The iconic “Tempietto di Morbegno” provided the setting for the official presentation of the 69th Trofeo Vanoni, WMRA Associated Race and one of Europe’s longest-running and most prestigious mountain running events which will take place on Sunday 25th October, bringing together elite athletes, passionate supporters, and an entire community united by a shared love for mountain running.

The two most recent winners of the Vanoni Trophy will go head-to-head as defending champions Carnethy Hill Racing Team take on 2024 winners SA Valchiese, with a strong international field ready to challenge both teams.

SA Valchiese arrive fresh from winning the Italian relay title in Chiavenna. Their trio combines Alberto Vender, ninth at the European Championships, Marco Filosi, 18th at Challenge Stellina, and Luca Merli, fifth at the WMRA Mountain Running World Cup stage in China.

The Scottish club’s defending champions will counter with Matthew Knowles, seventh and the leading European finisher at Trofeo Nasego, Finn Lydon, fifth at the national championships, and Finlay Todd, eighth at Fletta Trail.

The demanding 7.25km course, featuring 435 metres of ascent and a testing descent, will provide a familiar examination of the climbing strength, technical skill and tactical judgement that define mountain running.

Beyond the two former winners, several teams have the potential to influence the podium battle. England’s Under-23 squad brings together Charlie Allmond, Sam Bentham and Edward Hobbs, whose credentials include seventh place and the leading European finish at Vertical Nasego, alongside fourth in the uphill race at the 2024 European Under-20 Championships.

France will look to improve on last year’s fourth place with Mathieu Le Fur, 32nd in the uphill race at the 2025 World Championships, David Discher, fourth in the 2026 HOKA UTMB Mont-Blanc YCC, and Noé Daviaud, ninth in the Classic Up & Down race at Vauban Mountain Trail.

Scotland will also field two representative teams. Thomas Hilton, Dan Dry and Harris Pagett form the senior squad, while Lachlan Thomas, Rowan Taylor and Alex Dunlop make up the Under-20 team. The Snowdon Race Team adds further British depth through Ben Coop, Edward Corden and Joe Daly, selected from the race’s partnership with the Vanoni Trophy.

Slovenia brings a competitive trio with strong domestic and international results. Tine Žižmond finished third at the national uphill championships and fourth at Velika Planina, while Jaka Bostner placed seventh at Šmarna Gora and third at the national Classic Up & Down championships. They are joined by Tadej Serdinšek, national Classic Up & Down champion and eighth at Šmarna Gora.

Among the Italian challengers, GS Orobie will look to captain Alex Baldaccini alongside Morbegno’s Francesco Bongio, a three-time Italian Under-23 champion this season, and Davide Bottarelli. US Aldo Moro Paluzza, led by Michael Galassi, will also be a team to watch. Recastello, runners-up in 2025, will not field a team this year.

Denmark’s debut adds another international dimension. Rasmus Tangsgaard Edvardsen, Albert Tougaard Hildebrandt and Rasmus Luethje will bring their orienteering experience to a race long regarded as a “university of mountain running”, testing their skills against established specialists.

Alongside the team competition, the contest for the fastest individual leg promises further intrigue. Six athletes broke the 30-minute barrier last year, with Vender, Knowles and Baldaccini among those looking to repeat the achievement.

Baldaccini’s individual course record of 28:21 and Forestale’s team record of 1:28:55 remain the benchmarks. Both will demand exceptional performances to challenge.

The absence of defending champions Elisa Sortini and Emmie Collinge of Atletica Alta Valtellina opens the door to a new winning partnership at the 43rd Vanoni Women’s Race, with leading Italian contenders facing a strong international challenge.

Alice Gaggi will spearhead Recastello’s bid for victory. The Italian mountain relay and short-distance trail champion will team up with young Claudia Previtali, who takes the place of Beatrice Bianchi.

GS Orecchiella Garfagnana also promise a strong challenge through Martina Bilora, who recorded a faster individual time than Gaggi at last year’s Vanoni, and Italian trail international Cecilia Basso. OSA Valmadrera, tenth in 2025, return with Irene Girola and Sara Toloni.

International teams occupied eight of the top ten places last year, underlining the depth of competition awaiting the Italian clubs.

The Snowdon Race Team brings together Hannah Russell and Eden O’Dea, second and fifth respectively at the Welsh race twinned with the Vanoni Trophy. Russell finished 31st in the uphill race at the World Championships, while O’Dea placed seventh at the WMRA Mountain Running World Cup stage in China.

Slovenia will aim to build on an impressive second place in 2025 with Klara Močnik, 11th individually last year, and Manca Mlekuž, third at the national Classic Up & Down championships.

England’s Charlotte Rawstron, bronze medallist in the uphill race at the 2024 European Under-20 Championships and ninth in the Marathon du Mont-Blanc vertical kilometre, will partner Amy Whelan. Scotland fields Hania Czebreszuk and Grace Pow, who both impressed at Nasego, where Pow finished 19th in the Trofeo Nasego.

Josephine Hurst and Martha Owen will represent Wales, while Sinéad Farrell and Louise Murray line up for Ireland, adding further depth to the international field.

The individual course record stands at 21:07, set by Ireland’s Sarah McCormack, while Alice Gaggi and Valentina Belotti hold the relay record of 44:48.

The Tempietto, the Arzo plain, the jump and Via Vanoni will once again provide four of the race’s most recognisable vantage points, with spectators gathering to support international contenders and local athletes alike.

On Sunday 25 October, Morbegno’s streets and trails will come alive with the atmosphere that has made the Trofeo Vanoni a distinctive fixture on the mountain running calendar.

For those following remotely, both races will be broadcast live on the Sportdimontagna YouTube channel. Coverage begins at 10:00 for the women’s race and 14:00 for the men’s race, with commentary from journalist Maurizio Torri and Paolo Germanetto, head coach of the Italian national mountain running team.

All times are local to Morbegno.

• 10:30 — Start of the 43rd Vanoni Women’s Race.

• 14:00 — Start of the 69th Ezio Vanoni Trophy.

• 17:30 — Awards ceremony for both races in Piazza Sant’Antonio.