#RoadToDements26: Merrell Andes Mountain Skyrace®

7 de March de 2026

After its debut in 2025 within the MSWS calendar, the second edition of the Merrell Andes Mountain Skyrace® aims to consolidate its place internationally as a unique race due to its extremely harsh weather conditions, especially for a skyrunning event.

Here are the race ingredients:

- Maximum altitude: Cerro del Plomo, 5,424 m
- Wind chill at the summit reaching -20 ºC
- Start below 0 ºC at 2,980 m
- 34 km
- Elevation gain/loss: 3,250 m
- Down jackets, long tights, crampons, mountain gloves, long sleeves… just part of the mandatory gear
- Aid stations in high‑mountain tents
- Freezing winds
Three race formats:
- 42k (34 km) El Plomo, the MSWS race
- 18k El Pintor, scoring for the U23 Esteban Olivero Trophy. Also climbs to Cerro El Plomo
- 10k Falsa Parva

Once again, the circuit offers an opportunity for athletes who stand out in their home countries but have few chances internationally to compete head‑to‑head with the world’s top skyrunners and fight for a spot at the Skymasters in Dements.

The Chilean race continues to give South American athletes the chance to showcase their talent on home terrain, especially in challenging high‑altitude and cold —very cold— conditions.

The favourites were essentially the same as in 4Refugios, taking advantage of the long trip and the proximity of both races: José Manuel Quispe (PER/Merrell CIVA), Joel Pumacayo (PER), Tavo Buitrago (COL/Merrell), Morgan Elliott (USA/Merrell), Weston Hill (NZL/Merrell), Luis Ovalle (COL), Fran Muñoz (PER/Huk Skyrunning) and Ignacio Poza (ARG/Merrell) in the U23 men’s field; and Lina El Kott (SWE/Merrell), Julia Garriga (ESP/Merrell), Paola Morales (COL), Rosalía Zegarra (PER-CIVA) and Ana Maria Pineda (COL/Merrell) in the women’s race.

The race started at 6:00 a.m. under moonlight and headlamps from the La Parva ski resort at 3,250 m, with freezing temperatures, heading toward the highest point of the 2026 Merrell Skyrunner World Series: Cerro del Plomo.

Even though the course was familiar, it was no less demanding than in 2025. The facial expressions captured in race photos say it all: climbing and descending a 5,000‑meter peak in skyrunning style is brutal.

And the predictions were right: Peruvian dominance

Altitude played a key role, allowing Peruvian athletes to make the most of their acclimatization. Rosalía Zegarra (CIVA) and José Manuel Quispe (Merrell‑CIVA) claimed victory in an edition where temperatures were less extreme than last year.

In the men’s race, José Manuel was already leading at the first checkpoint, Federación, followed by compatriot Fran Calzada (PER/Huk Skyrunning) and Morgan Elliott (USA/Merrell) three minutes behind. They summited El Plomo in that same order, and despite the long and technical descent —which in previous editions became treacherous due to the cold— the positions remained unchanged at the finish. Weston Hill (NZE/Merrell) and local runner Luis Ovalle (COL) completed the top five.

@MSWS *Pablo Gasparini & Matías Nestares (ARG)

In the women’s race, Rosalía Zegarra also led at Federación, followed by Lina El Kott (SWE/Merrell) seven minutes behind, with Colombians Paola Morales and Anni Pineda arriving next. After summiting El Plomo, Rosalía maintained her lead to take the win in La Parva, followed by Lina and a strong third place for Colombian Annie Pineda (Merrell), improving her 2025 result. Fourth and fifth place went to Paola Morales (COL) and Julia Garriga (ESP/Merrell), who closes her “South American tour” after finishing eighth at 4Refugios.

@MSWS

@MSWS

Overall after the second stop

The leaders stay in front, and although the season has just begun, the overall standings are now led by José Manuel —two out of two— and Rosalía, who with her win in Chile and podium in Argentina will keep the lead at least until the fourth race of the circuit: Calamorro Skyrace ®.

First continental jump: Acantilados del norte Skyrace ®

Only one week later comes the third race of the season. A short hop, and we land at the gateway to Europe: the Canary Islands. Specifically, La Palma — the “Isla Bonita” — which will show its wildest side.

Jairo Ponce, head of Fitters, has prepared for the third consecutive year a route along the Camino Real de la Costa, the GR130, on the northern side of the island. This edition starts in Garafía and finishes in Barlovento — the direction alternates every year. The course covers 29 km of constant climbs and descents through ravines and cliffs, totalling 2,250 m +/-.

Acantilados del Norte. From the icy, dry and technical terrain of the Andes and Patagonia, we move to a tropical climate by the Atlantic. Still wild, but now green and humid — and as always in the circuit, 100% skyrunning.