International victories and podiums at the GTC: Lukasz Sum and Lisa Borzani win the GTC100, Simone Corsini and Victoria Stansfield the GTC55, and André Barailler and Rens Nijman the GTC30.
During these days of intense heat, the rain that fell over the Gran Trail Courmayeur weekend felt almost like manna from heaven. The water made its presence felt at the key moments of the event, from the downpour at the start of the GTC100 on Friday evening to its return in abundance just as the first athletes were arriving at Parco Bollino. Some even experienced hail, but the spectacle never failed to deliver, bringing athletes from different parts of the world onto the podium and rewarding Lukasz Sum and Lisa Borzani in the GTC100, Simone Corsini and Victoria Stansfield in the GTC55, and André Barailler and Rens Nijman in the GTC30.
The GTC100 speaks Polish with Lukasz Sum, fifth triumph for Lisa Borzani
Lucasz Sum at Maison Vieille - Ph. Jacopo Greppi - Zzam Agency
A downpour that broke over Courmayeur just minutes before the start baptised the almost 700 athletes at the start of the GTC100, accompanying them for much of the night and influencing the rhythm of the race. The spectacle, however, was not affected, with attacks and gaps that ultimately rewarded Poland’s Lukasz Sum, who managed himself well throughout the entire 100 km route with 7,500 metres of elevation gain.
Sum, who this year finished fourth in the 100-mile race at Ultra-Trail Snowdonia and tenth in the 100 km at Transgrancanaria, was the first to cross the finish line at Parco Bollino after 15h20’08”.
“It was a fantastic race,” said the Polish athlete. “I felt good from the start despite the wet conditions. I ran alone all night, but I enjoyed everything, especially the beautiful views.”
Behind him, 25’28” back, France’s David Leveille (15h45’36”) was unable to trouble Sum but did well to withstand the late comeback attempt by the other Polish athlete, Marcin Swierc (15h46’53”), whose prestigious palmarès includes victory at the TDS in 2018 and second place at the CCC the previous year.
Lisa Borzani - Ph. Nicola Biagetti - Zzam Agency
The women’s race immediately lost one of its expected protagonists, Chiara Innocenti, runner-up last year, who withdrew at La Thuile. At Maison Vieille, meanwhile, Michaela Portenkirchner also dropped out: another of the pre-race favourites, although she was already far from the leading positions. The way was therefore clear for Lisa Borzani’s fifth triumph, even though she had already been unreachable from the start with a pace her rivals could not sustain. The athlete, who has been at home in Aosta Valley for several years now, once again showed that she knows the trails of Courmayeur like the back of her hand — not forgetting her two victories at the TOR330 – Tor des Géants — and claimed her fourth consecutive win after her triumphs in 2023, 2024 and 2025, with a “prequel” in 2019, passing under the finish arch in 17h44’51”, in eleventh place overall.
“I’m in love with this race,” Borzani said at the finish line. “I really love the GTC course, which is why I always put it on my calendar. This year, though, it was really tough: first the rain, then it was already very hot from Lake Combal and going up towards Pavillon, and then cold and rain again. I’m happy; honestly, I wasn’t expecting it, because you should never get your hopes up too much.”
The Italian was challenged in particular by Jenna Marie Randolph and Aja Kozinc, though they never truly managed to threaten her. They did, however, produce an exciting battle right to the end for second place: it was the American who prevailed, pulling away in the final stretch and finishing in 18h13’47”, with the Slovenian third in 18h15’46”.
Simone Corsini and Jairo Laguna Picó at Mont Fortin - Ph. Roberto Roux - Zzam Agency
Simone Corsini claims back-to-back victory in the 55-kilometre race
The “beautiful face” of trail running, one of the athletes most loved by the Aosta Valley public, returned to take the Gran Trail Courmayeur once again. Simone Corsini, 34, from Toano in the Reggio Emilia Apennines, claimed back-to-back victory after last year’s success, finishing his race in 5h48’20”. Already a three-time winner of the GTC100, Corsini’s palmarès also includes two second places at the Tor des Géants and victory at the Monterosa Walserwaeg 120km in 2025. Behind him came Spain’s Jairo Laguna Picó, second in 6h03’35”, third in 2025 at the Dolomiti Extreme Trail 35 km and fifth at the Matterhorn Ultraks. Third place went to Aosta Valley athlete Didier Abram, in 6h06’10”, thanks to a strong late comeback that allowed him to climb onto the podium.
“The Spaniard and I ran the whole first part of the race together — in fact, I’d say that until Col de la Seigne he was the one setting the pace,” Corsini commented immediately after the race. “Then, near Lake Combal, on the descent, I accelerated and managed to open just enough of a gap to win the race. I’m very satisfied; see you in two months at the Tor des Géants.”
Victoria Stansfield - Ph. Andrea Testa - Zzam Agency
In the women’s race, there was a dominant victory for the big pre-race favourite, Britain’s Victoria Stansfield, who in 2024 won the Swiss Alps 100 km and the Engadin Ultra Trail 53 km. The British athlete completed her race in 6h31’22”, a time that also earned her ninth place overall, with a huge advantage over her rivals.
Joining her on the podium were Spain’s Paula Pevida Arbesú (7h04’04”) and the American Jessica Cohen (7h31’09”).
“I didn’t have any particular strategy — just survive,” Stansfield joked at the finish, holding her little girl in her arms after she had accompanied her over the final metres to the line. “It was really beautiful, I had so much fun: they had told me it was beautiful, but honestly the landscape, the people and the race in general far exceeded my expectations.”
GTC30 Men's podium - Ph. Andrea Testa - Zzam Agency
GTC30: Barailler wins among the men, Nijman first among the women
In the GTC30, the men’s race was won by Aosta Valley athlete Andre Barailler, from La Thuile, who completed the race in an excellent 2h56’50”. Behind him came experienced runner Mattia Barlocco, second in 3h05’33”, and the very young Matteo Cesano, third in 3h05’53”, after a long battle for the two podium places.
“I tried to give everything because for me this is almost my home race, since I live just a few kilometres from here, in La Thuile,” Barailler explained. “The course is stunning, the work done on the trails was incredible, and we had no problems despite the bad weather and this morning’s rain.”
In the women’s race, victory went to the Dutch athlete Rens Nijman, seventh overall in 3h19’36”. Second place went to Sonia Melecca, who finished in 3h34’22”, ahead of Alexandra Taylor, third in 3h46’27”.
“The rain was a blessing for me because after the start it had become very hot this morning, and the water really cooled things down, lowering the temperatures,” Nijman explained. “I prefer these kinds of conditions, so I felt very good. It was my first time in Courmayeur and I was amazed by the landscape, especially the balcony view over Mont Blanc, which left me speechless.”
Rens Nijman - Ph. Alessandro Zambianchi - Zzam Agency
Trail running at the Olympics? The Mont Blanc Trail Fest sparks the debate
Does trail running deserve to go to the Olympics? If it were to happen, would it be a good thing for the discipline? The debate has been wide open recently and came to life on Friday afternoon during the Mont Blanc Trail Fest round table. Many ideas emerged, from “bureaucratic” aspects to political ones — explored in the contributions of Giulio Grosjacques, Councillor for Tourism, Sport and Commerce of the Autonomous Region of Aosta Valley; Jean Dondeynaz, President of the CONI Aosta Valley Regional Committee; Enrico Pollini, ITRA Secretary General; and Carlos Garcia Prieto, founding member of ITRA — but above all in relation to the nature of the discipline.
For some, it would be the right recognition for a sport capable of involving a very large number of participants. A great deal of scepticism was expressed especially by Marco Olmo, spokesperson for an old-school vision of trail running, but also by journalist and speaker Silvano Gadin and by Alessandra Nicoletti, president of VDA Trailers: trail running at the Olympics would become “boring”, turned into a spectacle to make it television-friendly, thus losing the spirit that has driven the discipline since its birth.
Ph. Roberto Roux - Zzam Agency
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