Puigvert Wins Skyrunning Vertical Kilometer World Title

Lluís Puigvert struck gold on La Gomera, winning the Vertical Kilometer world title in 36:37 at the 2026 Skyrunning World Championships.

The race covered 4.95 kilometres with 952 metres of climbing from the Barranco de Guarimiar to the Presa de Acanabre. Light morning rain slicked the rocks, making a hard course harder from the first step. Puigvert stayed patient, holding the front group alongside teammates José Antonio Bellido and Marcos Villamuera through three kilometres.

The attack that broke the field

On the most technical stretch the two Spaniards struck. Puigvert and Bellido surged where the terrain punished hesitation, and Italy's Luca Del Pero could not answer. The gap grew through the final push to the dam, and Puigvert proved strongest in the closing metres.

He stopped the clock at 36:37. Bellido followed 13 seconds later for silver in 36:50. Del Pero took bronze in 37:08, and Villamuera finished fourth in 37:34, placing three Spaniards in the top four among 109 athletes.

Twelve junior titles, one first on the highest step

Puigvert arrived as a twelve-time junior world champion between 2023 and 2026. Earlier this year he claimed his first Spanish senior title, and at Makarska he won world crowns in the combined event and the Sky Race.

He answered it on a wet Canary Island morning, leading a Spanish one-two at the first Skyrunning World Championship ever held in the archipelago. Spain's defending team champions began their title defence with gold, silver and three men in the top four.

A junior can rack up titles; a champion delivers when the field is deepest. On La Gomera, Lluís Puigvert delivered.