This Sunday, the Catalan capital kicks off one of the most emblematic sporting events: the Zurich Marató de Barcelona. The 45th edition of the race is organized by a Promoting Committee made up of the Barcelona City Council, the Barcelona Marathon Platform, and the Catalan Federation of Athletics and Tourism of Barcelona. This marathon promises emotions and adrenaline at every step.
The 20,000 bibs available were sold out, marking a milestone in the recent history of the Barcelona marathon, and being the third best participation figure and the highest in the last decade. This overwhelming demand almost equals the attendance record set in 2016, when 20,385 bibs were reached.
The race starts at 8:30 in the morning and will take place on Paseo de Gracia, between Gran Vía and Plaza Catalunya. In this edition, the race presents a completely renovated route, due to the works in Plaza España and María Cristina Avenue, designed to be faster and more central than ever. With an official distance of 42.195 km and certified by the Catalan Athletics Federation, the circuit will take runners through more than fifteen emblematic places in Barcelona.
From the exit in Passeig de Gracia to the finish at the Arc de Triomf, passing by the Monumental, Casa Batlló, the Bac de Roda bridge, Sagrada Familia, Ninot market, Barcelona University, Sant Antoni market, Plaça Catalunya, Columbus monument, Estación de Francia, Ciudadella park, Hotel Arts or Fòrum park.
However, the celebration of this sporting event entails significant road disruptions in the city center. Traffic closures and car detours will be noticeable from 8:30 a.m. to approximately 3:00 p.m. Therefore, citizens are recommended to avoid traveling by car and opt for public transport, especially the metro, since surface transport will be seriously affected.
The central streets, such as Passeig de Gràcia, Gran Vía, Aragó and Diagonal, will be monopolized by corridors, which will imply significant changes to bus routes and the impossibility of crossing the city horizontally. Likewise, some of the main roads will be closed, such as Maria Cristina Avenue and Diagonal Maritime.
The finish line will be located on the Lluís Companys promenade, just behind the Arc de Triomf, a symbolic place that represents the culmination of an effort and the victory of the participants. Despite the impact on mobility, the Barcelona Zurich Marathon promises to be an exciting day, full of sport, improvement and camaraderie.
The race can be followed on TV3, on the Zurich Marató Barcelona application and on the race’s official website. Through these channels, spectators will be able to follow the starting order of the runners, as well as their times passing through the different checkpoints.
