Cristofer Clemente Tackles Grueling 116km TransLantau Race in Hong Kong

Cristofer Clemente Mora is once again competing outside of Europe. The runner from San Sebastián de La Gomera, a well-known figure in Canary Islands sports and Spanish trail running, is heading to Hong Kong this Friday for the TransLantau by UTMB. This is one of the toughest races on the Asian circuit. He was in Hong Kong before, in 2019, but ran a shorter race then. This time, the challenge is much bigger: 116 kilometers with a total elevation gain of 5,700 meters, and very high humidity.

Clemente is nearing the end of his season and has mixed feelings. He says his body is holding up, but he's feeling the strain of a "quite long" year. "Training has gone well, but you can tell it's the end of the season," he explained. "Some days, my body just wants a break," he added. He's excited about the race but is also looking forward to a well-deserved rest after Asia. "I'm keen to run the race and then take a month off to recover properly."

The TransLantau, part of the respected UTMB World Series, takes place on Lantau Island in southern China. "It's a very technical course, with lots of stairs, steep climbs, and descents," said Clemente. He expects a very competitive field. "More and more runners from Asia are reaching a very high level," he noted. "When they come to Europe, they often finish at the top. We'll be up against top runners, and I'll be aiming for a top five finish," he stated.

Before arriving in Asia, Clemente competed in Central America and then in a long-distance race in Switzerland, where he qualified for this Friday's event with a fourth-place finish. He's also dealing with a recurring issue in his left Achilles tendon, which has bothered him for much of the season and causes him "a lot of trouble" on some days. "I hope it holds up for the 15 or 16 hours the race will take. After that, I'll take a break to try and sort it out," he explained.

At 40, Clemente remains a top international trail runner. "I'm one of the older guys out there," he said with a laugh. His sponsor, Hoka, has extended his contract for another two years, which he sees as recognition of his career. "I enjoy challenges, and this is definitely one of them," he assured.

Clemente Mora has also started a new venture as a coach on his home island. A few weeks ago, he opened a school in San Sebastián de La Gomera for children aged five and up, focusing on athletics and trail running. "The response has been great. We have about 40 children signed up," he said. "The idea was to offer something different, for the kids to have fun and get fitter. It's a project I'm really excited about," he added. The school trains three times a week, and Clemente is directly involved. "Seeing them enjoy themselves motivates me. I like to see them improve and get into sports. It's a project I want to continue and grow. Hopefully, we'll get the support to keep it going," he said.