Dimitar Atanasov and Elena Borisova won the 150-kilometer course of the Tryavna Ultra mountain ultramarathon, which took place last weekend in the heart of the Balkan Mountains.
In the ninth edition of the race, starting in Tryavna and passing through the iconic Bozhentsi, Shipka, and Buzludzha, 1100 competitors from 34 countries participated.
This year, in addition to the distance and mountain climbs, participants had to contend with extreme temperatures.
On the shortest 21-kilometer course, Ivelina Madzharova won in the women’s category with a time of 1:47:49. Maria Ilieva finished second, and Valeria Dimitrova took the bronze.
In the men’s category, there was a fierce battle for first place. Ultimately, it was won by Teodor Markov with a time of 1:36:52. One minute behind him finished the Dutch competitor Indigo Tian. Third place went to Daniel Dimitrov.
On the marathon distance of 42 kilometers, Radostina Balova won the women’s category with an unassailable time of 4:24:48. The battle for second place was quite contested. With a strong finish in the final kilometers, Teodora Delcheva managed to surpass two of her competitors and finished second. The third position went to Bela Duleva.
In the men’s race, two foreigners made it to the podium. The gold medal was won by Botond Kristali from Romania with a time of 3:47:30, the second place with less than 3 minutes behind went to Oliver More from Canada, and Daniel Tonchev took the third position.
In the 80-kilometer distance, after several lead changes and a strong finish, Zdravka Hinova finished first with a time of 13:42:23. Silvia Dimitrova took second place with a 15-minute lag, and Maya Malkanova secured third position.
In the men’s category, the gold was won by Kaloyan Angelov, who was sixth at the first checkpoint but took the lead in the middle of the race and ultimately finished first with a time of 9:10:33. The battle for second place between Plamen Marinov and Nikolay Nachev was quite contested. In the end, Marinov won the silver, and Nachev finished third two minutes later.
On the 100-kilometer course, which climbs the ridge of the Balkan and passes through Shipka and Buzludzha, emotions ran high. In the women’s category, the first place with a significant lead was won by Mihaela Hristova with a time of 13:41:47. Milena Dobreva finished second with a time of 15:03:05. There was a serious battle for the third position, ultimately won by Donka Dencheva-Dicheva.
In the men’s category, Atanas Paraskevov and the record holder for the fastest winter crossing of Kom-Emine, Daniel Ivanov, chased each other throughout the race. In the end, Atanas Paraskevov finished first with a time of 11:19:18, and Ivanov took second place. Third place went to Tsvetin Georgiev.
In the longest 150-kilometer distance, participants had to overcome not only the long mileage but also a total elevation gain of 6300 meters, crossing the Balkan ridge twice and passing through the iconic Shipka and Buzludzha.
In the women’s category, only three competitors finished. Last year’s 100km champion Elena Borisova gave an outstanding performance. This year, Borisova deservedly won the trophy in the longest distance with a time of 27:06:20. The second position went to Gabriela Beleva, and third place to Elka Todorova.
In the men’s category, firefighter by profession Dimitar Atanasov gave a perfect performance and won the gold with a time of 20:35:12. Stefan Lazarov won the second position, and the third place went to Krasimir Dimitrov.
153K
Women:
- Elena BORISOVA (BUL) – 27:06:4
- Gabriela BALIEVA (BUL) – 35:28:20
- Elka TODOROVA (BUL) – 35:45:1
Men:
- Atanasov DIMITAR (BUL) – 20:35:122.
- Stefan LAZAROV (BUL) – 21:19:10
- Krasimir DIMITROV (BUL) – 23:08:34
100K
Women:
- Mihaela HRISTOVA (BUL) – 13:41:4
- Milena DOBREVA (FRA) – 15:03:05
- Donka DENCHEVA – DICHEVA (BUL) – 17:08:05
Men:
- Atanas PARASHKEVOV (BUL) – 11:19:18
- Daniel IVANOV (BUL) – 11:30:49
- Tsvetin GEORGIEV (BUL) – 12:27:56
80K
Women:
- Zdravka HINOVA (BUL) – 13:42:23
- Sylvia DIMITROVA (BUL) – 13:58:01
- Maya MALKANOVA (BUL) – 14:45:15
Men:
- Kaloyan ANGELOV (BUL) – 09:10:33
- Plamen MARINOV (BUL) – 09:31:53
- Nikolay NACHEV (BUL) – 09:33:19
42K
Women:
- Radostina BALOVA (BUL) – 04:25:48
- Teodora DELCHEVA (BUL) – 04:53:05
- Bela DULEVA (BUL) – 04:57:00
Men:
- Botond KRISTÁLY (ROU) – 03:47:30
- Olivier MOREAU (CAN) – 03:50:08
- Daniel TONCHEV (BUL) – 04:21:36
21K
Women:
- Ivelina MADZHAROVA (BUL) – 01:47:49
- Maria ILIEVA (BUL) – 01:53:38
- Valeriya DIMITROVA (BUL) – 01:55:32
Men:
- Teodor MARKOV (BUL) –01:36:52
- Tjan INDIGO (NED) – 01:37:54
- Daniel DIMITROV (BUL) –01:40:43