The Countdown is on for the Trail World Championships

World Athletics President Sebastian Coe celebrates the global rise of mountain and trail running just two months ahead of the World Mountain & Trail Running Championships in Canfranc-Pyrenees. He affirms that the town of Canfranc will stand as a “symbol of resilience, exploration, and connection.” Spain’s Minister of Education and Sports, Pilar Alegría, believes the major sporting event will reinforce Spain’s role “as a global benchmark in organizing major sporting events in natural environments.” 

The third unified edition of the World Mountain & Trail Running Championships will officially kick off in Canfranc-Pyrenees on September 24, bringing together 1,700 athletes from 80 countries — the highest participation in its history. The competition will feature five race formats: ‘Uphill’, ‘Classic’, ‘U20’, ‘Short Trail’, and ‘Long Trail’. 

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

With just two months to go before the Championships begin, final preparations are in full swing — both on the sporting front and in terms of logistics. This presents a real challenge for Canfranc, a small town of just over 600 residents. From September 24 to 28, the world’s attention will turn to this Spanish Pyrenean village, world-renowned for its iconic railway station. 

Lord Sebastian Coe, President of World Athletics, predicts that the event — which will bring together the world’s best off-road runners — will be “a true global celebration of endurance, resilience, and unity in one of the most dynamic and demanding running disciplines.” 

He is convinced that “Canfranc, with its spectacular Pyrenean landscape and rich history, is a place that captures the spirit of this sport. It stands as a symbol of endurance, exploration, and connection, making it the perfect host for these Championships in 2025.”

Coe also highlights that the CanfrancPirineos World Championships will reflect the impressive rise in popularity of mountain and trail running, which has quickly become “a global movement that brings together diverse communities through a shared passion for nature, adventure, and competition — attracting elite athletes and amateur runners alike to some of the world’s most stunning and rugged landscapes.” 

Spain’s Minister of Education, Vocational Training and Sports, Pilar Alegría — who knows the host region well — echoed this sentiment: “It’s a unique opportunity to showcase the Aragonese Pyrenees internationally and to consolidate this area as one of the great natural stages for outdoor sports.” 

Minister Alegría believes that Canfranc-Pyrenees 2025 will serve as a showcase for this border region in northern Spain, as it will “highlight the tourism, economic, and environmental potential of the Aragonese Pyrenees, with a model that combines sporting and organizational excellence, respect for the environment, and the promotion of rural areas.”