Today we begin this race report with our thoughts focused on the Matterhorn. Canadian Skyrunner Kalie McCrystal has been missing since Tuesday while descending the iconic peak.
Nearly six days without news is far too long, but the entire Merrell Skyrunner® World Series family continues to hold onto hope. Our thoughts are with you, Kalie, and with everyone involved in the ongoing search efforts.
Like many legendary mountain races, the history of the Maga Skymarathon dates back to the 1960s in Zorzone, Val Serina, in the province of Bergamo. A group of mountain enthusiasts set themselves the challenge of traversing the valley’s most iconic peaks in a single day: Menna, Arera, Grem and Alben, whose initials would eventually give the race its name.
That adventure was repeated in 1975 and 1985, and in 2013 that pioneering spirit inspired the creation of ASD Maga, the organisation behind this prestigious skyrunning event.
Maga Skymarathon offers approximately 39 kilometres and 3,000 metres of positive elevation gain on a spectacular and demanding loop course.
The route follows mountain trails, alpine meadows, rocky terrain and scree slopes, summiting the four peaks that give the race its name.
Wide alpine pastures, breathtaking views, exposed sections protected by fixed ropes and the support of mountain guides and rescue teams all contribute to the unique character of an event made possible by more than 300 volunteers from across the valley.
Held every two years, the 2026 edition was the most international in the race’s history, welcoming athletes from 23 different nations. Maga Skymarathon was Round 15 of the Merrell Skyrunner® World Series 2026, a White Race carrying x1 points for both the Overall and U23 rankings.
Race Distances
- Skymarathon 39 km | ±3.000 m. Senior Overall
- Skyrace 24 km | ±1.300 m. Trophy U23 Esteban Olivero ranking
- Mini Maga, curses infantils.
Men’s Race
Italy arrived in force, led by recent Kima winner William Boffelli (ITA/Kailas Fuga). Alongside him stood Mattia Bertoncelli (ITA/New Balance), runner-up at Kima, record holder Nadir Maguet (ITA/La Sportiva) and Daniel Antonioli (ITA/Scarpa).
Maguet took control from the early stages and reached Capanna 2000 (km 13) with almost one minute in hand over Lucien Mermillon (FRA/Rossignol) and Boffelli.
However, by Passo di Zambla (km 24) the race had changed dramatically. Boffelli had moved into the lead while Maguet was forced to retire due to back problems. Mermillon remained second, just 45 seconds behind.
From there, Boffelli never looked back, claiming his second consecutive victory and confirming his superb form heading into the final phase of the season.
Mermillon finished second, while Antonioli secured third place on the podium.
In addition to Nadir Maguet’s withdrawal, Mattia Bertoncini, Tom Spencer (GBR/Inov-8) and Tomás Cuartero (ESP/Lurbel) also had to withdraw after the 24-kilometre mark, losing important points in the fight for the circuit.
 @_guaresti_ |
|
Women’s Race
The women’s race appeared wide open before the start, with no clear favourite but plenty of contenders battling for valuable World Series points and SkyMasters qualification.
Roberta Jacquin (ITA/Kailas Fuga) made an aggressive start and led alone over Menna, holding a three-minute advantage over Natalie Beadle (GBR/Arc’teryx) and six minutes over Perrine Abadie (FRA/Colibri Trail) and Elena Karanfiloska (MKD/Lurbel).
Jacquin maintained her lead through the intermediate checkpoints, but the decisive move came on the final ascent to Alben.
Meanwhile, Denisa Dragomir (ROM/Merrell) was forced to withdraw due to a nagging knee complaint. Perrine Abadie also withdrew, despite having spent the entire day among the leading competitors.
There, Natalie Beadle launched her attack, overtook Jacquin and delivered a brilliant descent to the finish.
The British athlete crossed the line more than eleven minutes clear of her nearest rival and set a new women’s course record of 5:27:50.
Eva Delafosse (FRA/Colibri Trail) also moved past Jacquin in the final section, finishing second with the Italian athlete completing the podium.
U23 Esteban Olivero Trophy
The U23 competition took place on the 24 km Skyrace course.
Spanish athletes dominated both categories.
|
|
Overall
The overall standings saw only minor changes, but Maga Skymarathon produced six new qualifiers for the SkyMasters Marató dels Dements:
- Ari-Pekka Joensuu (FIN/Merrell)
- Daniel Vinco (ITA/Lurbel)
- Natalie Beadle (GBR/Arc’teryx)
- Roberta Jacquin (ITA/Pegarun)
- Eve Pannone (GBR/Brooks)
- Tanja Löwenhagen (GER/BIX Nutrition)
However, athletes who have not completed at least one race on the circuit this season will no longer be eligible for the official final, although they will still be able to compete in the Open category of Marató dels Dements and go head-to-head with the world’s best Skyrunners.
And as we do in every report, we update the list of men’s and women’s qualifiers for the final:
Let’s review the skyrunners qualified for the Skymasters, and we will soon find out if we will have them present in Eslida/Aín in November:
|
|
Next stop: Gorbeia Suzien
The final Red Race of the regular season is here, bringing one of the last opportunities to secure a place at the SkyMasters.
Held in Zeanuri, Gorbeia Suzien is one of the true classics of Basque skyrunning. Nestled beneath the imposing Gorbea massif and within Gorbeia Natural Park, it perfectly embodies the spirit of mountain running in Euskadi.
Here, mountains are culture, racing is tradition, and the crowd is an essential part of the spectacle.
The programme will present two tests:
- Skyrace: 32 km | ±2.400 m. Senior Overall
- 21 km | ±1.200 m, U23 Esteban Olivero Trophy
For the youngsters, it will be the last opportunity before the grand final of the Esteban Olivero Trophy, which will be held on 25th October at the Sobrescobio Redes Trail.
For the Skymasters hopefuls, Gorbeia Suzien will be a decisive event. Many of the big names on the circuit have not yet secured qualification and will be unlikely to let such an important opportunity slip.
We will publish the entry lists as soon as they are provided to us.
2026 Skyrunning World Championship
Before the Gorbeia Suzien race, the 2026 ISF Skyrunning World Championships will be held on La Gomera, in the beloved Canary Islands, next weekend, from the 18th to the 20th of September.
It should be mentioned that the podium finishers in the Sky and Skyultra categories have direct access to the Skymaster competition, and although they cannot compete for the overall circuit victory—unless they also qualify via the circuit—they are still eligible for the prize money from the Marató dels Dements SkyMasters.
Here is the list of registered participants, with many athletes we know well as they are taking part in the MSWS 2026, as well as those competing in the qualifying rounds for the Skyrunner® National Series.
On our blog, you can find more information about the qualifying events that also grant access to the SkyMasters.
Look out for some names in the Sky category:
- Svetlana Nurmukhametova (RUS)
- Lucas Mouret (AND)
- Sabrina Pabst (AUT)
- Claudia Corral (ESP)
- Ana Granda Valles (ESP)
- Dimas Pereira Obaya (ESP)
- Jaime Romo Santamaria (ESP)
- Fabian Venero Jimenez (ESP)
- Louis Dumas (FRA)
- Luca Del Pero (ITA)
- Gianluca Ghiano (ITA)
- Roberta Jacquin (ITA)
- Elena Karanfiloska (MKD)
- Jorge Luis Castro Huaman (PER)
- Estela Castro Huaman (PER)
- Fran Muñoz Calzada (PER)
- Patrycja Stanek (POL)
- Dominik Tabor (POL)
- Amanda Nilsson (SWE)
- Karina Andersen (USA)
- Morgan Elliott (USA)
And the Sky Ultra:
- Pere Aurell Bovè (ESP)
- Julen Calvo Vigara (ESP)
- Mireia Pons Torres (ESP)
- Cristian Minoggio (ITA)
- Shoma Otagiri (JPN)
- Rens Nijman (NED)
- Shangave Balendran (NOR)
