For the first time since 2019, the Merrell Skyrunner® World Series returned to Japan for the seventh stage of the 2025 circuit, the Ueda Skyrace in Ueda, Nagano Prefecture, where national legends Ruy Ueda and Takako Takamura dominated against an international elite field.
The 26km course, with 3,000 m+ began at 07:00 am local time, with perfect conditions greeting the athletes at the start line.
In the men’s race, Ruy Ueda (team Ruy) the 2019 overall SWS ranking champion took the lead from the start and never let go. Although Fuji Tsubasa (team Nnormal) – the underdog of the day – pushed hard to catch him, the three-time Ueda Skyrace winner was untouchable.
Ueda, Japan’s number one, stormed to the finish line with a winning time of 03:33:12. Tsubasa followed almost 20 minutes behind in second place and Marcel Hoche of Germany (team Adidas Terrex) closed the men’s podium.
Ueda comments: “Today was a very tough race. The course has some very steep climbs and descents and although it’s my third time winning here, it’s never easy. The atmosphere was superb with many spectators out on the course cheering us on. I’m proud to win here in my home country, Japan.”
In the women’s race, another of Japan’s legends, Takako Takamura, flew over the jagged ridges and technical sections of the course and was also able to hold her lead from start to finish, crossing the finish line in 04:19:55. Iris Pessey of France (team Scott) ran a smart race, finishing close in second and after a tough battle for the podium, Suzuha Kuzuda (team Sky Kyoto) was able to pull away from U23 athlete Nikola Matkova of Slovakia to finish third and round off the women’s podium.
Takamura comments: “This race was important to me – it’s a special race. I was here racing two years ago and it feels nice to come back, also to be back racing at an SWS race. The route is exciting and the event is well organised with hundreds of people out on the course cheering us on.”
In the U23 Esteban Olivero category, Benjamin Townsend of the USA and fourth overall, Nikola Matkova, took home the youth winners bibs at the fifth stage of the U23 ranking.
Ueda Skyrace offered a unique blend of technical terrain, cultural heritage, and alpine beauty. The Merrell Skyrunner® World Series continues next weekend in Turkey with the Corendon Tahtali Run to Sky.
