HOKA Val d'Aran by UTMB® strengthens its international standing with a world-class sixth edition
HOKA Val d’Aran by UTMB® has brought its sixth edition to a close after five days of intense competition, with the mountains, favourable weather conditions and an exceptionally high sporting level defining the week’s races.
With eight race formats and 6,935 participants, the event once again placed the Val d’Aran at the heart of international trail running. The organisation awarded €73,500 in prize money, further consolidating the event as one of the key fixtures on the UTMB® World Series calendar.
Wednesday 1 July: official event presentation and Vielha 10K
The European Major got underway on Wednesday 1 July at 8:00 a.m. with the debut of a new race, the TDL. The 75-kilometre course put the 733 runners on the start line to the test, with Adrien Jacques and Gemma Arenas making history as the first-ever winners of the race.
At 10:00 a.m., the Ultra-Trail® Village opened its doors. This year, it welcomed 51 exhibitors, consolidating its position as one of the largest specialist trail running fairs in Spain.
In the afternoon, the official event presentation brought together numerous national and international athletes, including China’s Miao Yao (UTMB® Index 822), Norway’s Mari Klakegg Fenre (UTMB® Index 761), Romania’s Raúl Butaci (UTMB® Index 916), Spaniards Sara Alonso (UTMB® Index 801), Alain Santamaría (UTMB® Index 918), Inés Astrain (UTMB® Index 752), Yoel de Paz (UTMB® Index), Nuria Gil Clapera (UTMB® Index 754), Mireia Pons (UTMB® Index 724), Roger Comellas (UTMB® Index), Aroa Sio (UTMB® Index 754), Gemma Arenas (UTMB® Index 750), Pau Capell (UTMB® Index 830) and Núria Tarragó (UTMB® Index); Italians Luca del Pero (UTMB® Index 925) and Gianluca Ghiano (UTMB® Index 902); Kenya’s Robert Pkemoi (UTMB® Index 920); France’s Benat Marmissolle (UTMB® Index 903); Argentina’s Santos Gabriel Rueda (UTMB® Index 861); Poland’s Katarzyna Dombrowska (UTMB® Index 762); Americans Allison Baca Kehres (UTMB® Index 773), Helen Mino (UTMB® Index 763) and Ryan Becker (UTMB® Index 864); and Bolivia’s Elisabeth Rios (UTMB® Index 660).
The day concluded with the Vielha 10K, a popular 10-kilometre race with 600 metres of elevation gain that celebrates the spirit of the event and everyone who makes it possible: volunteers, partners, exhibitors and, of course, runners. Edouard Thouvenin and Belén Bares were the fastest to ring the finisher bell.
Luca del Pero and Sara Alonso claim victory in the PDA
The PDA started at 7:00 a.m. on Thursday 2 July from the village of Salardú, with 1,737 runners on the start line.
After 55 kilometres and 3,300 metres of elevation gain, Italy’s Luca del Pero claimed victory in 5:23:25, while Gianluca Ghiano crossed the finish line in second place in 5:27:42. France’s Anthony Felber completed the podium in 5:29:50.
In the women’s race, Spain’s Sara Alonso, one of the pre-race favourites, took victory after completing the course in 6:20:12. “I think it’s the toughest race I’ve ever done in my life. I struggled from the very beginning, it felt incredibly long, I suffered a lot in the heat and I reached the finish line with absolutely nothing left. But the course is amazing. I gave everything I had because this race deserves it, and I’m taking away some very special memories,” said the runner from San Sebastián, who will compete in the OCC at the UTMB® World Series Finals in Chamonix this August.
Romania’s Ioan Madalina Amariei finished second in 6:23:06, while Catalonia’s Nuria Gil Clapera completed the podium in 6:25:43.
Gautier Bonnecarrere and Miao Yao set the pace in the CDH
Following the PDA, Friday belonged to the CDH. At 6:00 a.m., 1,301 runners gathered in the village of Les to take on the race’s 110 kilometres.
France’s Gautier Bonnecarrere claimed victory in the CDH with a time of 12:08:55. Abel Carretero finished second in 12:19:21 after a fiercely contested battle for the podium, which was completed by fellow Frenchman Matis Leray in 12:27:12.
The women’s race had a clear winner in China’s Miao Yao, who finished an impressive eighth overall in 13:04:34. “I’m exhausted. The course is incredible, but very technical,” said the 2025 PDA winner, who will compete in the CCC at the UTMB® World Series Finals in Chamonix this August.
France’s Alexandra Cassan-Ferrier finished second in 14:01:37, successfully completing her first-ever ultra-distance race. Norway’s Mari Klakegg Fenre, runner-up in the CDH in 2023 and fourth in the PDA in 2024, took third place in 14:25:16. “I’m so happy to be running in my favourite place, the Val d’Aran. I was very nervous about the race because I had a difficult winter with several injuries and had only been able to train for three weeks, but I simply enjoyed the spectacular scenery. Crossing the finish line with my children was a very special moment and something I will never forget.”
Santos Gabriel Rueda and Katarzyna Dombrowska conquer the VDA
The sixth edition marked the return of the original VDA course, which had been unable to take place over the previous three years due to weather conditions.
The original 163-kilometre route, featuring 10,000 metres of elevation gain through some of the most spectacular areas of the Val d’Aran, saw Argentina’s Santos Gabriel Rueda take victory in 21:32:05. “It was a slightly different race for me. I raced without fear, and third time lucky. It’s incredibly tough, but it’s beautiful. The places you reach while running are breathtaking,” said Rueda, who was taking part in the race for the third time.
France’s Théo Soriano finished second in 22:23:51, while French Polynesian runner Delbi Villa completed the podium in 22:47:53. “It’s wonderful to be able to take part in a race like this. There’s nowhere in Europe quite like the Val d’Aran,” he said.
Jan Torrella and Vivien Bonzi take victory in the SKY Master
At 10:00 a.m., 969 runners gathered at Pla de Beret for the start of the SKY, which featured a new course for this edition. The 18-kilometre race, with 900 metres of elevation gain, was won by Catalonia’s Jan Torrella, who stopped the clock at 1:20:16. Just 37 seconds later, Roberto Delorenzi crossed the finish line in second place, while Olympic champion Oriol Cardona completed the podium only 17 seconds behind the Swiss runner.
In the women’s race, Italy’s Vivien Bonzi dominated to take victory in 1:39:12. Catalonia’s Núria Tarragó repeated her second-place finish from 2025, completing the course in 1:42:52. Paula Mata finished third in 1:43:29.
Lucas Gómez-Galarza and Manca Mlekuz were the winners of the SKY Promesas, which started half an hour earlier.
The Trail Festival Baqueira Beret also took place during the morning. The outdoor festival, organised in collaboration with the Baqueira Beret ski resort and dedicated to families and supporters, attracted a large number of visitors.
More than 150 children aged between 6 and 16 took part in the Corsa des Sanglièrs, a non-timed, non-competitive 5-kilometre race, while younger champions aged between 4 and 12 enjoyed shorter children’s races. The new Family Race also made its debut, giving adults the opportunity to share the Corsa des Sanglièrs 5K experience with the youngest participants.
Joel Santamaría and María Teresa La Chica fly to victory in the EXP
Sunday belonged to the EXP, which started at 8:00 a.m. from Passeig dera Llibertat in Vielha with 1,151 participants.
The men’s podium was decided by the narrowest of margins, with Joel Santamaría eventually taking victory in 2:58:43. France’s Guillaume Tiphene finished second in 2:59:07, while Mario Mirabel was third in 2:59:28.
Some of the world’s leading female trail runners lined up for the EXP, and they ultimately dominated the top five. María Teresa La Chica crossed the line first in the women’s race and eighth overall, with a time of 3:12:15. “María was always about a minute ahead of me. I wasn’t feeling great, but my desire to race took over, and being here with María Fuentes gave me an extra boost of energy,” said the winner.
María Fuentes followed in 3:13:48. “I got cramps and María overtook me. She ran an incredible race and I want to congratulate her because she’s enormous — her surname doesn’t do her justice… I’d call her ‘La Grande’ instead.”
Third place went to Blandine L’Hirondel, winner of the CCC in 2023, who stopped the clock at 3:26:49. “The goal was simply to take part because three weeks ago I couldn’t run for more than three minutes. I love this place. Last year I did the SKY while helping a participant in a joëlette, and I really love the atmosphere here,” said the French runner, who will compete in the UTMB at the UTMB® World Series Finals in August.
Ainhoa Sanz finished fourth in 3:39:50, while American Allison Baca, winner of the CDH in 2024, rounded out the top five in 3:41:41.
With 6,935 runners from 91 nationalities, eight race formats and an outstanding competitive field, HOKA Val d'Aran by UTMB® brings to a close an edition that further strengthens its position within the UTMB® World Series. The return of the original VDA course, together with the exceptional response from runners, volunteers and supporters, consolidates the Val d'Aran as one of the leading international destinations for trail running.
The mountains once again took centre stage during a week in which sport, personal achievement and nature came together, transforming the Val d'Aran once again into an international meeting point for the trail running community.
