Two years later, biennial race, Val Masino, in the Italian Alps, once again becomes the global epicentre of Skyrunning and returns to the Merrell Skyrunner® World Series 2026. calendar as the 14th race of the 18+1 events that make up the world series.
@Skyrunning
For many, it is considered the most technical and spectacular race on the international calendar, bringing together some of the best specialists in the discipline, who this weekend have had to split their attention between this event and yesterday’s Matterhorn Ultraks Extreme.
52 km and 8.400 metres de desnivell acumulat (+/- 4.200 m), of cumulative elevation gain and loss (+/- 4,200 m) in a circular race format. Trofeu Kima crosses seven mountain passes above 2,500 metres in altitude and offers a unique combination of exposed ridgelines, vast granite boulder fields, fixed-rope sections and high-alpine terrain that has helped build its legendary status over more than three decades.
@trofeokima
Trofeo Kima is much more than a competition: it is a genuine test of sporting survival in which technical ability, navigation skills and physical endurance can be just as decisive as speed.
With only 300 race bibs available and demanding entry requirements, the Italian event maintains its status as a cult race within the international mountain running scene. Anyone lining up with ambitions of victory knows exactly what awaits them. Both Italian regulations and the organisation’s professionalism and common sense recognise that limiting participation is the only way to guarantee a safe and well-organised race.
The organisers are fully aware of the terrain on which they operate and have extensive experience in high-mountain environments. Therefore, although the race is scheduled for Saturday, should weather conditions prevent it from taking place, a Sunday start has already been planned.
This will be the 22nd edition of the race, which has been held every two years since 2008. Looking back through the results and seeing the names of the trail running legends who have won here gives a clear indication of the magnitude of Trofeo Kima, and the top contenders will undoubtedly be hoping to see their names alongside icons such as Kilian Jornet, Marco De Gasperi, Miguel Heras and Núria Picas.
4 race formats:
- Trofeu Kima: 52 km ±4.200 m. Merrell Skyrunner® World Series.
- Kima Extreme Skyrace®: 27,5 km ±1.890 m.
- Kima Mini Trail: 14 km. Perfil corredor i poc tècnic.
- Kima Trail: 6 km. Apta per a tots els públics.
Among those who did not want to miss the 2026 edition were Hilari Gerardi (FRA), winner in 2018, 2022 and 2024, and Emelie Forsberg (NOR/NNormal), the 2016 champion and runner-up in both 2012 and 2014. Although Forsberg started among the leading runners, she was ultimately forced to retire from the race, ankle injured.
With perfect weather conditions, the race got underway right on schedule at 6:30 a.m. local time, with no need to activate the contingency plan of moving the event to Sunday.
Men’s race
The start was relatively “calm”, with virtually all the favourites passing through Bocchetta Roma (km 15) within just over a minute of each other. The first major descent across rocky boulder fields began to stretch out the field, and by Rifugio Allievi (km 25), the first significant gaps had already opened.
William Boffelli (ITA/Kailas Fuga), Mattia Bertoncini (ITA) and Federico Nicolini (ITA) reached the checkpoint together at the front. Manuel Merillas (ESP/New Balance) followed two minutes behind, while Lino Chanoine (ITA) was three minutes back.
At Rifugio Gianetti (km 34), the positions remained unchanged, but Boffelli continued to extend his lead. The Italian held an advantage of around two minutes over Bertoncini and four minutes over Nicolini. Meanwhile, Merillas continued to lose ground and trailed the leader by eleven minutes.
At the finish line, the top three positions remained unchanged. William Boffelli claimed his first Trofeo Kima title, joined on the podium by Mattia Bertoncini in second place and Federico Nicolini in third. Manuel Merillas lost two places in the final section of the course and finished sixth, while Germany’s Johannes Wingenfeld took fourth and Félix Guglielmo (FRA/Millet) finished fifth.
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Woman’s race
In the women’s race, the field spread out much earlier than in the men’s event. At Bocchetta Roma (km 15), Hillary Gerardi (FRA/Scarpa Black Diamond) led the race with a one-minute advantage over Emelie Forsberg (NOR/NNormal) and four minutes over Elena Karanfiloska (MKD/Lurbel).
Kima is Kima, and when a terrain specialist like Hillary Gerardi is in top form, she sets a relentless pace that is extremely difficult to match. If her lead at the first checkpoint was just one minute, by Rifugio Allievi it had grown to five minutes over second-placed Roberta Jacquin (ITA/ASD Pegarun). Lucille Germain (FRA/NNormal) was third, six minutes behind, while June Villarroel (ESP/La Sportiva) was already nine minutes back.
At Rifugio Gianetti (km 34), Hillary remained firmly in control, holding a comfortable four-minute lead over Lucille Germain, who had moved into second place. Roberta Jacquin passed in third, eleven minutes behind; June Villarroel was fourth at twenty-three minutes; and Kalie McCrystal was fifth with the same deficit.
There were no further changes on the podium. Hillary Gerardi cemented her status as the undisputed queen of Kima, securing her fourth consecutive victory (2018, 2022, 2024 and 2026) while also setting a new course record. It is a pity that she is not competing in the full circuit this season, meaning we will not get to see her again in Eslida for the SkyMasters, as we did in 2024.
Overall
New SkyMasters qualifiers following the Trofeo Kima:
- Daniel Izquierdo (ESP/Os2O)
- Ainara Alcuaz (ESP/Euskal Selekzioa)
- Elena Karanfiloska (MKD/Lurbel)
- Anna Darmogai (UKR/Kailas Fuga)
- June Villarroel (ESP/La Sportiva)
- Lina El Kott (SWE/Merrell)
In addition to the skyrunners who have already secured qualification after finishing at least four races, many title contenders are now just one race away from booking their place in the Grand Final.
Attention now turns to the four remaining events on the calendar: Maga Skymarathon in a couple of weeks, the two Spanish races Gorbeia Suzien and Sobrescobio Redes Trail, and the final Asian stop at the legendary Mt. Kinabalu Intl. Climbathon,
Already qualified:
d’ací a un parell de setmanes, les dues cites espanyoles, i Sobrescobio Redes Trail, i l’última parada asiàtica a la mítica .
Repassem skyrunners classificats per a la Skymasters, que en breu, anirem descobrint si els tindrem presents a Eslida/Aín en novembre:
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Next Stop: Maga Skymarathon
Following the whirlwind UTMB weekend, and remaining in Italy, the circuit will move from Val Masino to Serina, in the Bergamo province.
The course traverses some of the most iconic ridgelines of the Orobie Bergamasche, featuring long sections of high mountain terrain, technical passages and spectacular scenery that have made Maga Skymarathon one of the benchmark events in European skyrunning.
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Once again, northern Italy will bring together some of the world’s best skyrunners in a demanding and highly technical race featuring 39 km and 3,000 metres of positive and negative elevation gain. It will be one of the final opportunities for many athletes to secure their place at the 2026 SkyMasters Marató dels Dements and, at the same time, improve their ranking points ahead of the final on November 7 in the Serra d’Espadà.
It will also count towards the Esteban Olivero U23 Trophy, providing one of the final opportunities, before Gorbeia Suzien, for young athletes to challenge for the championship.
Favourites:
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