HYROX Bilbao

Bilbao is one of the favorite events for many HYROX competitors in Spain.

The BEC (Bilbao Exhibition Center) is the most beautiful and functional fairground.

Perhaps it is a very particular opinion, personally I would add that this edition of the event's design has been spectacular.

Super wide race course, judges signaling slower athletes to leave the fast lane, wide turns instead of “cornering”, well structured workouts in order, access stairs to roxzone (as in Madrid) or foodstruck area and tents next to the roxzone make a super enjoyable test.

The staircase that saves the race course is the best advance for the enjoyment of the race for both spectators and competitors. It saves both of us many minutes of waiting.

Curved corner of the race course with catering tables (A joy for the spectator).

Wide race course (photo taken during mixed doubles).

Throughout the whole day I was there (Saturday) and during my competition, I did not see any organizational problems (there always are in such a massive event).

Maybe it was because I participated in Pro, although the afternoon before I had the same impression, I saw more judges, and more motivated to correct, than ever.

For all these reasons, for me the grade is outstanding. 

7500 competitors finished the race. Unlike the rest of the Iberian events, instead of having a British majority, the French were the most represented country in addition to the Spaniards, who were obviously the majority.

As an example of the 1500 participants in the men's open, almost 1000 were Spanish, 200 French and 120 British, 50 Irish and 30 Italians.

Pro individual female

Elite 15 competitor (10th in Melbourne and 12th in Phoenix ) Melanie Maurer, He won dominating from the first meter. 1h:01:03 is the best time ever made in Spain (I write from memory). .

She was seconded by Sweden's (aspiring elite15) Charlotte Halgund (01:02:17) and already far away the British Shaunie Gibson (01:07:12).

The following positions were all Spanish.

Noelia Gonzalez reunited with the Noe of last season.

Silvia Garcia made his best mark as well as Alba Lopez (with a Spanish record of 40/44).

Nerea Costa in her first pro race (and second overall) she did a great time for a debut. I talked to her on the podium and she told me that she wasn't sure about training full out in the future. Maybe she will, as I think she was a bit blocked, seeing that a random guy approached her to ask about her sporting future.

All of them did 1h08. A year and a half ago that time was a Spanish record (Manuela 1h07:59) and in a short time it is already quite common.

Indisputably in the medium level it has risen to the same Tier than the number of registrants.

Individual PRO Male

A priori we were going to enjoy a race with more equality than the women. There were two British riders with experience in elite 15 that were going to face the Spanish armada that had the last minute absence of Aitor Lizarazu who passed the doubles.

Harry Thomson He came out strong and did a mind-blowing Sled Push, gaining a big advantage over all his rivals. For example, he put 45 seconds on Pablo Sanchez and 55 to Pedro Toral.

The second English, Graham Holliday was more relaxed at the back. The race from that point on was a chase by Pablo (cutting back on the run) and a run by Harry, which did not finish successfully, due to the Englishman's higher level in the workouts.

Behind them, they fought alongside Holliday, Pedro Total and Yeray Toquero. Robert Viciedo came out calmer.

Finally Thomson squeezed in the Lunges and Wall Balls making a spectacular mark of 54:55 which is the second best in history made in Spanish events., after Hunter's old world record (Barcelona 2023).

Holliday was followed by Pablo, who commented on Instagram that he has been injured, and that he hopes to improve in the next competition.

Fourth Pedro, who consolidates his position as the most regular in the Spanish season. Rober reached the finish line shortly after.

Yeray was very bad in the wall balls (more than 9 minutes) and fell in the classification. Samuel Pimentel from the Canary Islands went under the hour again and did a great race, Matias Dumpierrez (one hour, improving his record by 5 minutes) and Bernat Anglada 1h01 in his debut in any HYROX category.

PRO Double Tests

In the men's category the Local couple (exactly from Hernani) Aitor Lizarazu and Igor Arruti, They finished second with a good record (they did not beat Rober/Luis and Rober/Pedro). As they won a week ago in Turin they have, in the points classification for next season's Majors, a great position to participate. The three best positions will be taken into account.

He was beaten by Frenchmen (Dufour/Lecorgne) with a U50 that will probably take them to the Warsaw Major.

In the girls' race, the Finns won Stenfors (elite 15) and Petra Arvela (Petra is considered half-Spanish).

In the mixed category, the Spanish record was set by the brothers David and Irene Olivan with 54:11. Noe Perez and Toní Marí Vargas were close behind with 54:38.

Finally, I think it is important to point out the return of Emilio Martin after his illness he did no less than 1h02 in open. I estimate that he will now be at his 30% so once again he proves that he is a superclass.

Map HYROX Bilbao 2026

Where is HYROX Bilbao held?

The location of the event was at the Bilbao Exhibition center which is an ideal place to organize a HYROX. The best event location in Spain in my opinion.

Preview 2026

Spanish favorites in the men's category (in order of favoritism)

1. Aitor Lizarazu
2. Pablo Sanchez
3. Roberto Viciedo
4. Pedro Toral
5. Igor Arruti
6. Jon Iriondo
7. Ruben Patiño
8. Samuel Pimentel
9. Yeray Toquero
10. Pepe Salama
11. Erlaiz Cano

International rivals to follow (top level)

• Graham Holliday: very strong overall results in recent years (5th in the world in 2023, 7th in 2024 and 10th in 2025).
• Martin Enthoven: with experience competing in a Major (Melbourne), which usually translates into good pace management and transitions under pressure.
• Quentin Garel: arrives with a very recent warning: 58 minutes and 2nd in Turin just 6 days ago (if he repeats that level, he can condition the race from the start).

Women's category: favorites and outstanding Spaniards

Big favorite (if participating)

• Melanie Maurer (Switzerland): considered the great reference if she finally takes the start; she usually competes in all Majors.

Another candidate to be at the top

• Charlotte Haglung (Sweden): with a time of 1h02 as reference.

Spanish women to follow

(In principle, according to these references, they would be one step behind the previous two, but watch out for the “home race” factor and how the day goes).

• Noelia Gonzalez
• Jennifer Marin
• Silvia Garcia Lorenzo
• Melania Timon
• Maria Garcia Ponce

Problems with volunteers in 2025

The grade of the event at a structural level is at least a B+. Fast check in, roxzone, crossing point and warm up area controlled but there were problems.

The lack of volunteers meant that many workouts were poorly monitored.

Many competitors (in the sled pull and the burpees broad jump mainly) did not respect the standards of movement without any type of control.

The truth is that the athlete is responsible for complying with the rules but cheaters or inexperienced people had moments where they were at ease. 

The main problem was the lack of volunteers, which meant that during several moments the competitors could not make walls balls waiting for a judge to arrive. 

What I am going to tell you below I did not see it live so I cannot say for sure, but several people have confirmed it to me.

The organization was asking competitors who had finished to act as judges to count wall ball reps. During Sunday there were judges who counted two participants at the same time. The athletes who had to wait theoretically had their waiting time deducted.

This is a serious problem that I am sure HYROX will resolve in the future as it usually does when there have been circumstances that could be improved. Several people who have volunteered at past events tell me that as time goes on it is less motivating to volunteer. They receive less and less (I am unaware of this) and are required to stay longer to get discounts for future HYROX.

Be that as it may, my grade for the event is a B+.

HYROX Spain has reached a brutal level of organization. (people who have competed abroad know this).

This was only the second event of the season. Valencia, Malaga and Barcelona remain in the coming weeks. We will keep you informed.