Zegama-Aizkorri / Golden Trail World Series
Zegama-Aizkorri Mendi Maratoia (XXV)
Zegama
Race guide
Updated 19 July 2026
The Zegama-Aizkorri Mendi Maratoia is one of the most celebrated mountain races in the world — a 42 km loop through the rugged limestone ridges of the Basque Country, starting and finishing in the village of Zegama at 304 m. With 2,661 m of total ascent and a high point of 1,507 m, this is a genuine mountain marathon in every sense: short on runnable trail, long on technical terrain, and ferociously competitive as part of the Golden Trail World Series. The race has carved out a legendary reputation not just for its elite fields but for the atmosphere generated by thousands of spectators lining the steep hillsides, cowbells ringing from the ridges above Urbia and the finish straight in Zegama itself.
Course & Terrain
The route leaves Zegama (304 m) and climbs immediately, gaining nearly 600 m over the first 11 km to reach Otzaurte (859 m). From there the trail steepens sharply through Sancti Spiritu (14 km, 1,148 m) before topping out on the Aizkorri summit at 16 km and 1,336 m — the highest point of the race comes shortly after at 1,507 m. The terrain throughout is characteristically Basque: wet limestone slabs, root-crossed singletrack and open grassy ridgelines that turn greasy the moment cloud rolls in. From the Aizkorri massif the course descends into the pastoral plateau of Urbia (20 km, 1,029 m) before climbing again to Andraitz (31 km, 1,113 m). The final section drops from Andraitz through Beunde/Iturbegieta (35 km, 796 m) and follows a punishing descent back into Zegama. Very little of this course is flat — expect sustained technical climbing and descending for the vast majority of the 42 km.
The Decisive Climbs & Descents
The climb from Otzaurte through Sancti Spiritu to the Aizkorri summit is the heart of the race. In the space of just 5 km you gain roughly 480 m on terrain that is steep, often rocky and exposed to Basque weather. Many runners find this section — particularly the rocky scramble approaching Sancti Spiritu at 14 km — is where races begin to unravel if the effort has been too aggressive in the opening 11 km. The descent from the Aizkorri ridge into Urbia is fast but treacherous on wet limestone; a slip here costs significant time and energy. The second key section is the re-ascent from Urbia to Andraitz (31 km), which arrives on already-heavy legs at the two-thirds mark. The final descent from Beunde/Iturbegieta (35 km, 796 m) into Zegama is steep and technical — it rewards runners who have preserved their quads and punishes those who have not.
Pacing & Fuelling Strategy
Given the elevation profile and the tight cut-offs, pacing discipline in the first half is critical. The cut-off at Otzaurte (11 km) is 11:00 on Sunday, and Sancti Spiritu (14 km) must be reached by 11:40 — these are aggressive early gates that demand a steady, controlled effort from the gun rather than a cautious shuffle. Aim to arrive at Urbia (20 km, cut-off 13:00) with energy still in reserve; runners who blow up on the Aizkorri climb and crawl into Urbia will struggle to make Andraitz (31 km, cut-off 15:00) and Beunde/Iturbegieta (35 km, cut-off 15:45). Fuelling should begin early — the technical terrain makes eating on the move difficult, so use the crew points at Otzaurte and Beunde/Iturbegieta strategically. Carry gels or chews for the climb above Sancti Spiritu where hands are sometimes needed for scrambling. The final cut-off at the Zegama finish is 17:00, giving a total race window of roughly six to seven hours for mid-pack runners.
Conditions to Expect
Zegama sits in the heart of the Basque Country, one of the wettest mountain environments in Europe. Race day conditions can swing from warm spring sunshine in the valley to cold, driving rain and low cloud on the Aizkorri ridge within the same morning. The limestone rock that makes the course so dramatic also becomes lethally slippery when wet, so trail shoes with aggressive lugs are strongly recommended over anything with a low-profile road-biased outsole. Wind on the exposed ridgeline above 1,300 m can be significant; a packable wind layer is worth carrying even on days that look clear at the start in Zegama (304 m). Snow on the higher sections in late spring is not unheard of. Plan for cold and wet and be pleasantly surprised — do not assume valley conditions will reflect what you encounter on the Aizkorri massif.
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Checkpoints & cut-offs
✓ Course data verified against the official source (2026-07-05) · official source
0 km · 304 m · —
8.7 km · 819 m · Sun 10:25
13.5 km · 1059 m · Sun 11:20
16.1 km · 1363 m · Sun 12:00
19.6 km · 967 m · Sun 12:15
23.2 km · 1506 m · Sun 13:30
26.6 km · 1110 m · Sun 14:25
28.5 km · 1127 m · Sun 14:50
32.3 km · 990 m · Sun 15:30
34.2 km · 814 m · Sun 16:00
37.8 km · 726 m · Sun 16:30
42.2 km · 304 m · Sun 17:00
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