ZEGAMA-AIZKORRI HISTORY: 24 YEARS OF THE SKY MARATHON'S SPIRITUAL HOME
Zegama-Aizkorri started in 2002 in the Basque village of Zegama, named for the climb from the village center up to Mount Aizkorri at 1,551 meters and back down. The early editions drew regional Basque mountain runners and a handful of Spanish nationals. By 2007 the race had joined the Skyrunner World Series, and by the mid-2010s it ranked as the most prestigious sky marathon on the global calendar.
The 2002 Founding
The race ran for the first time in May 2002, on the same May weekend it has occupied for most of its history. Juan Martin Tolosa of Spain won the inaugural edition. The course covered the marathon distance of 42.195 kilometers with approximately 2,736 meters of cumulative elevation gain, climbing through forest to Aizkorri peak and descending through the same valleys.
The stated motivation was to bring something new to the village of Zegama, a town of roughly 1,500 residents in Gipuzkoa province. The race quickly became a defining annual event for the community. Spectator turnout along the course, particularly through the village center on the climb out and the descent back, became one of the race's identifying features. The Basque crowd's energy at Zegama remains unmatched in mountain running, with thousands of fans lining the course on roads and forest paths.
The Pre-Jornet Era (2002-2006)
Fernando Garcia of Spain won 2003. Mario Poletti of Italy took 2004, the first non-Spanish men's winner. Rob Jebb of the United Kingdom won 2005, with Ricardo Mejia of Mexico claiming 2006. The early international diversity reflected the race's growing reputation across Europe and the Americas.
On the women's side, Corinne Favre of France emerged as the first dominant figure, winning in 2005, 2007, and 2008. Her three victories matched the depth of an emerging international women's mountain running scene.
The Kilian Jornet Era
Kilian Jornet won his first Zegama-Aizkorri in 2007 at age 19. He has now won the race eleven times across two decades, the most successful run by any athlete at any major mountain race in the sport's history. His victory years span 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2019, 2022, and 2024.
The 2009 edition went to Ricky Lightfoot of the United Kingdom in one of the few years where Jornet did not win during his peak run. Even in years when other athletes won (Tadei Pivk in 2015, Stian Angermund in 2017, Rémi Bonnet in 2018), Jornet's presence in the field shaped the race's identity. His Zegama wins helped establish him globally as the defining mountain runner of his generation.
Jornet's course record came in 2022 with a time of 3:36:40, his fastest at the race despite his career then spanning fifteen years on the course. He returned in 2024 to win in 3:38:07, less than two minutes slower than his record, demonstrating that the course continued to suit his pacing and climbing style.
Other Notable Men's Winners
Tadei Pivk of Italy won the 2015 men's race in 3:51:11. Stian Angermund-Vik of Norway took 2017 in 3:45:08. Rémi Bonnet of Switzerland won 2018 in 3:53:55. Manuel Merillas of Spain claimed 2023 in 3:42:01.
Elhousine Elazzaoui of Morocco won the 2025 men's race in 3:43:28. His win marked the first Moroccan victory in the men's competition, extending the geographic spread of the race's roll of champions.
The Women's Race
Oihana Kortazar of Spain won the women's race in 2011 and 2012. Maite Maiora of Spain took 2017 in 4:34:27. Yngvild Kaspersen of Norway won 2016 in 4:50:58. Ida Nilsson of Sweden took 2018 in 4:38:37.
Eli Anne Dvergsdal of Norway won 2019 in 4:36:06, the last edition before the pandemic gap. Nienke Brinkman of the Netherlands won the 2022 women's race in 4:16:43, setting the women's course record. Brinkman, primarily a road marathoner who had run sub-2:25 on flat courses, demonstrated that elite road talent could translate to mountain terrain when paired with the right preparation.
Daniela Oemus of Germany won 2023 in 4:31:54. Sylvia Nordskar of Norway took 2024 in 4:29:12. Sara Alonso of Spain won the 2025 women's race in 4:27:25.
The Pandemic Gap
The race did not run in 2020 or 2021 due to COVID-19 restrictions. Editions 19 and 20 were cancelled, with the numbering jumping from the 2019 edition directly to 2022. The race returned in May 2022 with the course record runs by both Jornet and Brinkman, signaling that the time off had not diminished the field's competitive depth.
Series Affiliations
Zegama-Aizkorri joined the Skyrunner World Series in 2007 and remained a circuit fixture through the series' evolution. In 2018 the race added affiliation with the Golden Trail World Series, the more recently formed circuit organized around shorter mountain races. The dual affiliation reflects the race's straddling of two parallel ecosystems in modern trail running.
The addition of a Vertical Kilometer race in 2015 expanded the weekend's program. The VK runs the climb from Zegama up to a high point in approximately one-third of the time of the full marathon, providing a separate competitive event for athletes specializing in shorter, steeper distances.
The Course
The Zegama-Aizkorri course climbs from the village center through the Sancti Spiritu basilica and into beech forest, then transitions to alpine meadow as it ascends to Mount Aizkorri. The summit at 1,551 meters offers panoramic views of the Basque mountain ranges. The descent retraces much of the climb but uses different sections of trail to provide variation. Total elevation gain reaches approximately 2,736 meters across 42 kilometers.
The course's distinctive feature is the Basque public lining sections of the route. Sancti Spiritu, the Aizkorri ridgeline, and the village finish all draw crowds in the thousands. The race weekend coincides with the peak of Basque mountain running culture, and athletes routinely cite Zegama's atmosphere as the most intense in the sport.
Place in the Sport
Zegama-Aizkorri's status comes from a combination of geography, longevity, and the depth of its winners. The race has been continuously held since 2002 except for the pandemic years, with field quality that has scaled alongside the global growth of trail running. Kilian Jornet's eleven wins set the gold standard for any athlete's relationship with a single race.
The 2026 edition will be the 24th running. The course remains essentially unchanged from earlier years, the venue is still the same Basque village, and the May date has held throughout. In a sport where races chase commercial scale and venue rotations, Zegama's continuity stands as part of why it has retained its position at the top of the skyrunning hierarchy.