Rémi Bonnet of Switzerland and Nina Engelhard of Germany claimed dominant victories in the Uphill races on the opening day of the 2025 World Mountain Running Championships on Thursday (25).
30-year-old Bonnet, one of Europe’s most experienced mountain runners and a former Skyrunner World Series winner in the vertical 1km, returned from injury to reclaim the world title in emphatic style.
Engelhard - the reigning European uphill champion from Annecy 2024 — stepped up to the global stage with a runaway win in her world championship debut.
The uphill-only course was a classic European test: 6.4km with 990m of relentless vertical gain, starting just north of Canfranc and finishing high on Larraca Mountain in the Spanish Pyrenees.
Runners from 49 nations in the men’s race and 44 in the women’s fought not only for medals but also for a €24,000 prize purse, with €5,000 awarded to each winner.
Bonnet's early surge leaves rivals in wake
After missing most of the summer season, Bonnet lined up with questions about his form - but answered them immediately.
He surged ahead in the opening stages and built a commanding lead by halfway, never to be caught. The Swiss runner crossed the line in 37:50, more than a minute clear of the field, to take gold.
Kenya’s duo Richard Omaya Atuya and two-time defending champion Patrick Kipngeno settled for silver and bronze in 39:04 and 39:20. Britain’s Jacob Adkin ran strongly for fifth, while Switzerland secured team silver behind Kenya.
Engelhard adds world title to European crown
Already a double champion at the 2024 European Off-Road Running Championships in Annecy, Engelhard proved her class once again. At halfway she led by 13 seconds, and on the steep upper slopes she extended that margin with a powerful climb. She won in 45:33, crowning herself world champion in her very first appearance on the global stage.
Finland’s Susanna Saapunki took silver in 45:59, and USA’s Anna Gibson took bronze in 46:07. Francesca Ghelfi’s late surge secured fifth and led Italy to team gold, ahead of France and Canada.