4 days ago
Moroccan runner Elhousine Elazzaoui makes history with victory at Zegama-Aizkorri race
On Sunday, Moroccan runner Elhousine Elazzaoui claimed a stunning victory in the legendary Zegama-Aizkorri race in the Basque Country, delivering an incredible performance in the final kilometers. Clocking a time of 3 hours and 43 minutes, he succeeds the iconic Kilian Jornet, whom he had closely followed in last year's edition.
Starting as the favorite, Elazzaoui lived up to expectations. On the grueling 42 km course with a 2,700 m elevation gain, he launched a decisive attack just after the 30th kilometer—about 12 km from the finish—according to L'Équipe. From that point on, there was no stopping him.
Elhousine Elazzaoui ?? wins the @ZegamaAizkorri (3:43:28)
The Moroccan runner from the Nnormal team becomes the first African to triumph at Zegama
— Ultres Catalunya (@ultrescatalunya) May 25, 2025
The race took place under sunny skies and a light breeze—near-perfect conditions for a course often battered by bad weather. Elazzaoui built a commanding lead, finishing seven minutes ahead of Spain's Andreu Blanes Reig, while Italy's Daniel Pattis rounded out the podium.
«I'm so happy—because I finished second here twice, behind Kilian Jornet. This time, I got it right!» he said over the phone, speaking between the doping control and the podium ceremony.
«There was a bit of pressure, because Kilian wasn't here, so everyone expected me to win. But the atmosphere was incredible—people were shouting my name, and that really lifted me».
At 33 years old, 1.66 meters tall, and weighing 59 kg, Elazzaoui has become a force to be reckoned with in shorter trail formats (21 to 42 km) with significant elevation. His deep knowledge of the Basque course proved crucial: «I attacked at the 30th kilometer. I was confident. My experience helped me break my record here and secure the win».
The reigning champion of the 2024 Golden Trail World Series—one of the most prestigious circuits in international trail running—Elazzaoui is enjoying a remarkable season. He now plans a recovery period before heading to the United States for the Broken Arrow Skyrace on June 19, followed by the Tepec Trail in Mexico the following week.
