In a busy weekend of trail running with two races for the Gran Canaria World Trail Majors series, the Swiss Canyon Trail in continental Europe and the South Downs Way 100 in the United Kingdom.
At Swiss Canyon Trail, the 111K, the name that corresponds to its distance, is the Queen. On Friday, 7th June there were races for children, beginners, marathon and double marathon; however, the 111 km with 5294 m of elevation is the most prestigious of the weekend of events. The Swiss Canyon Trail is also a qualifying race for the World Trail Majors series which has already seen races in Hong Kong, Arizona (USA), Gran Canaria (Spain), Madeira (Portugal) and Fuji (Japan).
A good number of elite runners accompanied nearly 2,700 enthusiastic trail runners over the weekend, taking place near the town and lake of Neuchâtel, known for its spectacular alpine views from the high canyons through which the race runs. Starting at 05:00 in order to make the most of daylight hours, with a time limit of 28 hours, starting and finishing in Couvet, the Swiss Canyon Trail has re-launched itself internationally as one of the most important trail running events in Switzerland and mainland Europe.
A record-time victory for Miguel Arsénio
In the previous article, we pointed out that in the men’s category, it could look like a repeat of February’s Transgrancanaria because the first four would be on the start line. Unfortunately, in the last few days before the race, due to injuries, Raul Butaci and Miguel Heras would not take part but Ionel Cristian Manole (Romania, BigK/Joma) and Abel Carretero (Spain, Otso), who were third and fourth in the Spanish race, as well as other strong competitors that would make the race exciting as it evolved.
While temperatures were mild at around 13°C at the start, the skies threatened rain for the whole of Saturday and part of Sunday. After the start the leaders were Aleix Toda (Spain, Compressport) together with Abel Carreterto a little ahead of Miguel Arsénio (Portugal, Sport HG/AML Sport) ant the brave Chinese runner Guangfu Meng (Hoka) set a high pace. Meng usually uses an aggressive style that has already earned him a fifth place in the Anta Hong Kong 100 and the victory in Mt. FUJI 100, which helped him to lead the provisional classification of the Gran Canaria World Trail Majors series.
Unfortunately, Ionel Cristian lost some time while the leaders set a faster pace: two pairs, Toda-Carretera and Arsénio-Meng with a couple of minutes in between seemed to be the contenders for the podium until Arsénio move ahead and slowly was closing the gap to the Spaniards.
Miguel Arsénio, always a fearsome rival, wanted to make up for two painful withdrawals this season in The North Face Transgrancanaria and MIUT – Madeira Island Ultra-Trail. By kilometre 83 he passed third two minutes from lead and progressed to second in the next checkpoint, just 4 minutes from Abel Carretero, current leader. At 100 he already paired Aleix and coming from behind it was a matter of time that Miguel change the pace. Behind Carretera, Toda, Meng and Cristian were in contention for the podium while both Swiss runners Lucien Epiney and Tristan Blanchard were following.
Ii was a matter of Arsénio and his own forces to resolve the race, followers looked with energies too but the Portuguese had to fail. And it didn’t happen. Miguel Arsénio has been the winner of the 29th edition of the Swiss Canyon Trail with an incredible time of 10:24:09 while the former record was Martin Kern (10:59:26, 2019). A record time was the award of a very competitive race. Behind Arsénio the podium was for the Spaniard, but living in Switzerland, Aleix Toda, and Abel Carretero, all three in less than 10 minutes. Even the fourth, Guangfu Meng, with a time of 10:55:32 beat the former record. What a race!
Other notable positions outside the top 3 were Ionel Cristian, fifth, then the locals Lucien Epiney and Tristan Blanchard, and Harry Jones (UK, Merrell).
Comments from the Podium
In the finish line we had some words by the podium:
Miguel Mikeshow Arsénio commented that: “The race was out of control all of the time, the strategy was to go behind the guys in the beginning but the race was so fast from the start. At 47 I have a very bad feeling, it was so warm and we were going -500 m and then the biggest climb of the day with the river at our side and the humidity was so high.
“I lost the front of the race and from there, km 57, I had to push very very hard, closing the gap in just 10 kilometres, I paid for it, had to cool down and that’s it. I had a very strong mindset and when I caught them I pushed a lot and arrived here first with a big smile. And yes, now I had to plan how to run a second one, I have to check the calendar.”
Aleix Toda said: “I never imagined to make a podium with this field. First kms I felt really good and fresh, maybe I pushed a little too much but after km 70, the distance I know until now, there Abel caught me and he was very strong, so I forgot him and kept my pace. Of course I’d like to do a second race, all the races are amazing and I’ll try to compete another or maybe the following season.”
Abel Carretero, third in Couvet finish line felt “Satisfied with a podium, happy with it, you’ve seen how the level was, a race ends in the finish line and the performance has been great to me. We were very close, it has been very demanding but great, I’m happy with it. I will be next month in Canada running the Quebec Mega Trail, I have to do better than 4th I did in The North Face Transgrancanaria and we’ll see how others do.”
Marianne Hogan wins!
The women’s race was very close, with Swiss, French, and Canadian runners among the favourites, and the ones who finally took the podium positions.
From the first aid station it was clear that, barring catastrophes – not at all uncommon in this sport – the race would be between Marianne Hogan (Canada, Salomon), Manon Bohard (France, Hoka) and Audrey Virgilio (Switzerland, Hoka Suisse), last winner, which was confirmed as the kilometres went by. By Chasseron (42 km, and the highest point of the race at 1606 m) the difference between Hogan and Bohard was 6 minutes; behind were Virgilio (+10’), Eve Moore (UK, 5’) and Christine Selman (USA, Asics Frontrunner, +15’).
By Gorges de Noirveaux, having already overcome a good part of the elevation at 76 km, the leaderboard was established with Marianne Hogan in first position followed by Manon Bohard at 22 minutes behind and Audrey Virgilo at 17 minutes behind second.
There were hardly any changes by the finish line, and after more than half a day of running, up and down mountains, Swiss Canyon Trail 2024 was won in superb style by Marion Hogan in a time of 12:25:51 not beating the current record Camille Bruyas (12:14:50, 2019) but with an impressive difference with Manon Bohard, second in Couvet, of more than 40. Bohard’s time has been 13:08:13. Third was former winner, Audrey Virgilio, that crossed the line in 13:13:06.
Marianne declared in the finish “I’m really happy how the day went but it was a little difficult because I had some pain in my left leg so I just tried to make sure that I kept it under control, which I was able to do. After 60 km I was told I had 12 minutes lead and I was feeling pretty good so I thought I can hold on for the win. I was supported by two team members here and was great to share with them because this is a team effort. I have to look at my race calendar, I was in RMB Ultra-Trail Cape Town last year and I really enjoyed it and it could be a possibility for this year again.”
Swiss Canyon Trail had set itself the task of a grand restart before it reached its third decade, and becoming part of the Gran Canaria World Trail Majors has helped, an experienced organisation and an amazing route have also helped, but more importantly is the great participation of this edition, which raised the race to a new level. Swiss Canyon Trail has entered a new era and does so prior to its thirtieth birthday, an age that few races in the world have and the thirtieth celebrations will surely be a big attraction for 2025.
Full results and streaming
Swiss Canyon Trail: Full Results
You can relive the streaming on YouTube’s World Trail Majors channel (part 1 and 2).