Dear M5000 and SDT runners,
With the conclusion of the event and having had time to evaluate the situation over the weekend, we are able to provide clarification.
Hosting Mallorca by UTMB® was under threat due to the severe weather front DANA (cold drop) which seriously affected the weather on the island. On Thursday, the State Meteorological Agency (Aemet) declared an orange alert, and the G1 situation of the InunBal Flood Plan was activated by the Government of the Balearic Islands. All weather forecasts provided by our meteorologist also confirmed that it was unsafe to be in the mountains on Friday, the 1st of November.
As mountaineers, we must prioritise caution above all else and ensure the safety of runners, supporters following the race in the mountains, and the volunteer and safety teams, who spend many hours on the trails the races take place on. Therefore, the Mallorca by UTMB® organisers, in coordination with the local authorities, made the decision to cancel the M5000, M5000 Relay, and SDT races.
On Friday, rain and storms battered the Serra de Tramuntana, with more than 100 litres per square meter recorded in many places. It became clear that the decision to cancel the M5000 was the correct one.
One will understandably question if there could not be an offer of an alternative route or change the race day. On Friday, there was no alternative route; it wasn't a problem of altitude, there was simply no safe path. It wasn't just about rain—the island's morphology caused significant flash flooding in ravines, with some reaching up to one meter in height. Organising a race over 60 km requires significant logistical work and coordination of many people and teams. It was impossible to shift the logistics to Saturday, and organising two races at the same time wasn't feasible, with the added security required it was simply not possible.
I would also like to explain that, given the location of these races in the Serra de Tramuntana Natural Area, a protected area due to its environmental importance, it was not possible to redirect runners to different distances or modify the route safely without breaching environmental regulations. The Serra de Tramuntana is subject to strict regulations that protect its ecosystem and biodiversity, which limits the possibility of changing established routes. Any modifications would have required additional permits, which, given the weather alert we were under, were neither feasible nor safe for participants or for the natural area.
It was therefore understandably not possible to start the SDT on Friday night.
As the day went on, after reassessing the changing weather conditions, the forecast began to improve, and we were informed that the orange alert would be deactivated at 8:00 AM on Saturday, with a green situation (not even yellow, directly green). With these forecasts, and after some adjustments, it seemed possible to proceed with the SDT. This was when we decided to restructure the 100-mile race.
After a thorough review, we decided to modify both the route and the start time. Thus, the SDT became a 90-kilometer race, and we set the start time for 6:00 AM.
With this change, runners would have the opportunity to face a challenging race, safely.
The teams had to go out in heavy rain and at night to inspect and secure the routes. They worked tirelessly to reorganise everything. However, the moment we realised we could endanger our mountain teams during the night, we made the difficult decision to cancel the SDT. The mountain has its own pace and its own rules. Despite all our efforts and our hope that conditions would improve enough, the weather remained extremely unpredictable, with a new storm front sweeping the island on Friday night. It was impossible to activate a Plan B under these circumstances.
As Race Director, I prioritise above all the safety of our teams and the runners participating in our events. While it pains us all because you have invested time and money, and we have put in two years of hard work, fought until the end, exploring all possible alternatives, but nature showed us that this was not the time to race. Although we understand this decision is frustrating, I am convinced it was the only right one.
And this fight until the end is what often leads us to delay decision-making until the very last moment, to push the timing, and thus the communication. Our aim is for people who sign up to our events get the chance to fulfil their dream and cross a finish line. We apologise if at any point you felt there was a lack of communication.
We know that the cancellation of the two races has been hard to accept, and I want to clarify an important point. According to the race regulations, in cases of force majeure or extreme weather conditions, we are not obligated to provide compensation, as these circumstances are beyond our control. However, after evaluating all the variables and considering your loyalty and effort, we have decided to make an exception. The runners of the M5000, Relleus, and SDT will have special conditions for the 2025 edition, including a 50% discount on the current registration price for the same distance category or a lower category. It will not be necessary to select the same distance as this year. In the coming month, you will receive more detailed information. We want to continue supporting you and to ensure you can enjoy this experience in the future when the conditions are right for racing safely.
Before I finish, allow me to express my deep gratitude to all the team members, the island staff, volunteers, clubs, emergency services, and collaborators who have been working tirelessly under these conditions. You cannot imagine how hard they fought and tried to save the situation, even going beyond what we could ask of them. They are the soul of Mallorca by UTMB®. And thanks to them, despite the discouraging spirits, we were able to save the races on Saturday and Sunday. Thank you for your dedication and commitment. I have no words to express how I feel about you all.
Now we must continue working for the next edition and, of course, improve in many areas. The mountain always teaches us lessons, and we will learn from this experience. Safety and respect for nature will always be at the core of our work. Thank you for your understanding and for continuing with us.
Please feel free to reach out to me and I hope to see you soon stronger than ever.
Best regards
Xavier Pocino
Race Director, Mallorca by UTMB®
