Both course records fall on a perfect day in the Basque Country, as Sara Alonso dedicates an emotional victory to late Asics teammate Ida Robsahm.
Alain Santamaria (ESP, xBionic Integrity) and Sara Alonso (ESP, Asics) both shattered the course records today at the Gorbeia Suzien Skyrace, race 16 of the 2026 Merrell Skyrunner® World Series, held in the Basque Country and broadcast live to fans around the world. Perfect racing conditions and a stacked international elite field set the stage for a day of fast, dramatic skyracing across Gorbeia Natural Park’s demanding 32 km loop, which climbs more than 2,400 m of technical terrain.
MEN’S RACE: SANTAMARIA HOLDS OFF A CHARGING MERILLAS
Santamaria took the lead from the gun and never relinquished it, executing a race plan built around controlling the key Aldamin summit early. Fellow Spaniard Manuel Merillas (New Balance) had other ideas, carving through the field to close into second place by the final summit and putting Santamaria under real pressure on the descent. In the end, Santamaria’s pace held, and he crossed the line in Zeanuri in 2:50:24 — seven minutes inside the previous course record, with the top five men all beating the old mark. Merillas held on for second, with Loïc Robert (FRA) completing the men’s podium in third.
“I’m really happy and also tired, as I had to push hard since the beginning. In Gorbeia it’s really important to be the first one in Aldamin, so that was my strategy — be in first place there and then push until the finish line. I could say that I have given my all and there was no more I could push, as the terrain was so dry I had to run really fast. I think the weather conditions were perfect to beat the record, and then the high level of the athletes also gives you an extra push to run faster. There was a moment that Manu was getting closer, so I said, OK, I need to secure the winning, and just gave my all to arrive at the finish line.”
— Alain Santamaria
WOMEN’S RACE: A RECORD RUN, DEDICATED TO A FRIEND
Sara Alonso was dominant from the start of the women’s race, and never looked troubled — though Denisa Dragomir (ROM, Merrell) and Natalie Beadle (GBR, Arc’teryx) battled hard through thick fog for second position for much of the course. Racing at home in front of the Basque crowds, Alonso crossed the line in 3:21:27, an extraordinary 13 minutes inside the previous course record. Dragomir came through 13 minutes later to take second, with Beadle a further minute back in third. At an emotional finish line, Alonso dedicated the win to her friend and Asics teammate Ida Robsahm, who died last week.
“It was a really emotional day — it was a memorial for Ida, and I was thinking of her the whole time. Running at home is always special, as the crowds are always cheering, and I could feel their warmth during the whole course. At each aid station I was checking the time and I knew that I was shortening the record, but I wanted to push hard to leave a good mark and a difficult record to beat, in memory of Ida. I have three goals in my life: winning in Zegama, winning in Gorbeia and winning in Behobia. Two of them are already completed, and this one was a really special one.”
— Sara Alonso
U23 ESTEBAN OLIVERO STAGE 10
Gorbeia Suzien also hosted stage 10 of the Trofeo Esteban Olivero U23 series, won by Dalia Alonso and Biel Sagues.
Full results for Gorbeia can be found here.
The Merrell Skyrunner® World Series continues on 18th October with Mount Kinabalu in Malaysia.
