The men's race saw a closely contested battle between Italy's Luca Del Pero and Portugal's Nuno Campos (POR, ITRA Index: 883), with both athletes fighting for the inaugural European title.

Del Pero took the lead early and maintained a narrow advantage throughout the race. Campos stayed close behind, trailing by less than a minute at the intermediate checkpoints, while Spain's Fran Bayo (ESP, ITRA Index: 902) established himself in third position.

Despite the pressure from Campos, Del Pero held on to cross the finish line in 5:14:05. Campos finished second in 5:14:48, while Bayo completed the podium in 5:31:01.

“It was a much tougher race than I expected. The heat made the final two hours really difficult, and I even went around 10 kilometres without water after missing an aid station. The course had everything, from technical sections to fast, runnable trails. I really enjoyed the battle with my friend who finished second,” said Luca Del Pero.

Photo: Agnelo Quelhas, @agneloquelhasphotography

Maroto's patient strategy pays off with women's European title

The women's race delivered an equally exciting contest, with several changes in the leading positions before Spain's Marta Maroto emerged victorious.

Portugal's Ana Rodrigues (POR, ITRA Index: 757) set the early pace, leading through the opening checkpoints ahead of compatriot Sofia Vieira, with Maroto initially in third.

As the race progressed, Maroto began closing the gap. By the start of the downhill segment, the Spaniard had taken the lead, opening a seven-minute advantage over Rodrigues.

Maroto maintained her lead to cross the finish line in 6:38:12, securing the European title.

Behind her, Alisa Prokhorova (ITRA Index: 660) moved through the field to finish second in 6:40:43, just two minutes and 31 seconds behind the winner. Portugal's Sofia Vieira (POR, ITRA Index: 697) also fought back in the closing kilometres, securing third place in 6:46:27, just 15 seconds ahead of Rodrigues.

“My strategy was to start conservatively and save my energy for the second half of the race. Having my parents here supporting me and helping me know when to push gave me so much confidence. I'm really happy with how I raced and proud to be part of this first ITRA National League European Final,” said Marta Maroto.

Beyond the overall rankings, Del Pero also claimed the men's Uphill and Sprint challenges, while Maroto won the women's Uphill segment. Portugal's Sofia Vieira took both the women's Sprint and Downhill titles, with Sweden's Anton Fauli (SWE, ITRA Index: 816) recording the fastest men's Downhill time.

Photo: Agnelo Quelhas, @agneloquelhasphotography

More than €50,000 in prize money awarded across the competition

Prize money was awarded across overall rankings, age categories and three timed segments:

• Overall: €34,000 awarded to the top five women and top five men, with prizes ranging from

€7,000 for first place to €1,000 for fifth.

• Age categories: From Under 23 to 70+, with €1,000 awarded per category for both women and men, shared among the top three finishers.

• Timed segments: €6,000 awarded across the Uphill, Sprint and Downhill challenges, with

€1,000 going to the fastest woman and man in each segment.

Photo: Agnelo Quelhas, @agneloquelhasphotography

With athletes representing 28 nations, the inaugural European Final brought together runners who had qualified through their performances in the 2025 ITRA National League. The event marked an important milestone for the League's "Run Local" philosophy, connecting local trail running communities with the opportunity to compete for continental titles.

Reflecting on the significance of the first European Final, ITRA President Janet Ng said:

“Today is a momentous day for the ITRA National League. We witnessed the first ever continental final. The National League exists as a global competition system that is inclusive of all races, where each race is equal in standing. It encourages runners to support races locally but, at the same time, provides a route to race against the best of the best in one’s age group in Europe.

I want to congratulate not only the winners, but every runner who believes in the National League and made this continental final so special. I hope everyone will come back next year to these beautiful landscapes and the warm welcome of this wonderful region.”

Janet Ng, President, ITRA

“Hosting the inaugural ITRA National League European Final has been a source of great pride for Centro de Portugal. This event has shown how international sporting competitions can bring new visibility to our territories, attract visitors and create opportunities for local communities. The Serra da Lousã has once again demonstrated its exceptional potential for trail running, and we hope that the athletes and visitors who discovered our region through this competition will return to explore everything else Centro de Portugal has to offer.”

Rui Ventura, President of Turismo Centro de Portugal

Full results, including age-category and segment rankings, are available at the official results page. Photos are available in the event gallery (credit: Agnelo Quelhas @agneloquelhasphotography).

About ITRA

The International Trail Running Association (ITRA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to the development, promotion and ethical governance of trail running worldwide. ITRA supports athletes, races and associations while safeguarding the values and spirit of the sport.

About the ITRA National League

The ITRA National League connects trail runners through nationally organised race series across Europe, providing athletes of all levels with a structured pathway from local competition to continental recognition. By strengthening domestic race calendars and rewarding consistent performances throughout the season, the National League supports the sustainable development of trail running while creating new opportunities for athletes to progress beyond their national series.

The 2026 European Final marks the first continental Final of the ITRA National League.

About Centro de Portugal

Centro de Portugal is a destination where natural landscapes, cultural heritage and outdoor sports come together. Home to the Serra da Lousã and the Aldeias do Xisto (Schist Villages), the region offers an extensive network of mountain trails, forests, rivers and traditional villages, providing a distinctive setting for trail running and outdoor exploration.

Through MOVE Centro Portugal | The Sports Region, Turismo Centro de Portugal is developing its position as an international destination for active and sports tourism, promoting the region's natural and cultural assets while strengthening connections between sport, tourism and local communities.

Event Information

ITRA National League European Final Date: 17 October 2026

Location: Castanheira de Pera, Portugal

Host event: Ultra Trail Aldeias do Xisto (UTAX)

Course: 54 km | 3,200 m+