RAID GALLAECIA 2025 ENDURANCE AR crowned champion with 73:56 hours of racing

The Galician team Endurance AR was crowned champion of Raid Gallaecia 2025 after crossing the finish line at the Balneario de Arnoia, completing an exceptional course in 73 hours and 56 minutes.

From the very start, Endurance AR took the lead in the early sections and steadily increased their advantage over the competition through smart strategy, precise navigation, and a relentless pace.

At the finish line, the team received a warm welcome from family, friends, and local authorities, including:

🎖 Cecilio Santalices, Tourism Delegate of Ourense
🎖 Rodrigo Aparicio, Mayor of A Arnoia
🎖 Francisco Javier Sánchez, Deputy Mayor of Arnoia

RaidAR (Poland), runner-up with 81:20 hours

The Polish team RaidAR crossed the finish line at 8:20 p.m. on Wednesday after a consistent and well-managed race, completing the challenge in 81 hours and 20 minutes. Although they competed closely with Endurance AR during the early stages, the Polish team eventually secured second place, showcasing excellent endurance management and a solid race strategy.

At the finish, the team appeared cheerful and satisfied, joking about the challenges posed by Galician vegetation — especially the notorious “toxos”, known for their sharp thorns.

Team Keltoi secures third place after 86:27 hours

Team Keltoi reached the finish line in third place at 1:37 a.m. on Thursday, after 86 hours and 27 minutes of intense effort. Cheered on by family and friends who followed and supported them throughout the race, the team arrived visibly emotional and proud of their accomplishment.

Despite struggling in some of the tougher sections, they managed physical discomforteffectively and showed strong teamwork to secure a podium finish.

Final ARWS Classification – Raid Gallaecia 2025:
• Endurance AR – 73:56 h
• RaidAR – 81:20 h
• Team Keltoi – 86:27 h

In fourth place was Grupo Gallardo–Raza Palleira, who arrived at 5:20 a.m. After competing for the podium until Section 5, physical issues forced them to slow down, allowing Team Keltoi to overtake them during Section 6 — a 25 km trekking route in Coto de Novelle.

Daily recap (Wednesday 11:00 to Thursday 11:00)
Wednesday’s stage was defined by the gruelling Section 7 — a 130 km mountain bike ridewith 4,050 m+ and 3,190 m-, connecting Arnoia to Castro Laboreiro (Portugal), followed by the demanding Section 8 (trekking).

While Endurance AR was already resting after completing the race, RaidAR was tackling the final segment (S10 – kayak + 30 km trekking), and Team Keltoi had just entered this section from Cortegada de Baños, trailing by an insurmountable five-hour gap.

COUPLES Category

In the COUPLES category, Datacón Priego de Córdoba crossed the finish line at 4:18 a.m., becoming champions after 93 hours of racing, also securing 4th place overall in Raid Gallaecia 2025.

Despite constant pressure from the Galician team Hotel Nande–Talleres Mingos, who even caught up with them briefly at T7, the Andalusian team demonstrated physical strength and excellent strategy to secure the win.
Galician nature posed an added challenge, but also offered an unforgettable experiencefor the team from Córdoba.

The second COUPLES team to reach the finish was Hotel Nande–Talleres Mingos, who completed the race at 8:58 a.m. on Thursday, after a hard-fought battle for a victory that ultimately eluded them.

Highlighted Sections

All teams faced navigational challenges in the Serra Peneda-Gerês Natural Park, especially during Section 8, which passed through the historic Trillo Castrejo, the remote Capilla da Senhora do Numao, and ended at the stunning Sanctuary of Nosa Senhora da Peneda in the neighboring valley. This stage became significantly more demanding for those teams who had to complete it at night.

The long-awaited finish line

The remaining teams continue their efforts to complete the course before the finish line closes on Friday at 2:00 p.m.
Throughout the day, teams will gradually arrive at the finish line in Arnoia, at the foot of the Miño River, where the organization, friends, and family await them — ready to celebrate before their well-deserved rest at the Hotel Balneario Caldaria Arnoia.