The 2025 Marató dels Dements delivered a spectacular finale to the skyrunning season, with Manuel Merillas and Anastasia Rubtsova claiming emphatic victories in the most competitive races of the year. The race also sealed the overall season titles, with Luca Del Pero and Anastasia Rubtsova taking home the championship crowns after months of top-level competition.
A RACE FOR THE BRAVE
As the final race of the season, and one that only qualified athletes could enter, the Marató dels Dements brought together the very best skyrunners on the planet. Every athlete at the start line had earned their place through months of fierce competition — and it showed.
In the men’s race, Spain’s Alain Santamaria (Open Team) and Italy’s Luca Del Pero (Team Scarpa) started as joint favourites, tied at the top of the overall rankings and with everything still to play for. But with strong contenders like Manuel Merillas (New Balance, Spain) and Frédéric Tranchand (Merrell, France) also in the mix, no one expected an easy victory.
From the opening kilometers, Tranchand and Merillas set a blistering pace, trading the lead repeatedly in a thrilling game of cat and mouse. William Boffelli (Kailas, Italy) stayed close behind, keeping the pressure high. The decisive moment came around kilometer 25, when Merillas shifted gears and surged ahead, opening a gap that no one could close.
He crossed the finish line in 4:02:08, taking a dominant win on the technical Espadà terrain. Behind him, Luca Del Pero delivered a spectacular second half, climbing from fourth to finish runner-up just three minutes back — a result that secured his overall season title. Frédéric Tranchand claimed third place one minute later, followed by José Manuel Quispe (Merrell/CIVA, Peru) in fourth and Alain Santamaria in fifth.
Manuel Merillas: “I knew this was my last chance of the season to push hard. After months struggling with my form, I’m finally feeling strong again — maybe at 80% — but enough to win. It feels great to take the victory here against such strong athletes like Luca, Fred, and William.”
In the women’s race, Anastasia Rubtsova (Team BIVIUM) once again proved untouchable. The defending champion dominated from the start, maintaining control throughout to claim her sixth win of the season and her second consecutive Marató dels Dements title. After 4:55:25, Rubtsova crossed the finish line first, sealing her position as the undisputed queen of the Merrell Skyrunner® World Series.
Behind her, the battle for the remaining podium spots was intense. Around the 30-kilometer mark, Naiara Irigoyen (Open Team, Spain) caught and passed Patricia Pineda (La Sportiva, Spain), holding strong to finish second — 12 minutes behind Rubtsova. Pineda took third just two minutes later. The fight for fourth was equally close, with Marta Martínez (La Sportiva, Spain) edging out Denisa Dragomir to secure fourth place, leaving Dragomir fifth.
Full results HERE.
OVERALL CHAMPIONS CROWNED
The Marató dels Dements also marked the grand finale of the 2025 Merrell Skyrunner® World Series.
Anastasia Rubtsova capped off an extraordinary year with six victories, claiming the overall women’s championship for the second year in a row. In the men’s division, Luca Del Pero completed his rise to the top, earning the overall men’s title — an impressive leap from his runner-up finish in 2024.
The 2025 season concluded with unforgettable performances, reaffirming the spirit of the Skyrunner® World Series — where the strongest, smartest, and most resilient athletes rise above the mountains.
The Overall Top 5:
Mens:
- Luca Del Pero – 590 points
- Alain Santamaria – 555 points
- Manuel Merillas – 551 points
- Frederic Tranchand – 523 points
- William Boffelli – 515 points
Women’s:
- Anastasia Rubtsova – 650 points
- Naiara Irigoyen – 613 points
- Patricia Pineda – 539 points
- Denisa Dragomir – 518 points
- Marta Martinez – 511 points
The male overall champion, Luca Del Pero comments: “I’m super happy. This has been my main goal of the season after my two wins at the start of the season. It wasn’t easy but today was quite a perfect day. I’m satisfied with my second place and it’s a good finish to an incredible season.”
The male overall champion, Anastasia Rubtsova, The first half of the race, I felt fine but the second half I had cramps in my legs and everything hurt so I definitely didn’t have full confidence in myself for the whole race. It has been a very enjoyable season. I just wanted to travel and explore new places and so to have done this and walk away with the overall title for the second time is amazing, especially with all these strong women!”
Full results HERE.
More information on the 2026 season coming soon!
