Kate Courtney and Keegan Swenson win the XCM World Championship 2025

Keegan Swenson and Kate Courtney are crowned world champions of marathon in the Swiss Alps. The Americans prevailed after a tough day marked by altitude, accumulated elevation gain, and equality at the front. 

Kate Courtney and Keegan Swenson win the XCM World Championship 2025

The XCM World Championship 2025 took place this Saturday, September 6th on the impressive course that connects Verbier and Grimentz, in the canton of Valais (Switzerland). The route, 125 kilometers long with almost 5,000 meters of positive elevation gain, is the same one used in the iconic Grand Raid BCVS. A true alpine challenge with legendary sections like La Croix-de-Cœur or the feared Pas de Lona, reaching an altitude of 2,787 meters. The men's race started at 06:40 am, and five minutes later the women started.

Kate Courtney dominates from start to finish

The American Kate Courtney returned to the top of the podium after a race she controlled from the beginning. She crossed the finish line alone with a time of 7:09:38, achieving her first world title in XCM discipline.

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German Anna Weinbeer finished second, almost four minutes behind (+3:44), while Austrian Mona Mitterwallner, one of the top favorites and champion in the last three editions, completed the podium almost five minutes behind (+4:59). Spanish Natalia Fischer finished in a commendable fourth position, consolidating her status as one of the best specialists in the world.

Top 10 Women's Elite XCM World 2025

1. Kate Courtney (USA) - 7:10:11.1
2. Anna Weinbeer (SUI) - 7:13:55.9 (+3:44.8)
3. Mona Mitterwallner (AUT) - 7:15:10.2 (+4:59.1)
4. Natalia Fischer Egusquiza (ESP) - 7:18:49.1 (+8:38.0)
5. Claudia Peretti (ITA) - 7:20:08.2 (+9:57.1)
6. Paula Gorycka-Kurmann (POL) - 7:29:12.4 (+19:01.3)
7. Alexis Skarda (USA) - 7:33:07.1 (+22:56.0)
8. Vera Looser (NAM) - 7:37:10.7 (+26:59.6)
9. Samara Sheppard (NZL) - 7:37:14.4 (+27:03.3)
10. Mara Fumagalli (ITA) - 7:38:27.7 (+28:16.6)

David Valero narrowly misses the medal in a race dominated by Swenson

The men's race saw an intense battle from the first kilometer. A large group of favorites, practically the entire Top 20, rode within the same minute for more than half of the race, maintaining a very high pace and not allowing anyone to break away clearly.

Spanish David Valero was one of the main protagonists of the day: he passed the first checkpoint in Nendaz in first position and remained among the leaders until Swenson made the decisive move. Valero finally crossed the finish line in fourth position, just over three minutes behind the winner.

The victory went to American Keegan Swenson, who won with a time of 5:27:48, followed by Italian Samuele Porro and Colombian Héctor Leonardo Páez León.

Top 10 Men's Elite XCM World 2025

1. Keegan Swenson (USA) - 6:01:44.3
2. Samuele Porro (ITA) - 6:02:10.0 (+0:25.7)
3. Héctor Leonardo Páez León (COL) - 6:05:27.2 (+3:42.9)
4. David Valero Serrano (ESP) - 6:06:08.3 (+4:24.0)
5. Hermann Pernsteiner (AUT) - 6:06:53.7 (+5:09.4)
6. Martin Fanger (SUI) - 6:08:27.0 (+6:42.7)
7. Tim Smeenge (NED) - 6:08:27.8 (+6:43.5)
8. Ond?ej Cink (CZE) - 6:08:28.3 (+6:44.0)
9. Wout Alleman (BEL) - 6:09:42.9 (+7:58.6)
10. Casey South (SUI) - 6:10:02.0 (+8:17.7)