With the rugged beauty of the Pyrenees as a backdrop and the epic aura of a legendary route, the 2025 Canfranc-Pyrenees Marathon, which will host the Mountain & Trail Running World Championships, is shaping up to be a unique event for the world trail running elite. Stian Angermund is chasing a triple crown after gold medals in Thailand 2021 and Innsbruck 2023, while Spain, as the host country, dreams of repeating or surpassing the gold and silver team medals from Patagonia.
THE SHORT TRAIL HISTORY
The first official Short Trail took place at the 2021 Thailand World Championships, with a 38km/+2,425m route through the jungles and hills of Chiang Mai. Individual golds went to Stian Angermund (Norway) and Denisa Dragomir (Romania), with Spain winning the women’s team title and Italy the men’s.
In Innsbruck 2023, the Short Trail featured a tough and scenic alpine course of 45km/+3,135m. Stian Angermund secured his second world title, while Clémentine Geoffray won gold for France, who also won the women’s team gold. Great Britain took the men’s team title.
THE CANFRANCPYRENEES SHORT TRAIL AT THE 2025 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
This September, the heart of the Aragonese Pyrenees will beat to the rhythm of the world’s fastest mountain runners in the 45km/+3,657m Short Trail. The course replicates the mythical Canfranc-Canfranc, which for years has forged legends among red pine forests, remote ravines like Epifanio, and breathtaking panoramas — from La Moleta to the slopes of Mount Aspe, and beyond.
It will be a true test for complete athletes — those who don’t just run, but also climb, descend, and move through high mountains as if they were part of them. Fast legs won’t be enough here: strategy will be key to handle the brutal elevation, knowing when to push and when to hold back — and above all, having the mental strength not to be overwhelmed by the wild beauty of these peaks.
STIAN ANGERMUND AIMS FOR THE TRIPLE CROWN
One of the standout names will undoubtedly be Stian Angermund, the 38-year-old Norwegian based in Bergen, who dreams of completing a triple world title — the pinnacle of over a decade in the global trail running elite. His path hasn’t been easy: behind the shine of those two world titles lies a 16-month doping ban imposed by the French Federation after his 2023 victory at the OCC 50km.
In this interview, Stian Angermund shares memories of Thailand and Innsbruck, the bitter experience of the ban, and his great hopes for Canfranc.
How were your two world championship wins in Thailand 2021 and Innsbruck 2023?
Thailand was a tough race through jungle terrain and humid heat. I won in 3:08:29. The course was 38km with +2,425m elevation gain. I started very nervous but felt in great shape, so I broke away early. Later, Francesco, Max, and Jonathancaught up, but I pulled away again on the second climb. I wasn’t sure I had it until the final meters — it was very emotional.
Innsbruck wasn’t easy either — no World Championship ever is. The course was more demanding at 45km/+3,515m, and both the altitude and technicality made it very hard. I won by two minutes with a time of 4:19:00.
What happened after winning the 50k OCC in 2023?
After that win, I underwent another doping test. The French authorities found traces of chlortalidone, a substance I had never heard of. It’s on the WADA banned list due to its diuretic and masking properties. I was notified on October 20, 2023, just three days after my son was born — my world collapsed.
I tried to prove my innocence, but that meant identifying the source. I’ve never used medication, not even supplements, so it was impossible. To this day, I believe the sample was contaminated. Regardless, I was handed a 16-month ban, which I’ve fully complied with.
Why did you want to return to competition in Spain?
When I returned to racing in spring 2025, I chose the Zegama-Aizkorri Marathon — a top-tier race where I could compete against the best and reconnect with the incredible atmosphere and fans in Spain. I finished seventh, but performance wasn’t the priority. What mattered most was feeling the respect and warmth from the trail running community again.
I’ve just come back from Giir di Mont, where I won silver, and I’m feeling much better after overcoming tendonitis. I haven’t yet run the Canfranc Marathon course physically, but I’ve already studied it in detail via GPX files. It’s rugged, with demanding climbs — especially the initial Moleta — but I’m sure it’ll be a perfect setting for a great day in the mountains.
Is a triple world title still possible now that you’ve turned 38?
From the outside, I estimate the winning time at over 4h30, due to the four steep climbs and technical descents, one after the other. Of course, the level of global trail running rises every year — the younger runners make sure of that.
But what I love about this sport is that the more time you spend in the mountains, the more you learn about yourself and how to approach them. I know I need to be the best version of myself ever to stay in the fight at Canfranc. I’ll give everything I have, mentally and physically.
I plan to travel to the Pyrenees at least 10 days before the World Championships, ahead of the Norwegian team, to enjoy training in these beautiful mountains.
SERGIO MAYAYO | Press Office Manager, WMTRC 2025