The XXVI El Río Open Water Swimming, which will be held this Sunday, October 14, will be dedicated to the memory of the "excellent promise" of Lanzarote swimming, Alejandro Candela, winner in 2016 and sadly deceased this year. Specifically, on Saturday the 13th, starting at 5:00 p.m., about fifteen relay members will cover the same route of the Crossing, between Playa Bajo El Risco (Lanzarote) and Playa de Caleta de Sebo (La Graciosa), as a tribute to Alejandro.
This was announced this Wednesday during the presentation of this event, "one of the most beautiful and emotional of the entire Canary circuit of crossings, of enormous success, and which covered one more year the quota established for security reasons in 750 participants a few hours after the inscriptions opened, which demonstrates its enormous expectation and demand", highlighted the president of the Cabildo de Lanzarote, Pedro San Ginés (CC).
As did the president, the Minister of Sports of the first Island Corporation, Lorenzo Reyes (PP), dedicated emotional words of praise and remembrance to the figure of Alejandro Candela, of whom he highlighted his "attitude and nobility". The counselor explained that the relay crossing on Saturday will be done mostly by "relatives and friends of Alejandro, who will also have a buoy, number 7, which will be cube-shaped, dedicated with the illustration of his photographs."
Change of goal and day "for security reasons"
The counselor explained on the other hand that the reason why for the first time the Crossing is going to be held on Sunday is "because this was recommended by the hazard coefficient of the currents"; and that also for the first time it will have as its goal the Playa de Caleta de Sebo instead of the dock of the capital of La Graciosa, "also for security reasons".
In this sense, Reyes trusts that the weather conditions will accompany and the event, which will depart approximately at 12:00 hours from Playa Bajo El Risco, can take place normally. If so, the winner's time will be around 30 minutes, with the remaining participants having one more hour to complete the 2.6 kilometers of the route from the arrival of the winner. Among the favorites will be the champions of the Cabildo de Lanzarote Open Water Cup, Federico Bini and Verónica Navarro. Also noteworthy will be the participation of the Lanzarote paralympic athlete Lionel Morales, and also within adapted swimming that of Antonio Müller.
Organized by the Cabildo de Lanzarote through the Island Sports Service, the XXVI El Río Open Water Swimming is sponsored by the Teguise City Council, Gatorade, Sands Beach, Deportclinic, Líneas Marítimas Romero and Turismo Lanzarote. Also collaborating are Real Club Victoria, Cashfruta, Simply, Top Time, Distag Canarias, Physiorelax and El Veril.
