Kenya\u2019s Patrick Kipngeno \u2013 master of the uphill \u2013 returns for this vertical 7km race with 1000m of elevation in a bid to win his third consecutive title at the World Mountain and Trail Running Championships. All eyes will be on his elastic stride, turning impossible slopes into highways. Spain\u2019s Alex Garcia Carrillo, bronze medallist in 2021, will have the benefit of a home crowd and familiar terrain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Aragonese Pyrenees will welcome 1600 athletes from 73 national teams for the World Mountain and Trail Running Championships CanfrancPirineos 2025, held on beautiful yet ruthless terrain from 25-28 September.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Despite the absence of world champion Andrea Mayr from the women\u2019s line-up, the list of contenders is still impressive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Philaries Kesang returns, looking to improve on her silver medal from 2023. The Kenyan was the revelation in Austria and now faces Canfranc with the confidence of knowing she\u2019s among the best on the planet. Switzerland\u2019s Maude Mathys, bronze medallist in 2021, an alpine finesse runner and one of the living legends of the world circuit, will also be in contention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
USA\u2019s Grayson Murphy, who earned uphill bronze in 2023, will this year contest the short trail race.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The classic discipline is where speed and mountain collide head-on, and this year\u2019s race \u2013 14km in distance with 750m elevation \u2013 is no different.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With Grayson Murphy and Tove Alexandersson \u2013 the gold and silver medallists in 2023 \u2013 opting for the short trail event, it\u2019s made the women\u2019s classic race wide open.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kenya\u2019s Joyce Njeru, the bronze medallist in 2023, returns and will be hopeful of claiming the top spot on the podium.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Compatriot Philemon Kiriago, silver medallist in 2023, will be among the favourites in the men\u2019s race. His aggressive style promises a spectacular duel against Europeans, who hold the advantage of knowing the technical Pyrenean trails better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It will also be an opportunity to see if other emerging names break through. The classic is fertile ground for surprises, and Canfranc, with its dizzying descents and treacherous climbs, promises high-paced excitement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While Kipngeno pursues a third gold in the uphill, Norway\u2019s Stian Angermund looks to do the same in the short trail, a 45km race with 3600m elevation, closer to a short ultra than a classic alpine marathon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Angermund\u2019s blend of power and technique makes him the leading candidate, though the Pyrenean terrain will not give anything away. The full podium from 2023 will be reunited as Britain\u2019s Thomas Roach and Italy\u2019s Luca del Pero, the silver and bronze medallists two years ago, also return.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The women\u2019s race also promises to be thrilling. Romania\u2019s Denisa Dragomir, champion in 2021, is out to reclaim her throne in a race that also features Switzerland\u2019s Judith Wyder and Therese Leboeuf, the silver and bronze medallists in 2023, plus the legendary Maude Mathys, who is moving up in distance after her classic bronze in 2021.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Grayson Murphy and Tove Alexandersson, gold and silver medallists in the classic race in 2023, try their luck at the longer distance. After coming close to threatening the men\u2019s record in the last Canfranc short trail, Alexandersson could produce another outstanding run this weekend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The long trail \u2013 an 80km race with 6000m elevation \u2013 will be a clash of the titans as the past two winners of this title go head-to-head in the men\u2019s race.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
France\u2019s Benjamin Roubiol defends his title against 2021 winner Adam Peterman of the USA. While Peterman usually aims to dominate with a steady pace, long strides, and the ability to crush kilometres consistently, Roubiol is more of a strategist who knows how to suffer, manages each climb like a chess player, and finishes strong when others falter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Italy\u2019s Andreas Reiterer, a podium finisher at the past two editions, will be targeting his first gold. Slovakia\u2019s 2023 bronze medallist Peter Frano is also one to watch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jim Walmsley, 2019 short trail world champion, and Italy\u2019s Francesco Puppi, short trail runner-up in 2021, both try their luck at the 80km.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The silver medallists from the past two editions clash in the women\u2019s race in the form of Germany\u2019s Katarina Hartmuth and Sweden\u2019s Ida Nilsson. Spain\u2019s 2021 bronze medallist Gemma Arenas, meanwhile, arrives with experience, resilience and the warmth of the local crowd.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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