Always climbing skywards – two verticals at Monte Rosa SkyMarathon

The final day of the Monte Rosa SkyMarathon celebrated two verticals, the long and the short, with athletes climbing upwards and records tumbling in Alagna, Piedmont, Italy, on June 14-15, 2025.

The AMA VK2, a double Vertical Kilometer® – “just” nine kilometres long, with 2,086m vertical climb to an altitude of 3,260m is a beacon for some of the world’s top runners that like it short and steep. The sixth edition of the race saw records smashed with Italy’s Daniel Thedy and Victoria Kreuzer from Switzerland close in 1h30’32” and 1h57’00” respectively.

Thedy, from the neighbouring Aosta valley, placed second in the 2022 and 2024 AMA VK2. Commenting on the new record, Thedy stated, “I was always stuck with second place in this race, so I’m incredibly pleased with this victory. It’s an honour for me to have broken the record, as it belonged to a great athlete like Damiano Lenzi. The conditions weren’t ideal, and I even broke a micro-crampon with my legs sinking in the soft snow, but as I climbed higher, the conditions improved, and everything went really well in the end!”

Second and third men were both from Switzerland, Fiorillo Camesi closing in 1h38’45” and Martin Anthamatten in 1h40’59”.

Victoria Kreuzer, also from Switzerland crushed the women’s record, closing eighth overall in the race. For this well-known couple, both in life and sport, from Zermatt, the 2026 AMA VK2 is already on their bucket list.
The previous women’s record of 1h58’57” set in 2021 belonged to American Hillary Gerardi.

Second and third women, both from Italy, were Corinna Ghirardi in 1h59’59” and Martina Pozzi in 2h04’33” – all closing in the top 12.
Ghirardi commented, “I’m absolutely thrilled! I shaved nearly two minutes off my time and it feels incredible, especially as the years go by, but I’m still competitive. I love this race, and this second place is hugely satisfying, especially as it’s behind a great athlete like Victoria, who was unbeatable today.”

Today’s second race, the Monte Rosa Vertical, introduced in 2023, is a classic Vertical Kilometer® – 5.32 km long with 1,150m vertical climb.

The men’s race saw and incredible performance from Italy’s Marcello Ugazio who set a new record after winning the new SkySummit race to the top of Monte Rosa yesterday with his partner Alex Rigo. The new record stands at 44’55”.

Ugazio, a vertical specialist and winner of the 2023 AMA VK2 and 2022 World Championships silver medallist, found the energy to sweep the board and put another victory under his belt.

“This morning when I woke up, I felt like I’d like to sleep more after yesterday’s race, but I got myself together and once on the course felt incredibly strong. When it got really steep, I wish I’d brought my poles but in the end it worked out ok!”

Second and third men were Italians Peter Bettoli and Alessandro Civitiello. Frenchman Louis Dumas, one of the favourites, was not on form and closed a disappointed fifth but with a strong desire to return next year for one of the three vertical races Monte Rosa now has to offer.

The women’s podium was also all-Italian with Elisa Arvat who closed 1h02’40”. Arvat, from the Aosta valley, commented, “It was a beautiful course, very runnable in the lower part and very steep towards the finish. It’s my first time here. Next time I’d like to try one of the other verticals!”
Local athlete Erika Forni was second and Clara Defilippi, third.

An intense weekend at the seventh edition of the Monte Rosa SkyMarathon unfolded with, for the first time, four events over two days. Athletes from a record 30 countries across five continents participated, new records were set, and new stars were born. More than 1,300 spectators followed the races on the first day, cheering on the runners at high altitude. For many, it was the “best race ever” and all promised to return – to better their performance, to try a different event, and to explore this unique area which offers both stunning and technical terrain – not by chance, the birthplace of skyrunning in 1992 and location of Europe’s highest race.

The organising committee, AMA Asd, is pleased to thank the following for their support: Monterosa 2000, MICO, Guidi, SCARPA, BigMat Guglielmina, Namedsport, media partner Radio Valsesia and institutional partners: Piedmont Region, Vercelli Province, Alagna Valsesia and Gressoney la Trinité Councils and Consorzio Turistico Walser di Alagna Valesia, Unione Montana Valsesia, ATL Agenzia Turistica Locale Terre dell’Alto Piemonte Biella Novara Valsesia Vercelli.

AMA VK2
Men
1. Daniel Thedy (ITA) – 1h30’32”
2. Fiorillo Camesi (SUI) – 1h38’45”
3. Martin Anthamatten (SUI) – 1h40’59”

Women
1. Victoria Kreuzer (SUI) 1h57’00”
2. Corinna Ghirardi (ITA) 1h59’59”
3. Martina Pozzi (ITA) 2h04’33”

Full results

MONTE ROSA VERTICAL
Men
1. Marcello Ugazio (ITA) – 44’55”
2. Peter Bettoli (ITA) – 52’11”
3. Alessandro Civitiello (ITA) – 53’58”

Women
1. Elisa Arvat (ITA) 1h02’40”
2. Erika Forni (ITA) 1h08’50”
3. Clara Defilippi (ITA) 1h10’52”

Full results