MSWS® 2025 lands in France for its second stop.
Between the Alps and the Pyrenees, this race arrives at the legendary Central Massif where nature offers no mercy.

The Tarn gorges are the battlefield. Sharp rocks, dizzying trails, wild vegetation, and breathtaking views… if the elevation gain hasn’t already stolen your breath! This isn’t a stroll, this is a fight, a test of endurance, a race driven by sheer passion!  

Saint Enimie became the neuralgic centre of operations of the Lòzere Trail, which together with Chanac, turn the whole weekend into the nerve centre of trailrunning in France, a festival of races with different levels of difficulty, playing with the villages of Channac and Ste Enimie as the start and finish line.

• Ultra Lozère 110km +/-5600m+/- two stages
• Skyrace® des Gorges du Tarn  25km +/-1800m
• Lozère Trail 2 rivières 52 km +/-2400
• Lozère Trail 25 km +/-1100m
• Salta Bartas 12 km +/-500
• Kids races

The Tarn gorges are the battlefield. Sharp rocks, dizzying trails, wild vegetation, and breathtaking views… if the elevation gain hasn’t already stolen your breath! This isn’t a stroll – this is a fight, a test of endurance, a race driven by sheer passion!

A brutal climb, two faster ascents, but three vicious technical descents that will test every step. This terrain is relentless. Lose focus for a second, and it’ll chew you up. If you’re here for the views, come back another day!

Men’s race
Right from the start, Luca del Pero (ITA- Scarpa) and Frederic Tranchand (FRA- Merrell) stormed ahead, leaving everyone else behind. Tranchand claimed the first segment prize, but Luca kept the lead throughout, resisting a last-ditch attack from Tranchand on the final descent. Luca crossed the finish line 1 minute and 34 seconds ahead, securing his victory. 

Behind them, at a distance of about two/three minutes, the rest of the favourites and the U23s were swapping positions: Lluís Puigvert (ESP/FEEC-Salomon), Lucien Mermillon (FRA/Rossignol), Finlay Grant (GBR/Scarpa), Jules Mongellaz (FRA/Colibrie Trail Academie), Roger Comellas (ESP/FEEC-Merrell) and Paul Ormaetxea (ESP/Euskal Selekzioa).
And even though Tranchand fell back on the last descent, he was unable to catch the solid leader of the overall, Luca de Pero, who won the race. 5 minutes later and very close to each other, the top 5 of the race arrived in the following order: Finlay Grant, Lucien Mermillon and Roger Comellas. Lluís Puigvert, who spent almost the whole race in podium places, despite suffering a spectacular fall, managed to finish in a fantastic 6th position.

Women’s race
One name ruled the women’s race: Patricia Pineda (ESP/La Sportiva). The Calamorro Skyrace winner wasted no time, took the lead straight away, claimed the first segment prize, and extended her lead without hesitation, finishing a stunning 5-6 minutes ahead of the competition. Unstoppable.

Alice Bausseron (FRA/New Balance) and Cèlia Balcells (Merrell) practically ran the whole course together until the Castelbouc campsite, just at the start of the last climb, where Cèlia gained enough distance to reach the finish line in second place with some peace of mind, with Alice Bausseron completing the podium.
The top 5 was completed by Laia Calzada (ESP-La Sportiva Junior-FEEC) and Aina Cusí (ESP-Merrell).

U23 
This race was part of the U23 Esteban Olivero Trophy, where the future of Skyrunning was also present, fighting from one to one for the general classification.
The U23 female race was won by Laia Calzada (FEEC-Joma), joined on the podium by Martina Gonfaus (FEEC-La Sportiva) and Nerea Urteaga (Euskal Selekzioa).
As for the youngsters, the third absolute Finlay Grant (GBR-Scarpa), won the race, followed by Lucien Mermillon (FRA-Rossignol) and Lluís Puigvert (FEEC-Salomon).

Almost at the middle of the circuit, we can already find consolidated positions at the top of the overall, different strategies among the favourites, and soon, with the American tour, new names will surely be added to compete in the Skymasters in Eslida and Aín in November. That’s the overall:

It should be noted that both Luca del Pero and Frederic Tranchand have already secured their tickets for the Skymasters. Atlètes already qualified for the final:

Denisa Dragomir (ROM – Merrell)
Iris Pessey (FRA – Scott Running)
Rens Nijman (NED – Klub.run)
Luca Del Pero (ITA-Scarpa)
Frederic Tranchan (FRA-Merrell)

Next stop: Minotaure Skyrace®

With the French leg wrapped up, MSWS® 2025 now heads to Canada for the Minotaure Skyrace® on June 21. After what we’ve just witnessed at Gorges du Tarn, one thing is clear: this season is shaping up to be legendary!

From the Dements organization, we want to express our gratitude to the Lozère Trail team, led by Philippe Miquel, for hosting us throughout the weekend. Some of us raced, others joined as volunteers, but all of us had an incredible experience being part of the MSWS international events. Thank you so much, friends, for your warm welcome, kindness, and hospitality!