Athletes from twelve countries are set to compete at the VK OPEN Grand Finale on Saturday, October 18, 2025. The top six male and female positions in the ranking are headed by Portugal, Italy, Andorra, Japan, Serbia, Poland, and Belgium. The winners of the VK OPEN Championships will be decided by the final ranking which counts a maximum of three races – two races plus the final.
The global circuit, inspired by the Vertical Kilometer® began in Brazil, travelled through Italy, Spain, Portugal, and the Pyrenees in Andorra concluding in Bulgaria – for the first time on the circuit.
After the recent Masters Skyrunning World Championships held in Karlovo in Bulgaria, the eighth and final stage of the VK OPEN Championships – now celebrating its fourth edition – will be held at the Vertical Ruy, a certified course 4.3 km long with 930m vertical climb.
The uphill-only race will start in Zelenigrad, a picturesque village in the Tran municipality in the western part of the country, and finish at the 1,706m summit of Mount Ruy. Zelenigrad offers breathtaking views of the surrounding green hills and the Ruy mountain range.
Leading the men’s ranking is Aleksei Pagnuev, (AIN) who, in his first VK OPEN season, has competed in four races with his two best results counting towards the current standings. “I won’t give a prediction about my performance, as the race will reveal everything. However, I believe it will be a challenging competition. The vertical kilometer is almost always a test of endurance, and it’s crucial to push yourself to the limit.”
Also making a strong return is Arnau Soldevila from Andorra, who finished third last year and is a favourite for the champion title. Among the newcomers are Tomasz Nosal from Poland, Vítor Faria from Portugal, and Suguru Inui from Japan, all making their debut at the Grand Finale to compete for a place on the VK OPEN podium. Inui, currently in fourth position, shared his thoughts ahead of the race, “At first, I joined the VK OPEN with the simple goal of finishing, but now I’m in a position to aim for the overall championship and hope my results will contribute to the growth of skyrunning in Japan.”
In the women’s ranking, Italian Corinna Ghirardi, the 2024 VK OPEN Champion, returns to defend her title. “This year I’ll arrive at the final with the highest score, but that doesn’t mean much for the overall win. In this last double-points race I’ll have to give it my all, dig deep for the last bit of energy to come out on top and repeat last year’s victory.”
The women’s competition will also feature Serbian Sladjana Zagorac, currently third in the standings; Portugal’s Laureen Teixeira, fourth; and Japan’s Yuki Ikegami, fifth. “I have overcome various trials as an athlete and as a traveller, becoming someone who grows through these challenges. Moreover, the many encounters I’ve had have strengthened me,” she commented. “I will test myself to see if my plan to increase training in the mountains has successfully converted into speed. For the final race, I will aim for the summit boldly, freely, and with complete abandon!”
Rounding out the top six is Belgian Charlotte Cotton, a familiar face who has previously stood on the podium at the VK OPEN Grand Finale and took a silver medal in the VERTICAL discipline at the Masters.
The course records were set in 2024 and are: 37’58” by Nikola Kalistrin for the men – a record that will be difficult to break and 52’54” by Veradina Nacheva for the women, both from Bulgaria.
The weather at Mount Ruy in mid-October often changes quickly and temperatures around freezing can be expected at the summit, therefore the start is planned for 10.30 AM local time.
Vertical Ruy is organized by the Tran Tourist Association with the support of the Tran Council. “Hosting the race is a huge honour and privilege for the Tran Tourist Association. Until now, no world-class athletes have competed in the mountains near Tran. We can’t wait to welcome the stars of VK OPEN Championships.
“In early October the course was cleaned and prepared to welcome the world’s best. The onsite team is already excited, and they are doing their best to ensure an excellent organization.”
With the season-long battle reaching its climax, the VK OPEN Grand Finale promises thrilling competition and spectacular vertical skyrunning as athletes from across the globe vie for the title, the trophy, and a place in skyrunning history.
2025 VK OPEN Calendar
2025 VK OPEN Ranking
CC Certified Course Label
Race website
