (19:29, physical disability men), Noelia Béjar (19:41, physical disability women), Guillem Feliu Saperas (23:42, intellectual disability), and athlete and social activist Maria Petit (22:46, visually impaired women).
Two visually impaired participants competed accompanied by sighted guides, connected by a directional bar.
Children Category
For the third consecutive year, the Children category sold out all available places. Twenty-one boys and girls aged between 8 and 14, accompanied by an adult, climbed the 711 steps of the Santa Cova funicular, the lower section of the course. The winners were Alejandro Tejeda (4:46) and Aina Herruzo (5:37).
Best times in the ‘We Are a Team’ category
EIn this eighth edition, the number of participating teams increased, with many returning from previous years.
The best time in this SUE category was achieved by the Patronat de la Muntanya de Montserrat team with 24:45 minutes, also winning the institutions and Montserrat environment subcategory. In SUE Firefighters, Fusté Carreras won with 54:07 minutes. In the initiatives and causes category, Off Diabetes won with 31:32 minutes; in sports associations and educational centers, Club Excursionista Esparreguera with 29:02 minutes; in sponsors, Inaccés with 33:28 minutes; and in companies, Doga – Trail Run with 34:52 minutes.
All times and rankings can be viewed on the SportManiacs website and on verticalmontserrat.org.
A race with social impact
Created in 2017 by Bombers de la Generalitat de Catalunya and jointly organized with the Obra Social Sant Joan de Déu, Vertical Montserrat is part of the Bombers amb Causa project. Since its inception, the initiative has raised over one million euros, funded seven research grants in childhood diseases, and supported more than 50 social projects related to children at risk.
Throughout these eight editions, the race has aimed to raise funds for pediatric research and social programs supporting children at risk of exclusion at Sant Joan de Déu centers, while also promoting inclusion for people with disabilities.
The event is supported by Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya, the Abadia de Montserrat, and the Patronat de la Muntanya de Montserrat, with collaboration from Bombers de Barcelona, Creu Roja de Catalunya, and the Federació d’Entitats Excursionistes de Catalunya. Sponsors include Inaccés, ERSM Broker Insurance, Good Bio, and Airbox.
For the fifth consecutive year, the event was broadcast live via Canal Taronja and La Xarxa+ for local TV stations across Catalunya and streamed online. It could also be watched from the Monestir square, where the awards ceremony took place with a giant screen installed.
Photos from the race by Irene Vilà Capafons, David Fernández, Diana Duarte, and Dani Codina.
Still time to contribute
Anyone wishing to support the cause can do so through the ‘Number One Bib’, which will remain open until the week following the race.