Sara Alonso: ‘I Feel Very Ready for Zegama Aizkorri’
San Sebastián native Sara Alonso expressed confidence in her preparation for the upcoming Zegama Aizkorri mountain race following her third victory at the Calamorro Skyrace in Benalmádena. Speaking on her 27th birthday, Alonso stated she feels “very well” for the prestigious event scheduled for May 25, 2026, exactly one month after her Calamorro triumph.
The Donostiarra runner celebrated her birthday while savoring her latest win in the XVII Calamorro Skyrace, which marked her third consecutive victory in the event. Alonso described having “very excellent sensations” during the 30-kilometer race featuring over 2,200 meters of positive elevation gain through technical mountain trails and ridges in the Sierra de Benalmádena.
Her performance at Calamorro Skyrace came against an international field that included 2025 champions Luca del Pero (Italy) and Patricia Pineda (Córdoba), along with notable competitors Marta Martínez Abellán, Mădălina Amariei, Greta García, Estel Roig, Amanda Nilsson, and Shangave Balendran in the women’s category. In the men’s race, Manuel Merillas – who Alonso noted shares two previous victories with her in the same competitions – also emerged victorious.
Alonso’s Calamorro victory followed a recent success at the Acantilados del Norte, where she and Merillas established a new course record just one month prior. The runner emphasized her excellent current form, stating she wanted to build on her previous third-place finish at Zegama Aizkorri in 2022 by pushing harder from the start in this year’s edition.
The Zegama Aizkorri race, scheduled for May 25, 2026, represents one of mountain running’s most prestigious events. Alonso acknowledged facing strong competition, particularly mentioning Norwegian Sylvia Nordskar – the defending champion wearing bib number one – though she noted Nordskar did not show strong sensations during the race, which facilitated Alonso’s path to victory.
Looking beyond Zegama, Alonso’s preparation reflects her status as an experienced mountain runner familiar with demanding technical courses. Her Calamorro Skyrace victory demonstrated her ability to perform consistently at the highest level of international skyrunning competition.
The athlete’s confidence comes at a significant time in her career, having now secured three Calamorro Skyrace titles while maintaining her focus on the upcoming Zegama Aizkorri challenge. Her birthday celebration coincided with both personal reflection and athletic preparation as she looks ahead to one of the sport’s marquee events.
As the mountain running community turns its attention to the Zegama Aizkorri start line in late May, Alonso’s recent form and explicit confidence suggest she will be among the contenders fighting for victory in Guipúzcoa’s iconic mountain marathon.
The next checkpoint in Alonso’s campaign will be the Zegama Aizkorri race itself on May 25, 2026, where she aims to build on her Calamorro momentum and translate her stated readiness into another strong performance on the Basque Country’s challenging terrain.
For continued coverage of Sara Alonso’s mountain racing journey and the latest developments in international skyrunning, stay tuned to Archysport’s dedicated endurance sports section.
