The Riosequillo reservoir in Buitrago del Lozoya has been the venue for the start of the Eusko Label and Euskotren leagues, a milestone that takes the traineras outside their natural habitat for the first time. The event brought together 450 athletes and was attended by the regional president.
Last weekend, the Riosequillo reservoir, located in the Madrid municipality of Buitrago del Lozoya, became the epicentre of elite Spanish rowing. For the first time in over two decades of history, the Eusko Label and Euskotren leagues kicked off outside their natural habitat, the Cantabrian coast. Nearly 450 rowers from Cantabria, the Basque Country, and Galicia competed in a setting that, according to data from Embalses.net, was at 80% of its capacity.
A Historic Debut for Elite Rowing
The President of the Community of Madrid, Isabel Díaz Ayuso, attended the event and described the day as "a true pride" for bringing together "the best of sport and nature." During her speech, she thanked the organisers for choosing the region and welcomed the participants:
"We want to tell all of them that they are at home". The event included the presentation of the Canal de Isabel II-175 anniversary Flag and the Pueblos con Vida Community of Madrid Flag, in a ceremony held at the Riosequillo Recreational Area with institutional representatives and members of the Association of Traineras Clubs (ACT).
An Innovative Format to Open the 2026 Season
The women's competition began with the Canal de Isabel II-175 anniversary Flag in a pair time trial format, over a two-mile course with three turns and four straight sections, a distance longer than usual. Subsequently, the men's event, corresponding to the Pueblos con Vida Community of Madrid Flag, tackled the traditional three-mile course, with five turns and six straight sections. The venue also featured a large area for fans with gastronomic offerings, drink stalls, team merchandise sales, a water point from Canal de Isabel II, a trophy exhibition, a giant screen, and various promotional spaces. For the residents of Buitrago del Lozoya and visitors, the event provided a unique opportunity to see the best rowers in the country in action without having to travel north.
A Symbolic Change for the Traineras
The choice of Buitrago del Lozoya as the season's starting point marks a symbolic milestone for a competition accustomed to visiting locations such as Bilbao, Castro Urdiales, Donostia, Zarautz, Hondarribia, Bermeo, or Portugalete. Notably, it will be the latter Basque town that will close the season on September 20, coinciding with the 175th anniversary of its founding. For now, the Madrid debut stands as one of the most unique episodes in the recent history of traineras and as a commitment to broaden the horizons of a sport deeply connected to the sea. For Madrid fans, the experience was so novel that some joked that the only "waves" were made by the crowd. Next year, who knows if the Riosequillo reservoir will become a permanent stop on the calendar.
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