Andorran Samu Ponce Wins Bronze in Skyrunning Worlds Ultra Race

Andorran skyrunner Samu Ponce has hailed his bronze medal at the Skyrunning World Championships ultra race as equivalent to a victory, crediting years of accumulated effort, prior course reconnaissance, and a clear race strategy.

Ponce presented the medal publicly on Monday, representing the Federació Andorrana de Muntanyisme (FAM) and Altra Team Europe. Competing among 48 men on the 62.3-kilometre course in La Gomera, Canary Islands—with 3,775 metres of positive elevation gain—he finished third in 6 hours, 21 minutes and 40 seconds. This placed him 2 minutes and 38 seconds behind Spain's silver medallist Julen Calvo Vigara (6:19:02) and 9 minutes and 28 seconds off Italy's gold medallist Cristian Minoggio (6:12:12).

He maintained second position at early checkpoints Playa Vallehermoso (7.5 km) in 38:55 and Vallehermoso (19.5 km) in 1:58:50, before settling into third at Aceviños (31.5 km) and holding it through Los Tiles (36.7 km), El Cedro (40.5 km), El Atajo (50.5 km), Laguerode (54.5 km), and La Cabezada (59.5 km), at an average pace of 6:08 per kilometre.

Ponce, a former cyclist, noted that he arrived in good shape despite a demanding early-season schedule that intensified the latter half of his campaign. He divided the course into three segments during pre-race reconnaissance, enabling a confident start. The night-time opening—lasting two and a half to three hours—suited him well due to the humidity and cooler temperatures, allowing an aggressive pace from the outset. "The race unfolded exactly as I expected from the beginning, and third place holds the same value as a win," he said. He fought for top spots throughout, viewing the result as a hard-earned capstone for recent years and a boost for Andorra, FAM, his family, and friends.

Drawing from last year's European Championships, where he led before dropping to fourth, Ponce stayed motivated. "That memory kept surfacing, but I refused to let it repeat," he added. The season also featured victories at Trail 100 Andorra by UTMB (80 km), OTSO Travessa d'Encamp, and Travessa Pas de la Casa, plus seconds at Ultramediterrània and Adidas MaxiRace Annecy. Future events include Salomon Marató Pirineu 42K in Bagà, Dynafit Andorra Trail in mixed pairs, Trail del Bisaura, and Mallorca by UTMB in late October.

The achievement bolsters Andorra's rising profile in skyrunning, with peers like the Casal brothers (Marc and Òscar), Teixidó brothers (Xavi and Ferran), Ari Fenés, and Arnau Soldevila.

In the women's ultra, Andorran Sabrina Solana placed 14th in 8:55:46, roughly 90 minutes behind Norway's winner Shangave Balendran (7:27:16); Spain's Mireia Pons and the US's Careth Arnold earned podium finishes. David Rogé ran solo for Andorra in the 30.08-kilometre sky race, which included 2,536 metres of ascent.