Val d'Aran by UTMB 2026: The Winners, Breakthrough Performances and Biggest Stories From the Pyrenees
Katarzyna Dombrowska by UTMB
The European Major of the UTMB World Series rarely disappoints.
Held in the Spanish Pyrenees, Val d'Aran by UTMB has become one of the defining weekends of the trail running calendar, bringing together thousands of runners across multiple distances while offering direct qualification to the UTMB World Series Finals for the top finishers in the flagship races.
This year's edition produced no shortage of storylines.
Sara Alonso returned to the top step of the podium, Miao Yao continued one of the strongest seasons in women's trail running, while the 100-mile race crowned a first-time Val d'Aran champion.
Sara Alonso returns to winning ways
Sara Alonso
One of the biggest stories came in the PDA 55K.
After a challenging period marked by injuries and inconsistent results, Sara Alonso reminded everyone why she remains one of trail running's biggest talents. The Spaniard claimed victory ahead of Ioana Madalina Amariei and Nuria Gil Clapera, securing an important confidence boost midway through the season.
PDA 55K
🥇 Sara Alonso
🥈 Ioana Madalina Amarie
🥉 Nuria Gil Clapera
On the men's side, Italy enjoyed a dominant day with Luca Del Pero taking victory ahead of compatriot Gianluca Ghiano, while Anthony Felber completed the podium.
Miao Yao continues her remarkable season
Fresh from another outstanding year on the international circuit, Miao Yao added another major result by winning the CDH 110K in convincing fashion.
The Chinese runner finished comfortably ahead of France's Alexandra Cassan-Ferrier, while Mari Klakegg Fenre secured another podium finish at Val d'Aran after previously winning Lavaredo 100K earlier in her career.
Norway also celebrated a second top-10 finish, with Ingrid M. Due-Gundersen placing eighth in another strong international field.
CDH 110K
🥇 Miao Yao
🥈 Alexandra Cassan-Ferrier
🥉 Mari Klakegg Fenre
The men's race was won by Gautier Bonnecarrere, ahead of Abel Carretero.
Santos Gabriel Rueda conquers the VDA 100M
The weekend's toughest challenge remained the VDA 163K, featuring 163 kilometres and 10,000 metres of climbing through the Pyrenees.
Argentina's Santos Gabriel Rueda emerged victorious after a demanding race, with Théo Soriano and Delbi Villa Gongora completing the podium.
The women's race belonged to Katarzyna Dombrowska, who continued her excellent season by taking another UTMB World Series victory ahead of Aroa Sio and Salomé Grihon.
VDA 163K
Women
🥇 Katarzyna Dombrowska
🥈 Aroa Sio
🥉 Salomé Grihon
Men
🥇 Santos Gabriel Rueda
🥈 Théo Soriano
🥉 Delbi Villa Gongora
Experience race attracts another large field
The shorter EXP 32K once again proved hugely popular, attracting more than 1,000 finishers.
María Teresa La Chica Lhóëst claimed the women's victory, while Joel Santamaría won the men's race to round off the weekend.
The Bigger Picture
Val d'Aran once again demonstrated why it has become one of the most important stops on the UTMB World Series calendar.
For established names such as Sara Alonso and Miao Yao, it reinforced strong seasons and added another high-profile victory to their résumés.
For others, including several podium finishers across the 100M and 100K races, it provided valuable momentum—and direct qualification—for the UTMB World Series Finals later this season.
With the European Major now complete, attention begins to shift towards the second half of the UTMB World Series calendar and, ultimately, Chamonix.
