The Gorges du Tarn Skyrace, the eighth stage of the 2026 Merrell Skyrunner® World Series, delivered world-class skyrunning today in one of France’s most beautiful, untouched mountain settings, with breakthrough performances and tightly contested podium battles in both elite fields. The race was also broadcast live, bringing the action from the rugged French terrain to a global audience.
Set above the spectacular Gorges du Tarn, the race challenged athletes with a demanding 25 km course featuring 2,000 meters of vertical gain. Starting at 10:00 AM from the historic village of St-Enimie, runners tackled relentless climbs, highly technical descents, and exposed ridge lines before returning to the same iconic town for the finish.
MASSOT IS THE DARK HORSE OF THE DAY
In the men’s race, France’s Baptiste Massot (HOKA) delivered a career-defining performance to take victory in 2:34:25. Considered a dark horse ahead of the race, Massot surged ahead to defeat local favourite Lucien Mermillon (Rossignol) in front of an energized home crowd.
The battle for the podium saw strong British performances, with U23 athlete Tom Spencer (Inov8) finishing second just 20 seconds behind Massot, followed by Finlay Grant (Scarpa) in third, two minutes off the winning time. Pre-race favourite Mermillon ultimately crossed the line in fifth position after a fiercely contested race.
WINNING IS THE ONLY OPTION FOR PINEDA
In the women’s race, Spain’s Patricia Pineda (La Sportiva) claimed her second consecutive victory, stopping the clock in 3:00:08 after an intense duel with France’s Eva Delafosse and Alice Bausseron (New Balance). The trio pushed each other across the technical terrain, but Pineda ultimately proved strongest to secure back-to-back wins on the series circuit.
Renowned for its technical difficulty and breathtaking scenery, the Gorges du Tarn Skyrace once again showcased the essence of skyrunning—where speed, strategy, and mountain skill converge at the highest level.
As the 2026 season progresses, today’s results shake up the standings and highlight emerging talent alongside established contenders in the race for the overall title.
The series continues on the 20th of June with Yading Skyrace, China.
Full results HERE.
Watch Skyrace Gorges du Tarn Live below:
