"This is how it was born, and I think this is how it has to last. The Porto marathon isn't the same without crossing the D. Luís I Bridge, although we've had extraordinary experiences, particularly with Matosinhos, crossing the Port of Leixões, which is also very beautiful. Now, in fact, uniting these three cities across the D. Luís I Bridge will be something else," the director-general of Runporto told Lusa.

Work on the lower deck of the D. Luís I Bridge made it impossible to run through Vila Nova de Gaia in 2021 and 2022, while the covid-19 pandemic cancelled the 2020 edition.

"[Demand] is approaching a pre-pandemic [level] and what it was before 2018. There's a big difference between last year and this year. We're all very happy," he said, speaking of "more than 6,000 athletes registered" for the Olympic distance.

Kenyan James Mwangui, winner in 2022, with a record of 2:08. 47 hours, 11 seconds lower than the mark set by his compatriot Zablon Chumba in 2021, is joined by Abraham Biwott, Moses Mwarur, Simion Tarus, James Korir and Emmanuel Kemboi from Kenya, Ethiopians Alemu Gemechu, Dereje Aduagna, Ashenafi Boja and Debelu Edae Boka, American Afewerki Zeru and Spaniard Daniel Mateo.

Kenyan Mildred Chepkemei, Ethiopians Sinke Dessie, and Genet Habela Abdurkadir and Australian Melissah Gibson emerged in the women's section, which saw Vanessa Carvalho rise to the top last year after the disqualification of Kenyan Alice Jepkemboi Kimutai.

Endorsed by World Athletics, the event starts at 08:00, next to Sea Life, on the Castelo do Queijo road, at the same time as a 10-kilometre charity run, and there is also a 6,000-metre walk with no competitive purpose and for any age group.

The three races bring together "around 11,000 entrants from 66 nationalities" and finish at the Queimódromo, with prize money of 5,000 euros being awarded for the victories in the men's and women's marathons and 3,000 euros for the renewal of the absolute record.