With just one month to go before the opening of CanfrancPirineos 2025, the President of Aragón, Jorge Azcón, has stated that “this will be one of the most important sporting events of 2025, the result of many years of work and of our firm commitment to attracting major international competitions.”

Meanwhile, the Mayor of Canfranc, Fernando Sánchez, highlighted that the World Championships “will put our town on the global trail running map and give us the opportunity to show the world our ability to organize a truly international event.”

A Historic Edition of the World Championships

On September 24, the third unified edition of the World Mountain & Trail Running Championships will officially kick off in CanfrancPirineos. The event will gather 1,700 athletes from 80 countries—the highest participation figure in its history.

A total of five disciplines will be contested:

• Uphill
• Classic
• U20
• Short Trail
• Long Trail

The final countdown has begun, and the organizing team is working intensely to ensure everything is in place by opening day. In the coming days, the deadline will close for national federations to submit their final list of participating athletes. Meanwhile, final details are being polished in key areas such as transportation, accommodation, safety, volunteer coordination, and the opening and closing ceremonies.

Aragón Takes the Global Stage

President Jorge Azcón is confident that “this championship will put Aragón, Canfranc, and the entire Pyrenees on the world map for these disciplines, further cementing our position as a leading destination for mountain and trail events. Moreover, it serves as a model for grassroots sports. We want our youth to find role models in these athletes and be inspired to push their own limits.”

An International Effort with Spanish Leadership

The World Championships are organized under the supervision of World Athletics, in collaboration with the World Mountain Running Association (WMRA), International Trail Running Association (ITRA), International Association of Ultrarunners (IAU), and the Royal Spanish Athletics Federation (RFEA). The event also receives support from the Spanish Sports Council (CSD), Government of Aragón, Huesca Provincial Council (DPH), and Canfranc City Council.

Raúl Chapado: “A Tribute to Nature, Effort and Unity”

Raúl Chapado, President of the Royal Spanish Athletics Federation and Vice President of World Athletics, expressed in the weeks leading up to the event:
“Spain welcomes this World Championship with open arms. As President of the RFEA and Vice President of World Athletics, I couldn’t be prouder. This event will be a tribute to nature, to hard work, and to the unity among nations.”

Canfranc 2025: Sports, Sustainability and Development

President Azcón emphasized that CanfrancPirineos 2025 is about more than just sport:
“It’s also about development. It takes place in a protected natural area of our Pyrenees and will be a major boost for tourism, the economy, and the international visibility of our region.”

In the same vein, Mayor Fernando Sánchez stressed that the World Championships “will be an example of sustainability, environmental respect, and of the value of our Pyrenean landscape as part of our identity.”

He also underlined the challenge and significance of hosting a World Championship in a town of barely 600 residents:
“Especially now that we know the 2027 host city will be Cape Town, South Africa—a city with over 5 million inhabitants. This puts into perspective just how monumental this achievement truly is.”