{"id":137235,"date":"2025-05-24T04:44:13","date_gmt":"2025-05-24T04:44:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/zegama-aizkorri-2025-start-time-route-and-where-to-watch-live\/"},"modified":"2025-05-24T04:44:14","modified_gmt":"2025-05-24T04:44:14","slug":"zegama-aizkorri-2025-start-time-route-and-where-to-watch-live","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/zegama-aizkorri-2025-start-time-route-and-where-to-watch-live\/","title":{"rendered":"Zegama Aizkorri 2025: Start time, route, and where to watch live"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n

The Iconic Zegama-Aizkorri 2025: A Trail Running Celebration<\/h2>\n

Sunday, May 25, marks a significant date for the \u00a0trail running\u00a0 community, as the \u00a0Zegama-Aizkorri\u00a0 race returns for its 24th edition. Nestled in the heart of the Basque Country, this legendary event is celebrated not just for its challenging course but also for the emotional connection it fosters among runners and fans alike. Although the legendary \u00a0Kilian Jornet\u00a0 will not be participating this year, the race still attracts a star-studded lineup of athletes, ready to tackle one of the toughest trails in Europe.<\/p>\n

Event Details: How to Experience the Zegama-Aizkorri<\/h2>\n

The race begins at \u00a09:00 AM\u00a0, directly from the center of \u00a0Zegama\u00a0, located in \u00a0Gipuzkoa\u00a0. Covering a distance of \u00a042.195 kilometers\u00a0, the course winds through the breathtaking \u00a0Aizkorri-Aratz Natural Park\u00a0, featuring a staggering positive elevation gain of \u00a02,736 meters\u00a0. This elevation change presents a formidable challenge, necessitating not only speed but also strategic thinking and unparalleled physical endurance.<\/p>\n

The trail traverses the summits of \u00a0Aratz\u00a0, \u00a0Aketegi\u00a0, and \u00a0Aizkorri\u00a0, including technical forest sections, rocky ridges, and steep descents demanding as much mental focus as physical ability. <\/p>\n

Key Points of the Course<\/h2>\n

Runners will encounter several notable checkpoints during the race. At \u00a0Sancti Spiritu (km 19)\u00a0, a unique emotional atmosphere envelops participants, as thousands of fans line the route, creating a human corridor of cheers and encouragement. The pinnacle of the race, \u00a0Aizkorri (km 22)\u00a0, reaches an altitude of \u00a01,528 meters\u00a0, serving as both a literal and metaphorical peak for the competitors. Finally, \u00a0Andraitz (km 35)\u00a0 poses the last major ascent before the runners return to Zegama, setting the stage for an exhilarating finish.<\/p>\n

Records and Reigning Champions<\/h2>\n

The current male record holder, \u00a0Kilian Jornet\u00a0, clocked an impressive \u00a03:36:40\u00a0 in 2022. The female record is held by \u00a0Nienke Brinkman\u00a0, who finished in \u00a04:16:43\u00a0 the same year. This year, the absence of Jornet opens the field for emerging talents and experienced runners alike.<\/p>\n

Men’s Division: Favorites and Underdogs<\/h2>\n

In the men’s category, \u00a0Elhousine Elazzaoui\u00a0 emerges as a prime contender, having secured second place in both \u00a02023\u00a0 and \u00a02024\u00a0. With Jornet absent, another legendary figure returns: the Norwegian \u00a0Stian Angermund\u00a0, who once held the record with a time of \u00a03h45\u201908\u201d\u00a0 until Jornet shattered it.<\/p>\n

Other noteworthy participants include \u00a0Manuel Merillas\u00a0, the 2023 champion; \u00a0Roberto Delorenzi\u00a0, the 2024 \u00a0Skyrunner World Series\u00a0 champion; and \u00a0Luca del Pero\u00a0, who recently demonstrated his prowess by winning the half-marathon at \u00a0Transvulcania\u00a0.<\/p>\n

While established favorites dominate the headlines, potential dark horses like \u00a0Andreu Blanes\u00a0 and \u00a0Antonio Mart\u00ednez\u00a0 could surprise on race day, despite recent health struggles.<\/p>\n

Women’s Division: A Competitive Lineup<\/h2>\n

This year’s women’s race showcases one of the most impressive lineups in Zegama’s history, featuring three previous champions: \u00a0Sylvia Nordskar\u00a0 (2024), \u00a0Oihana Kortazar\u00a0 (2011 and 2012), and \u00a0Maite Maiora\u00a0, who set the former record in \u00a02017\u00a0. Additionally, many experienced competitors and hungry newcomers aim to stake their claim to the coveted prize\u2014a \u00a0traditional axe\u00a0.<\/p>\n

Among the competitive field is the Swiss runner \u00a0Judith Wyder\u00a0, a multi-time gold medalist in orientation and a highly technical mountain race winner who has yet to tackle Zegama. Young Basque talents \u00a0Sara Alonso\u00a0 and \u00a0Malen Osa\u00a0, both who have previously placed in the top tier during this race, are also eager to prove their mettle.<\/p>\n

Where to Watch the Event Live<\/h2>\n

Fans can catch the thrilling action of the Zegama-Aizkorri live for free through Zegama’s \u00a0official YouTube channel\u00a0 starting at \u00a008:30 AM (CET)\u00a0. Commentary will be available in \u00a0Spanish\u00a0, \u00a0Basque\u00a0, and \u00a0English\u00a0, courtesy of the \u00a0Golden Trail World Series\u00a0.<\/p>\n

Additionally, \u00a0EITB\u00a0 will provide coverage in Basque, and the event will be accessible on the \u00a0MAX\u00a0 platform and \u00a0Eurosport\u00a0 channel. For real-time updates, the \u00a0Kronoak\u00a0 timing system will track runner progress live.<\/p>\n

Weather Forecast: Ideal Conditions?<\/h2>\n

Weather forecasts from \u00a0AEMET\u00a0 predict partly cloudy skies with temperatures ranging from \u00a08 to 21 \u00b0C\u00a0 and a low chance of rainfall. While this may seem ideal for speed-oriented runners, high-altitude fog and moisture could still present challenges.<\/p>\n

As Zegama approaches, anticipation builds: entering this race is a privilege, and running it is a monumental achievement. Only \u00a0225\u00a0 slots are available out of \u00a011,000 applications\u00a0, emphasizing just how special this event is for serious trail runners.<\/p>\n

Prize Money and Incentives<\/h2>\n

The stakes are high, with the \u00a0winner\u00a0 and \u00a0winner\u00a0 each taking home \u00a03,000 euros and the traditional txapela\u00a0. The second-place finishers earn \u00a02,000 euros\u00a0, while the third-place runners receive \u00a01,000 euros\u00a0. In total, the race distributes a hefty \u00a020,400 euros\u00a0 in awards, with additional incentives for local runners, Basques, and veterans.<\/p>\n

Zegama is not merely a race; it represents an emotional and spiritual journey for all participants. The \u00a0Zegama-Aizkorri 2025\u00a0 promises to be a celebration of resiliency, community, and the indomitable spirit of \u00a0trail running\u00a0.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Sport News-1<\/a>
\n<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Iconic Zegama-Aizkorri 2025: A Trail Running Celebration Sunday, May 25, marks a significant date for the \u00a0trail running\u00a0 community, as the \u00a0Zegama-Aizkorri\u00a0 race returns for its 24th edition. Nestled in the heart of the Basque Country, this legendary event is celebrated not just for its challenging course but also for the emotional connection it […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":137236,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[35919,2380,4037,464,269,3987,35669],"class_list":["post-137235","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sports","tag-aizkorri","tag-live","tag-route","tag-start","tag-time","tag-watch","tag-zegama"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/137235","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=137235"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/137235\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/137236"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=137235"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=137235"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=137235"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}