Swiss Canyon Trail 2025 – Report
Swiss Canyon Trail 6 to 8 June 2025
Val-de-Travers, 7 June 2025
A hard-fought 100-mile race dominated by Sangé Sherpa and Anthony Pipitone
For its anniversary edition, the brand-new 100 Miles – a 166-kilometre race – was inaugurated in the most spectacular manner. This extreme debut brought together 150 runners, ready to brave the elements —and they certainly did! At nightfall on Friday, 6 June, torrential rain fell on the course, rendering the trails particularly treacherous and transforming the event into a true mental and physical challenge.
The event started on Friday afternoon at the Couvet sports centre in ideal conditions, under clear skies. But the weather quickly changed: torrential rain, mud, and fog on the ridges… At some checkpoints, organisers advised participants to take temporary shelter to wait out the worst downpours. Nevertheless, 80% of the participants continued on their way, after a hellish night, driven on by an unwavering determination. 
A solid duo to lead the race
Two runners quickly took the lead: Frenchman Anthony Pipitone and Nepalese runner Sangé Sherpa. They covered many kilometres together, taking turns and motivating each other in extreme rain conditions. In particularly challenging weather conditions, Sangé Sherpa made Swiss Canyon Trail history by winning the very first edition of the 100 Miles, a legendary new ultrarunning event added this year. He won with an impressive time of 22 hours and 6 minutes, making the difference on the final stretch of a demanding course. Anthony Pipitone, who struggled during the night after suffering from hypothermia, showed remarkable tenacity to secure second place in 22 hours and 32 minutes.
The podium was completed by Maxime Hourdebaigts, also from France, who finished at a solid third place. At the finish, Sangé Sherpa, deeply moved, confided with a smile: “I enjoyed the rain, the mud, the wind… I don’t think I’ve ever run in so much rain! Around midnight, the race became very complicated, but Anthony and I kept encouraging
each other. He’s very strong!”
On the women’s side, young French ultrarunner Marie Janod caused a surprise by becoming the very first female winner of the 100 Miles at the Swiss Canyon Trail. Cheered on by the crowd, she crossed the finish line in 26 hours and 6 minutes, delivering a remarkable performance for her very first 100 Miles race. Second place was Céline Bernasconi (SUI) in 27:58:45 and third was Dominique Montandon Brunner (SUI) in 36:42:19.
Arsenio and Wilhem Take 111K titles
In the 111K women’s race, first home was Ariane Wilhem (SUI) finishing in 13:31:18. Second was Sarah Humble (USA) in 13:51:52 and third podium place was taken by
Li Ying (CHN) in 14:24:02.
In the men’s race, Miguel Arsenio demonstrated his skills once again. The Portuguese runner, who won last year, took the lead from the 20th kilometre and never relinquished it. Perfectly mastering this race, which he loves so much, he retained his title finishing in 10:45, ahead of China’s Ji Duo (11:09) as well as Spain’s Aleix Toda Mas (11:49), his main rival, who had finished second before in 2024.
German victory in the 81K: Janosch Kowalczyk triumphs in extreme conditions
The weather conditions transformed the 81K course and its 4,000 meters of elevation gain into a real challenge.
Pouring rain, flooded trails, and ever-present mud made the race even more challenging, making Janosch Kowalczyk’s victory even more impressive. The German, the clear favourite at the start, won in 7 hours and 59 minutes after a top-flight performance. “It was the toughest race I’ve ever done. In some places, I was knee-deep in water!” he declared at the finish. Italy’s Davide Rivero took second place in 8 hours and 23 minutes, followed by Belgium’s Pierre Breuer, third in 8 hours and 29 minutes.
In the women’s 81K race, French runner Sylvaine Cussot claimed the top spot on the podium after a well-controlled race from start to finish. She finished in 10 hours and 10 minutes, ahead of Austrian Adriana Moser, who took second place with a time of 10 hours and 23 minutes.
Val-de-Travers, 7 June 2025
A great battle in the 51k and the victory for the Portuguese athlete Francisco José Anguita Bayo.
The traditional 51km race once again lived up to expectations, despite very challenging weather conditions. From the very first strides, the 600 trail runners at the start were faced with pouring rain and a course resembling a veritable muddy battlefield. At the front of the race, the crowd witnessed a magnificent duel between Francisco José Anguita Bayo (POR) and Jianjian Yang (CHN). The two men stayed in lockstep throughout the race, engaging in an intense battle right up to the very last straight. Ultimately, it was the Portuguese who found the resources to make the difference in the final 500 meters, winning by 24 seconds over his Chinese opponent.
Francisco José Anguita Bayo: “I’m not at all used to these conditions; I really suffered from the cold. The race was very close, but I managed to make the difference in the final meters!”
Norwegian Sylvia Nordskar dominated the women’s 51K race, winning in 4 hours and 30 minutes, more than 43 minutes ahead of second-place finisher Beatriz Perron Alvarez (POR) (5 hours and 13 minutes). In third place was the Czech Republic’s Marcela Vasinova.
The Swiss Canyon Trail is part of the World Trail Majors – a diverse, respectful, sustainable and independent approach to trail and ultra- racing. Bringing together some of the best races and race organisers in the world, with the aim of providing an alternative to global racing with local knowledge and community at its heart.
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