• Sara Alonso (Spain – Asics) and Elhousine Elazzaoui (Morocco – NNormal) lead the field at Zegama-Aizkorri 2025, joined by top names like Judith Wyder, Miao Yao, Merillas, Delorenzi, and Sylvia Nordskar.
  • The iconic mountain marathon returns with its 42.195 km and 2,736 m+, crossing the Aizkorri-Aratz Natural Park and the mythical Basque ridgeline, one of the most technical sections of the series.
  • Live coverage starts at 8:30 CEST on Max, HBO Max, and discovery+, as well as on the official YouTube channels of the Golden Trail World Series (in English) and Zegama-Aizkorri (in Basque and Spanish).
Malen Osa at Zegama-Aizkorri 2024 - GTWS - Golden Trail Series

With three stages already completed, the 2025 Golden Trail World Series (GTWS) reaches its midpoint in the Basque Country with its most iconic race: Zegama-Aizkorri. On Sunday, May 25, the world’s top mountain runners will face 42.195 kilometers and 2,736 meters of elevation gain through the heart of the Aizkorri-Aratz Natural Park, on a course that is both spectacular and brutally technical.

The route includes legendary segments such as Otzaurte (km 7), Ultzama–Atabarreta (km 13) and the fearsome ascent to Aratz (km 16), before reaching Sancti Spiritu (km 20), where the crowd’s roar meets an unforgiving climb. From there, the ridgeline toward Aketegi (1,551 m) and the treacherous Aitxuri descent (km 23–25) demand absolute focus. The final section runs through more runnable terrain at Oltze and Urbia, climbing once more to Andraitz before the descent to the finish.

With more than 11,000 people applying for a bib, Zegama remains a unique phenomenon. Mud, fog, rocks, roots, and an overwhelming roar: the very essence of trail running lives here. Zegama is Zegama.

WOMEN’S RACE: SARA ALONSO HUNTS FOR THE LEAD AT HOME

Sara Alonso first reached the podium at Zegama in 2022 and returns this year with a clear goal: to reclaim the GTWS lead on home soil. The Basque runner knows every section of the course like the back of her hand, which makes her one of the top contenders for victory.

The course record still belongs to Nienke Brinkman, who set a blistering time of 4:16:43 in 2022—yet to be beaten. With a world-class field and an electrified local crowd, the women’s battle at Zegama is expected to be one for the books.

  • Sara Alonso (Spain – Asics): Winner in Kobe and fourth at the Great Wall Trail in China, the Basque runner returns to Zegama aiming to reclaim the series lead in front of her home fans. She knows the course inside out, and her strength on technical terrain makes her a top favorite.
  • Sylvia Nordskar (Norway – Hoka): The defending champion, Nordskar claimed victory in 2024 with a flawless performance. Her strength in both climbs and descents makes her one of the most complete runners in the circuit, especially in adverse conditions.
  • Judith Wyder (Switzerland – Hoka): With a technical background and a past in orienteering, Wyder is known for her precision, tactical awareness, and skill on rugged terrain. If she holds her pace, she’ll be in the mix at the sharp end.
  • Miao Yao (China – Salomon): With a brilliant record in mountain racing, Yao excels on long climbs and can maintain a solid rhythm over demanding courses. She’ll be dangerous if well-positioned entering the second half.
  • Malen Osa (Spain – Salomon): Runner-up in 2024, the young Basque athlete delivered a bold and technical race. With more experience and the support of a home crowd, she’s well-suited to Zegama’s demanding terrain.
  • Marta Martínez (Spain – La Sportiva): Locked in a fierce duel with Malen last year, she secured third place in one of the most contested editions to date. Tough, consistent, and technically sound, she remains one of the most solid athletes in the Spanish field.

The women’s start list goes far beyond the top favorites. Among the Spanish contenders are Rosa María Lara (Compressport), on a steady rise, Julia Font (Brooks) with proven speed and mountain experience, and two highly promising profiles: Inés Astrain (Joma) and Ikram Rharsalla (Joma). International talent includes Thérèse LeBoeuf (Switzerland – Compressport), Anna Gibson (USA- Brooks), and Fabiola Conti (Italy- Otso), all adding depth to a field that promises drama until the final descent.

Sylvia Nordskar won Zegama-Aizkorri in 2024 - GTWS - Golden Trail Series

MEN’S RACE: ALL EYES ON ELAZZAOUI IN THE GTWS’ TOUGHEST TEST

The course record belongs to Kilian Jornet, who delivered a legendary performance in 2022, stopping the clock at 3:36:40. In 2025, the spotlight turns to Elhousine Elazzaoui, who finished second here last year and now returns to Zegama with his sights set on the top step of the podium. The Moroccan leads a world-class field packed with technical expertise and climbing power.

  • Elhousine Elazzaoui (Morocco – NNormal): Runner-up at Zegama in 2024 and reigning GTWS champion, Elazzaoui arrives with momentum and experience. His aggressive climbing and tactical control make him one of the strongest contenders to finally conquer this iconic race.
  • Luca Del Pero (Italy – Scarpa): Fourth last year and currently in top form, Del Pero is among the most dangerous names in the field. His blend of speed, technique, and rhythm control makes him a serious podium threat.
  • Manuel Merillas (Spain – Scarpa): Fifth in 2024, the Spanish veteran knows this course inside and out. Tough, explosive, and deeply familiar with the terrain, Merillas thrives at Zegama and will once again be a man to watch.
  • Nadir Maguet (Italy – La Sportiva): A technical and explosive mountain runner with deep experience in steep terrain. If he stays with the front group through the first climbs, his descending skills could bring him into contention.
  • Roberto Delorenzi (Switzerland – Brooks): One of the rising stars of European trail running. With an attacking style and fearless attitude, Delorenzi will be looking to test himself against the world’s best on one of the most demanding courses.
  • Stian Angermund (Norway): Zegama-Aizkorri is one of his favorite stages, where he achieved memorable victories and set a historic course record in 2017. He is a strong technical runner and comes with a hunger for victory.

The men’s race also features a deep and varied field, blending proven champions and rising threats. Daniel Pattis (Italy – Brooks) continues to show consistency in the early stages of the series, while Spain brings a strong trio: Antonio Martínez (Asics), Andreu Blanes (Hoka) and Alain Santamaría (Open Team), all capable of shaking up the race. Completing the group is Marcin Kubica (Poland – Salomon), a well-rounded athlete with the tools to handle Zegama’s intensity.

RACE SCHEDULE AND LIVE COVERAGE

The race will take place on Sunday, May 25, with a joint start at 9:00 (CEST) from Zegama, in the heart of the Basque Country. The race will be streamed live on the GTWS YouTube channel (in English) and on Max/HBO Max and discovery+, Warner Bros. Discovery’s global streaming platforms. Max is available across Europe, including France, Greece, Iberia, the Nordics, Turkey, and Central and Eastern Europe. In Belgium and the Netherlands, Warner Bros. Discovery’s enhanced streaming service is branded HBO Max. discovery+ is the streaming service in Austria, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, and Ireland.

Additional live streaming will be available on the Zegama-Aizkorri YouTube channel (in Spanish and Basque), as well as through the Basque public broadcaster EiTB (in Basque)..

  • Joint start (men and women): 9:00 local time (CEST) / 00:00 PDT
  • Sunday’s live broadcast will run from 8:30 to 14:00 CET.

Race highlights will be available globally through WBD platforms, including Eurosport, TNT Sports, Max/HBO Max, and discovery+, as well as through an extensive international network of broadcast partners. These include EITB (Spain), JSports (Japan), LN24 (Belgium), Tele Tuya (Venezuela), TNT Sports (Argentina), SuperSport (Sub-Saharan Africa), FloSports (USA and Canada), Sky Sports (New Zealand), Fox Sports (Australia), iQIYI (China), SRG SSR (Switzerland), and Rush Sports in the Caribbean.

ZEGAMA: MOUNTAINS, CULTURE, AND PASSION IN THE HEART OF THE BASQUE COUNTRY

With just over 1,500 inhabitants, Zegama is a small Basque town that transforms each May into the epicenter of global trail running. Located on the northern edge of the Aizkorri-Aratz Natural Park, this Gipuzkoan village sits among beech forests, limestone ridgelines, and pastoral trails preserved with deep respect for the land.

Zegama is mountains—but also culture. The bond between its people and the surrounding landscape is absolute: rural roots, a strong sense of identity, and the defense of the Basque language (Euskera) are woven into daily life. Nature, community, and tradition come together in a place where trail running is not a show—it’s part of the way of life. Here, the crowd doesn’t just cheer: they carry you, push you, and make you feel.

The passion that flows through Zegama, the warmth of its people, and the way the entire community rallies around the race have made this town sacred ground for lovers of mountain sports. It’s more than a course—it’s a way of understanding life through the mountains.

CALENDAR GTWS 2025

The nine races that make up the official 2025 Golden Trail World Series calendar:

  • 19th april: Kobe Trail – 21,3 km / 2.109 m D+ – Kobe, Japan
  • 26th april: Jinshanling Great Wall Trail Race – 24,2 km / 1.489 m D+ – Chengde, Hebei, China
  • 17th may: Il Golfo dell’Isola Trail – 26 km / 1.400 m D+ – Noli, Italy
  • 25th may: Zegama-Aizkorri – 42 km / 2.736 m D+ – Zegama, Spain
  • 22nd june: Broken Arrow Skyrace – 21,7 km / 1.433 m D+ – Olympic Valley, EE. UU.
  • 29th june: Tepec Trail – 32 km / 1.800 m D+ – Huasca de Ocampo, México
  • 2nd august: Salomon Pitz Alpine Glacier Trail – 23,5 km / 1.700 m D+ – Pitztal, Austria
  • 9th august: Sierre-Zinal – 31 km / 2.200 m D+ – Sierre, Switzerland
  • October: Gran Final. Valle di Ledro - Garda Trentino, Italy