Next Sunday, September 3, the starting shot will be given from Ribes de Freser (Ripollès) and the PSR will end on Saturday, September 9 in Salardú (Val d'Aran). All participants will have the opportunity to run through five of the most iconic natural parks in the Pyrenees, following the classic GR11. It is a route with all kinds of terrain: tracks, paths, paths, forests and some technical and rocky sections in the high mountains, suitable for all lovers of nature and endurance sports who want to experience a shared adventure.

Route changes

This year's edition has several changes on the route that involve a slight modification of the first and third stages and a radical change in the second stage. Unlike last year, the first day will end at the Núria Sanctuary instead of Queralbs. To compensate for the reduction in kilometers of this initial stage, compared to the 2022 edition, once the runners arrive at the Coma de Vaca mountain hut, they will have to go up to Coll del Torreneules. The route wins an ascent through a beautiful, very lonely and wild valley, as well as a spectacular panoramic view.

Stage number two is completely different from previous editions and will be more high-altitude. The start will be from the Núria Sanctuary with the finish line at La Masella, in a stage of 35 km and 1,700 meters of positive elevation gain. The participants will make one of the classic ascents of the Núria Valley, such as Puigmal at almost 3000 meters.

The third stage will leave from Guils de Cerdanya, where the organization will take the participants by bus. A change that involves shortening the old initial 8km of roads and forestry roads and gives more interest and appeal to a 39km stage with 2,200 meters of positive elevation gain finishing in Encamp (Andorra).

Great international participation

The seventh edition of the Pyrenees Stage Run has more than a hundred registered participants, 89% of whom are international. In fact, the presence of runners from 21 different countries is confirmed. The most prominent nationalities are from Germany (21%), Belgium (15%), Spain (11%), the United Kingdom (9%), the Netherlands (9%), Australia (6%) and the United States. (6%). We must also highlight the participation, for the first time in this race, of a Japanese team. Another significant fact is that the PSR will have 36% female participation.

The co-director of BiFree Sports, Jordi Vissi, highlighted that “in this 2023 edition we have finally returned to the number of participants and the sensations we had before the pandemic. In 2019 we sold-out the available numbers and this year we did it again seven months before the start of the event”. In this sense, Vissi has pointed out that this "makes us very optimistic for the future, because we see that the race has the good response it had had before and we once again have a very important international presence", he added.

A unique experience

The PSR is a unique experience to enjoy the immensity of the Pyrenees with a great atmosphere of conviviality. It is a race that combines the passion for trail running and sports tourism, where the experience goes beyond crossing the Pyrenees, since at the end of the stages all the runners will have dinner together with the awards ceremony and they will also be able to remember the stage of the day with the photographs and the video summary of the day.

In addition, a staff made up of 50 people will ensure that the participants have all kinds of services, without having to worry about anything other than running and enjoying the mountains. Among other services, there will be a physiotherapy service or live monitoring of the entire route. Finally, it should be noted that the registration for the race includes the eight nights of accommodation managed by the organization of the event.

About BIFREE

BiFree Sports are Jordi Vissi and Tomàs Llorens. We are dedicated to organizing experiences in stages. We use the concept 'experience' because the stage races go much further than a one-day race, since living with colleagues, organizers and volunteers takes the adventure one step further. All this without stopping exploring our limits and running through nature, which is truly our passion.

In 2016 we started with the Pyrenees Stage Run, which runs through part of the Catalan Pyrenees in seven days; and in 2018 we celebrated the first edition of the CBSR that runs along the Costa Brava from south to north from our town of residence (Blanes) to Colera. Our plans for the future involve continuing to organize sports tourism experiences and expanding the offer, always with the same essence and with both a national and international audience. In fact, this October we will organize the first edition of the Brama Stage Run, a new three-day stage race in this case.