Cross Nacional Ponte Romana

The Cross Nacional Ponte Romana brings cross-country specialists from all over Spain and local club runners from Galicia to Lugo at the very start of November. The event is put on by CCNorte, a Lugo-based timing company, in partnership with the Escola Atlética Lucense, and it sits on the Royal Spanish Athletics Federation calendar. Its name refers to the old Roman bridge over the Miño, one of the city's landmarks alongside its Roman walls, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In just a few years the meeting has earned a place in the winter season: a Xunta de Galicia representative described it as one of the best cross-country races held in Spain.

Everything takes place outdoors in the grounds of the Pazo de Feiras e Congresos, Lugo's exhibition and conference centre. The course combines three loops of different lengths, short, medium and long, put together differently for each category, so spectators see the field pass several times during every race. Timing is by disposable chip stuck to the bib, results go live online, and spikes are recommended from the youngest age groups upwards.

The race open to everyone is the Cross Popular Jesús Bernal, a non-federation event for licensed and unlicensed runners from the under-18 category upwards. It covers 4.32 km, one short loop followed by two long ones, and starts on Sunday at 12:05, after a minute's silence in memory of Jesús Bernal, after whom it is named. The top three overall receive trophies. The short, punchy format suits road runners who want a taste of cross-country without entering a federation race.

Then come the headline races over 5 km (one medium loop and two long ones): women start at 12:30 and men at 13:00. Senior, under-23, under-20, under-18 and masters athletes race together, with separate rankings for each category. For under-23 and senior athletes the race counts as a national cross-country event, so a national licence or a one-day licence is required. The organisers invite high-level athletes every year, and Águeda Marqués won the women's race three years running from 2022 to 2024.

The weekend is also a celebration of youth athletics. On Saturday afternoon, mixed club relays of four times 500 metres bring together teams from under-10 to under-16. On Sunday morning, from 10:00, the youth races follow one another over distances of 1,250 to 3,870 metres, before a 200-metre dash down the finishing straight for the youngest children. A club ranking rewards the best-represented teams.

On the practical side, bibs are collected at the café of the Pazo de Feiras e Congresos on Saturday from 15:00 to 19:00 and on Sunday from 08:00. Every runner must report to the call room within the set time slot before their race, or they will not be allowed to start. Entries are made online through the official website and close a few days before the event.