The official poster for the 2025 Mountain & Trail Running World Championships, which will take place in Canfranc from September 24 to 28, was unveiled this morning in Zaragoza. The artwork is by Madrid-born artist Ricardo Montoro, who resides in Tramacastilla de Tena. This marks the first time in the history of the World Championships that a visual artist has been commissioned to create its official image.
The unveiling took place at the IAACC Pablo Serrano Museum in Zaragoza and also served to publicly highlight the widespread institutional backing for the event, which promises to be one of the year’s premier sporting occasions — not just in Aragón, but across Spain.
Among those in attendance were Spain’s Minister of Education and Sports, Pilar Alegría; Aragón’s Minister of Education, Culture and Sport, Tomasa Hernández; Aragón’s Minister for the Environment and Tourism, Manuel Blasco; President of the Provincial Council of Huesca, Isaac Claver; Mayor of Canfranc, Fernando Sánchez; Championship Director, Alex Varela; and the artist himself, Ricardo Montoro.
Montoro explained that the poster was inspired by one of his artistic lines, Minimun, which emphasizes simplicity: “With just a few strokes, I aim to capture key moments. In this case, the figure, the mountain, and the line that connects them — symbolizing the bond between the athlete and the landscape. The work was created using ink, acrylic, and watercolor.”
Championship Director Alex Varela noted that Montoro was chosen due to “his remarkable ability to uniquely connect mountain sports and the natural environment through minimalist, yet powerful visual expression.”
Canfranc Mayor Fernando Sánchez emphasized that the World Championships will demonstrate “that rural areas are not destined to disappear, but rather are ready to lead through sustainability, quality, and strong identity.” Echoing this sentiment, Isaac Claver, President of the Provincial Council of Huesca, highlighted the region’s potential: “Huesca has the capacity to be one of the world’s most attractive destinations for adventure sports and outdoor activities. We bring a unique magic to everything we organize — a magic that radiates throughout every corner of our province.”
Manuel Blasco, Aragón’s Minister for the Environment and Tourism, expressed his enthusiasm for hosting the event in Canfranc: “Taking place in a protected natural area of the Pyrenees, this competition will provide a major boost to tourism. Sporting events are a true driver of tourism and local revitalization.”
Tomasa Hernández, Minister of Education, Culture and Sport of Aragón, congratulated Canfranc on hosting the World Championships “in such a privileged natural setting” and reiterated the region’s ambition: “We want Aragón to be firmly on the international map of major sporting events. These competitions are also a source of inspiration for grassroots sports, offering valuable role models for our youth.”
Finally, Spain’s Minister Pilar Alegría stated that “Canfranc has earned the right to host this World Championship thanks to the tireless effort, passion, and commitment it has shown for many years. This event is a fantastic opportunity to showcase our extraordinary historical and natural heritage to the world.”
The CanfrancPirineos 2025 World Championships are organized under the umbrella of World Athletics, in collaboration with the World Mountain Running Association (WMRA), the International Trail Running Association (ITRA), the International Association of Ultrarunners (IAU), and the Royal Spanish Athletics Federation (RFEA).
The Spanish and Aragonese edition is set to break all previous participation records. Pre-registration closed last week with over 1,700 athletes and staff from 75 countries, significantly surpassing the figures from the previous Championships held in Innsbruck-Stubai in 2023. These numbers confirm the booming popularity of trail running worldwide, with annual participation growing at an estimated 21%, according to World Athletics data.
The competition in Canfranc will feature five events: Uphill, Classic, and U20 in mountain running; and Short Trail and Long Trail in trail running. This will be the first time in history that Spain and the Pyrenees — Europe’s second-largest mountain range — host this prestigious international event. The town of Canfranc is globally renowned for its iconic International Railway Station, which is nearing its centennial anniversary.
About Ricardo Montoro (Madrid, 1965)
Ricardo Montoro is a mountain guide and visual artist who has lived in the Pyrenees for several decades. Deeply connected to the world of mountains and skiing, his work has been exhibited in cities like Turin, Chamonix, Grenoble, Norway, Barcelona, Zaragoza, and Jaca. He has collaborated with national and international publications such as Desniveland Backline, and with brands like Trangoworld. He has also designed ski and apparel artwork for Salomon. Montoro’s art has been showcased in both solo and group exhibitions across many countries.