Roberto Bou shatters the record of the Gigante de Piedra and claims a victory filled with emotion

The Gigante de Piedra once again demonstrated why it is considered one of the toughest MTB ultramarathon events in Europe. Nearly 300 cyclists set off from L'Alcora (Castellón) to face a colossal route of 200 kilometers and around 6,500 meters of total ascent, a challenge that year after year pushes even the most experienced specialists of the discipline to their limits.

Roberto Bou wins with a record at the Gigante de Piedra 2026

In this extreme setting, the figure of Roberto Bou emerged, delivering a memorable performance to claim victory and set a new record for the event with a time of 9 hours, 14 minutes, and 14 seconds.

The cyclist from Teruel faced the queen distance of the Gigante de Piedra for the first time and could not have had a brighter debut. After overcoming the initial stages of the race, he launched a decisive attack on the first pass through Coronetes that allowed him to open a gap with his pursuers. From that moment on, he completed an impressive solo ride of more than 150 kilometers until reaching the finish line in L'Alcora.

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“It was a race I had marked on my calendar for a long time. Facing a distance of this caliber, which takes me completely out of my comfort zone, and achieving not only to finish it but to break the record of the event is a dream come true,” comments the athlete.

Bou's exhibition was also reflected in the final differences. Pau Marzà took second place with a time of 10h03:33, while Llibert Mill, one of the great names in the history of the event and a four-time winner, completed the podium after stopping the clock at 10h15:31.

Beyond the sporting result, the victory had a very special meaning for Bou. Part of the route passed through Puerto Mingalvo, the town linked to his grandfather's family, a place where the runner wanted to pay tribute for a long time.

“Achieving victory here, passing through the place that meant so much to my grandfather, gives this trophy an incalculable value. It is a promise fulfilled,” he adds.

The Gigante de Piedra thus celebrated one of the fastest and most spectacular editions in its fourteen years of history. An event that maintains its reputation as an extreme challenge thanks to a route filled with endless ascents, technical trails, and demanding ramps that, on this occasion, once again made a great selection among the participants.

With hardly any time to savor the success, Bou is already looking towards his next big goal. Next weekend he will compete in the Dolomites Marathon World Cup, one of the most important events on the international calendar.

“Now it’s time to prioritize recovery. It was an agonizing race, with final ramps that tested the limits of all participants, but I am already focused on arriving as fresh as possible in Italy,” he concludes.