SWISS CANYON TRAIL 2025, CELEBRATING ITS 30TH ANNIVERSARY

In 1996 a mountain race was born in the region of Neuchâtel with around 300 runners using the local trails well known by the creator, Patrick Chirstianat. For a while it was called Trail de l’Absinthe, after the local liquor, and grew in popularity in Switzerland and neighbouring countries to become one of the most important events in the Central European calendar. In 2025 the Swiss Canyon Trail by Kailas Fuga reunites 3500 runners from 32 countries will come together in what is intended to be a celebration of one of the most traditional races on the continent.

From children’s races and faster/shorter/beginners’ races, to an exclusive 166 Km anniversary edition. On the 6th to 8th June Val-de-Travers is offering a menu to suit all appetites. The main event is still the 111 Km race, the 51 Km race has been strengthened by joining the Short Series by Gran Canaria World Trail Majors.

Swiss Canyon Trail – Miguel Arsenio and Aleix Toda in 2024 edition ©Swiss Canyon Trail by Kailas Fuga – Gran Canaria World Trail Majors

111K, the signature race of the Swiss Canyon Trail by Kailas Fuga

114.8 Km, 5294 m elevation gain, relatively low altitude (maximum altitude 1606 m) and a beautiful route with Lake Neuchâtel in sight. Dense forests, spectacular canyons and rushing streams are the terrain on which the Swiss Canyon Trail by Kailas Fuga will take place, starting at 05:00 on Saturday from Couvet and returning from where you began in less than 28 hours.

Last year we saw one of the most competitive men’s races of the series with victory going to the Portuguese Miguel Arsénio in 10 hours and 24 minutes, beating the previous record by more than half an hour, while the women’s record remains in force since 2019 by the excellent French runner Camille Bruyas and remains the reference to beat at 12:14:50.

Swiss Canyon Trail – Bridge ©Swiss Canyon Trail by Kailas Fuga – Gran Canaria World Trail Majors

International level in the women’s category

There is an interesting women’s category headed by China with one of the favourites Ying Li (Kailas Fuga, ITRA 739), since October 2024 she has participated in thirteen races, eight in 2025, all with podium finishes except one withdrawal, specifically, in the one that opened the series, Hong Kong 100 where she was second last year. For Ying it will be her first race in Europe, but she is not short of a chance of victory.

Spain’s Azara García de los Salmones (Sport HG/AML Sport, 780) has struggled with physical problems for a couple of years, but when she manages to string together weeks of training and no relapses, she can make the podium, as demonstrated at Chianti Ultra Trail by UTMB. The distance will probably suit Azara very well and she will be one of the rivals to beat.

Switzerland’s Ariane Wilhem (Compressport, 718) won last year’s MIUT 81K but has experience in longer distances as she was second in TDS in 2024.

Canadian Genevieve Asselin Demers (Craft, 714) was eleventh at Transvulcania, she was eighth overall last year in the Gran Canaria World Trail Majors series after a sixth at Black Canyon Ultras and seventh at RMB Ultra-Trail Cape Town.

Other top runners include Célia Neto (Portugal, ITRA 674) and Sylvaine Cussot (France, Asics, 663), who has experience of the event having finished sixth last year.

Swiss Canyon Trail – Up ©Swiss Canyon Trail by Kailas Fuga – Gran Canaria World Trail Majors

The best Swiss Canyon Trail ever for men?

The men’s field is impressive, with a packed field of favourites for victory, promising a thrilling race to follow via live streaming.

Guagfu Meng (China, Hoka, ITRA 928), having won the Hong Kong 100 he has a clear and transparent objective: to win in Switzerland and to set his place at the top for the overall victory of the series. He is also familiar with the Swiss Canyon Trail, having finished fourth last year. One more fact: after Hong Kong he has only competed in shorter distances, so he will arrive in Switzerland with speed in fresh legs.

Up against him will be the man who beat Meng in the overall of the Gran Canaria World Trail Majors Series: Miguel Arsénio (Portugal, Sport HG/AML Sport, 917), recently finished second at MIUT, after a disappointing fourteenth in The North Face Transgrancanaria. The combative Portuguese can challenge for the overall with a good result in Switzerland.

A third runner above 900 ITRA points is Ji Duo (China, Hoka, 917), although he dropped out of the Mt. FUJI 100 last month he at least arrives in Switzerland with less fatigue in his legs. Earlier this year, in a race of similar distance and elevation, he won Ultra-Trail Xiamen by UTMB, although the competition will be higher in Swiss Canyon.

But there is more. Aleix Toda (Spain, Compressport, ITRA 874) is a very strong runner who knows the course well as he lives in Switzerland and finished second last year. It is his first big goal of the year and Aleix is ready to give it his all. Nelson Santos (Portugal, Runners do Demo, 848) is a good runner who mainly races in Spain and Portugal, fourth place in MIUT 2024 and a sixteenth place in the World Championships in Innsbruck, so he comes to Switzerland to show that he can perform in big international races. Another Portuguese, we have Bruno Gonçalves (Runners do Demo, 845) with great experience in similar distances, and the local Vincent Chessex (813) who comes from running The North Face Transgrancanaria.

Swiss Canyon Trail – Miguel Arsenio+Aleix Toda ©Swiss Canyon Trail by Kailas Fuga – Gran Canaria World Trail Majors

Swiss Canyon Trail 51K joins the Short Series

Over 52.7 Km and 2632 metres of elevation the Swiss Canyon Trail 51K is the selected race for the Short Series by Gran Canaria World Trail Majors and it promises to be fast. The fantastic times of Carol-Ann Eberle and Jean-Marc Perriot (5h15 and 4h15) are the course records.

Among the women there are two that stand out. Sylvia Nordskar (Norway, Hoka, ITRA 775), made her international breakthrough by winning Zegama-Aizkorri in 2024 and was second in Templiers the same year. This season she was second in The North Face Transgrancanaria marathon and is clearly in contention for the overall victory. Marcela Vasinova (Czech Republic, Salomon, 752), fourth in the Corendon Tahtali Run To Sky over the 27km distance so she arrives in Couvet fresh from competition.

On the men’s side Jianjian Yang (China, Kailas Fuga, ITRA 895) arrives in Switzerland with ten races already in his legs, but, with the victory in The Half at Hong Kong 100, which means that if he wins in Switzerland he would be a very serious candidate for the overall short series. Francisco Anguita (Spain, Kailas Fuga, 878), eighth in Transgrancanaria and winner in Reventón Trail El Paso. Kevin Vermeulen (France, Wise, 862) won the UTMB MCC last year. Aubin Ferrari (France, Altra, 850) was fourth recently in Chianti Ultra Trail by UTMB although in a very different distance from this one. And, finally, Álvaro González (Spain, Kailas Fuga, 847) with several good results in races of similar distance and elevation gain (Gran Trail Peñalara TP60, Ultra Trail Sierra Nevada 60 km or Kangas Mountain). And Marc Lauenstein (Switzerland, Salomon, 769) winner of Sierre-Zinal and Marathon du Mont-Blanc.

The 2025 edition of the Swiss Canyon Trail will be celebrated in its thirtieth year and is sure to be a spectacular event in the Swiss mountains.