Twenty-nine nations showed up to compete in the Skyrunning European Championships in the Central Italian Alps, July 3-5, 2025.
Kicking off the events with 24 country teams was a new, specially designed VERTICAL course, the Aprica Vertical, 4.5 km long with 950m vertical climb in the Aprica-Corteno ski resort.
The steep uphill challenge with a 55% incline in places, pushed the athletes to their limits. Italy came out on top clinching the two gold medals with epic performances by Daniel Thedy, summiting in an incredible 34’43” and Benedetta Broggi in 42’00”.
“The competition started very fast, and I thought I couldn’t keep the pace of the first runners. Luckily when the course got really steep I was able to lead and I pushed till the end. I’m so happy and proud to get this European title!” Thedy commented.
Thedy set a strong 1’30” advantage over second man, Norwegian Stian Angermund who took the silver after a long period away from competitive running, closing in 36’10”. “It’s so good to get back to skyrunning. It was a great race, I just don’t feel the full power in my legs yet, but I’m sure it’ll come back to me. Hopefully it’ll come on Saturday for the SKYULTRA!” said Angermund.
Interesting to note are the different styles of vertical running adopted by the top athletes. Some use poles, some ascend with hands on quads, and others run, upright, as in the case of Angermund who commented, “I just like running….” even if more energy is consumed.
Spaniard Jonatan Arobes took the bronze medal, closing in 36’33”, just 23” after Angermund.
In the women’s field Italy’s Benedetta Broggi crossed the finish line first in 42’00”, conquering her fourth continental gold medal of the season after clinching three at the SkySnow European Championships.
“I’m so happy for this result as I wasn’t sure at all I could do it! I knew I had to keep an eye on Paola [Stampanoni], as she’s stronger on the steepest sections, but when I came out first from the hardest part, I knew I could keep the pace till the finish. I came here on holiday to train and better know the course and it helped a lot. I knew where I could push and where I had to pace.” When asked if she has another medal in sight for Saturday’s SKY race, she admitted, “I’m having some problems with the downhill, so I doubt it, but for sure I’ll give it everything I’ve I got!”
Switzerland’s Paola Stampanoni was welcomed by a hug from Broggi at the finish line, after battling with her for most of the climb. “Today I couldn’t keep up with her, she was too strong. But I’m happy with this second place and losing to such a wonderful person is not something I regret. Her performance was incredible – proof that you can train on any terrain given that she lives in Pavia, a city in the middle of the ‘Pianura Padana’ the Italian flatlands!”
Spain took their second bronze medal of the day with Onditz Iturbe who closed in in 44’26”, two and a half minutes behind Broggi.
The first day of the Skyrunning European Championships saw four countries take medals for some stunning performances. The men’s top ten saw participants from nine different countries – and seven in the women’s top ten.
Today is day of rest where teams will parade with their country flags before the briefing for Saturday’s events where 29 nations will participate, including new ISF Member, Ukraine.
Saturday will see the SKY and SKYULTRA take off together in Corteno.
The SKY will be held on the Half Marathon course – 23 km long with a 1,864m vertical climb reaching the Salina Pass at 2,433m before descending to the finish in Santicolo.
The SKYULTRA retraces the historic course, 42 km long in a giant semi-circle along mountain crests, summiting Monte Sellero at 2,770m. The overall ascent and descent amount to a massive 5,470m vertical climb, classified as a 2+ Technical Level on the ISF Certified Course list – pure skyrunning.
At the close of the events, the COMBINED title will also be awarded based on the sum of the VERTICAL and SKY results together with medals for the Team Country ranking.
The 29 countries participating:
Albania, Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Kingdom.
VERTICAL RESULTS
Men
GOLD – Daniel Thedy (ITA) 34’43”
SILVER – Stian Angermund (NOR) 36’10”
BRONZE – Jonatan Arobes (ESP) 36’33”
Women
GOLD – Benedetta Broggi (ITA) 42’00”
SILVER – Paola Stampanoni (SUI) 42’58”
BRONZE – Onditz Iturbe (ESP) 44’26”
