Finlay Grant snatches the title from best friend and defending champion Tom Spencer 200 metres from the line, as Emma Méndez wins the final and Dalia Alonso takes the overall crown.
The U23 Trofeo Esteban Olivero reached a dramatic conclusion today at the Sobrescobio Skyrace 17.5 km, the season’s final U23 race. Great Britain’s Finlay Grant won by just six seconds in 1:20:05 to claim the overall title, while Emma Méndez won the women’s race in 1:36:50 and Dalia Alonso secured the women’s crown.
MEN’S RACE
The men’s race came down to two best friends. Defending champion Tom Spencer and Finlay Grant ran side by side for almost the entire course, passing the first checkpoint at La Carba just one second apart. Spencer held the narrowest of leads through Gamonal, four seconds ahead, and the title looked set to be decided in a sprint.
With 200 metres to go, Grant made his move. He surged past his friend to win in 1:20:05, six seconds ahead of Spencer, claiming both the race and the overall U23 title. Grant came into the final fourth in the qualifier standings, and his win lifted him to the top of the overall ranking, ahead of Spencer in second.
Sweden’s Martin Nilsson, racing in the senior category, crossed the line third in 1:21:06. Biel Sagués was fourth in 1:22:27 and Pere Menéndez fifth in 1:23:08.
Grant commented on his victory: “It was very close as always and the race with Tom pushed me right to the wire. I’m very pleased and obviously happy to have had the better of him this time around. Now that the season is over I’m looking forward to more battles in the future, more skyrunning and learning how to the tackle longer races of the senior series.”
WOMEN’S RACE
Emma Méndez was in a class of her own. The junior athlete led from the start, reaching La Carba more than two and a half minutes clear, and extended her lead all the way to the finish to win in 1:36:50.
Dalia Alonso ran a controlled race to finish second in 1:41:27, enough to secure the overall U23 title. Méndez’s victory lifted her to second in the overall ranking.
The battle for the final podium place went right to the line. Laia Calzada took third in 1:44:57, just four seconds ahead of Lola Oyarzabal, with Great Britain’s Alexandra Whitaker close behind in fifth. Calzada’s result secured her third place overall.
RACE RESULTS
Sobrescobio Skyrace 17.5 km – Men
- Finlay Grant (GBR, Scarpa) – 1:20:05
- Tom Spencer (GBR, Inov8) – 1:20:11 (+0:06)
- Martin Nilsson (SWE, VJ) – 1:21:06 (+1:01)
- Biel Sagués (ESP, Selecció Catalana) – 1:22:27 (+2:22)
- Pere Menéndez (ESP, Selecció Catalana) – 1:23:08 (+3:03)
Sobrescobio Skyrace 17.5 km – Women
- Emma Méndez (ESP, Adictos al Trail Running) – 1:36:50
- Dalia Alonso (ESP, Salomon Spain) – 1:41:27 (+4:37)
- Laia Calzada (ESP, Team FEEC) – 1:44:57 (+8:07)
- Lola Oyarzabal (ESP, Gaikar Zortzietakoak) – 1:45:01 (+8:11)
- Alexandra Whitaker (GBR, Lurbel/Scarpa) – 1:45:44 (+8:54)
U23 ESTEBAN OLIVERO OVERALL RANKING RESULTS
U23 Trofeo Esteban Olivero – Final Overall Ranking, Men
- Finlay Grant (GBR, Scarpa)
- Tom Spencer (GBR, Inov8)
- Jan Ballbe (ESP, Dynafit)
- Beñat Albisu (ESP, Basque EMF)
- Ignacio Poza (ARG, Merrell Argentina)
U23 Trofeo Esteban Olivero – Final Overall Ranking, Women
- Dalia Alonso (ESP, Salomon Spain)
- Emma Méndez (ESP, Adictos al Trail Running)
- Laia Calzada (ESP, Team FEEC)
- Abby Stone (USA, The Trail Team)
- Martina Gonfaus (ESP, Team FEEC)
Full results HERE.
NEXT UP: THE SKYMASTERS
With the U23 champions crowned, attention turns to the SkyMasters final at the Marató dels Dements on November 7, where the 2026 Merrell Skyrunner® World Series champions will be decided.
Overall ranking BEFORE the SkyMasters can be found HERE.
Full results and race coverage are available at skyrunnerworldseries.com.
