The VERTICAL kicked off the three disciplines in the 2026 Skyrunning World Championships on the island of La Gomera in the Canary Islands, Spain, September 18–20, 2026.
World titles and 27 medals are at stake for Individuals and Official Teams, together with a Combined title based on the best results of the VERTICAL and SKY races.
With 270 athletes from 38 countries across the three events, Spaniard Lluis Puigvert and Switzerland’s Paola Stampanoni took the gold in a field of 109.
The spectacular sea to sky VERTICAL – 4.9 km long with 950m vertical climb started 300m above sea level – warm and humid – then cooling on the uphill where the runners dipped in and out of the palm trees, to reach the summit at 1,279m, greeted by wind and drizzle.
Marta Perdomo, Gomera Paradise organiser, commented, “We are usually very concerned about the hot weather, but this time with have wind and temperatures below 18°!”
The men’s race was a tight battle with the top five closing within two minutes. In the last 400 meters, triple 2026 Youth World Champion Puigvert changed gear to put some metres between himself and fellow Spaniard José Antonio Bellido and Italy’s Luca Del Pero.
Spain proved their worth with Marcos Vilamuera, fourth, followed by 2026 Youth Championships medallist, Maximilian Meusburger from Austria.
Twenty-one year-old Puigvert began his career in the 2023 Youth Championships, where his medal collection began. In four championships he climbed three age categories, bringing home a total of 12 gold and four silver medals.
“I didn’t expect to win today with the seniors. It’s a dream come true. The level in the Youth Champs is already super high, but here it’s obviously higher,” commented Puigvert. “I knew that I could get a good result because I was in good shape, and today the legs where super good. I saw I was in front and I just went for it. So, really happy with the transition from youth to seniors!”
In the women’s race, Switzerland’s Paola Stampanoni lead in the last stretches with a small margin over Everarda Van Dongen from the Netherlands. Italy’s Benedetta Broggi closed in third. Stampanoni and Broggi were both on the VERTICAL podium in the 2024 World Championships and 2025 European Championships, proving their consistent high level. After two silvers, Stampanoni finally clinched gold, while Broggi confirmed her 2024 bronze medal.
“It was my first international VERTICAL, so I wasn’t sure what to expect,” said Van Dongen. “I know I’m strong in uphills so I just gave all I had and I’m happy to show once more that the Dutch can also run fast uphill!” An outstanding result for the Netherlands, known as the “flatlands” without any training ground for would-be skyrunners.
2024 VERTICAL World Champion Nayara Irigoyen from Spain closed in fourth and Belgium’s Joke Descheemaeker in fifth, just 1’35” after Stampanoni.
The Gomera Paradise events motto “from hell to heaven” may have been inverted today, at least for the athletes who summited after the lung-busting ascent.
After Thursday’s stirring opening ceremony where 38 teams from across the world paraded through the streets of San Sebastian de la Gomera, waving their national flags, and the locals sounding their instruments in traditional costumes, today’s VERTICAL marked the first of the weekend’s three events.
Six of the 27 medals were assigned on the VERTICAL podium today, with Spain, Italy and Hungary leading the country ranking. The atmosphere and adrenalin are loaded, the athletes are raring to go – ready to take on tomorrow’s SKYULTRA and to celebrate with the SKY final on Sunday.
VERTICAL results
MEN
1. Lluis Puigvert (ESP) 36’37”
2. José Antonio Bellido (ESP) 36’50”
3. Luca Del Pero (ITA) 37’08”
WOMEN
1. Paola Stampanoni (SUI) 44’34”
2. Everarda Van Dongen (NED) 44’43”
3. Benedetta Broggi (ITA) 45’21”
Medal count and country ranking
Course Certification + technical level
All athletes will be included in the ISF Ranking
Event website
FEDME website
