The French ultratrail star confirms her participation in the tenth edition of the race, which will take place from November 5 to 9 in Gran Canaria
French ultrarunner Claire Bannwarth (Reims, France, 1989) will once again be one of the key figures in the 360º The Challenge Gran Canaria, the demanding ultratrail race that will celebrate its tenth edition from November 5 to 9, 2025. Bannwarth, now a true icon of this event, will return to the island to go for her sixth consecutive title and continue building her legendary status.
The French athlete has participated in the race five times and has won on every occasion. In the 2024 edition, she clocked a time of 57 hours, 56 minutes, and 13 seconds, which not only earned her victory in the women’s category but also an impressive ninth place overall, competing on par with the top male runners.
A Historic 2024 Season
The 2024 season was a particularly brilliant one for Bannwarth. She secured victories in some of the toughest races on the international calendar, including: Winter Spine Race (420 km), TRAILCAT200 (318 km), Lake Zurich 100 Endurance Race (106 km), Trail Menorca Camí de Cavalls (185 km), Montreux Trail Festival Crossing Switzerland (396 km), and Atlas Quest (105 km). Alongside her wins, she also reached the podium at major events such as Istria 100 by UTMB, Swiss Alps 100, and the legendary Tor des Géants—one of the world’s most grueling and iconic races.
In the Gran Canaria World Trail Majors, the prestigious international circuit that brings together some of the world’s top races, she achieved a commendable fourth place overall, after finishing fourth at the MIUT – Madeira Island Ultra-Trail and sixth at the Quebec Mega Trail. She kicked off her 2025 season by taking part in the circuit’s opening event, the Anta Guanjun Hong Kong 100, where she completed the “Grand Sam” by running all three distances: 32.6 km, 55.6 km, and 102.9 km.
Historic Milestone at the Barkley Marathons
In 2025, Claire Bannwarth made history by becoming the first French woman to start the legendary Barkley Marathons, a mysterious and notoriously brutal ultratrail race widely considered the most extreme in the world. This milestone further cements her status as one of the most important ultrarunners of our time—always ready to take on the toughest challenges on the calendar.
Photo by Ian Corless
The 360º The Challenge Gran Canaria will once again gather some of the world’s top ultrarunners this November. And with Claire Bannwarth on the starting line, excitement is guaranteed. The race is held under self-sufficiency conditions, requiring participants to navigate using GPS and manage their own food and rest. The course spans over 250 unmarked kilometers with nearly 12,000 meters of positive elevation gain—an extreme endurance challenge reserved for the best ultratrail runners on the planet. Registrations are filling up fast, approaching one hundred participants. Those interested can sign up through the official event website: www.360thechallenge.com.
360º The Challenge Gran Canaria is organized by Arista Eventos, with the support of the Cabildo of Gran Canaria through Gran Canaria Tourism and the Island Sports Institute; the Government of the Canary Islands via Promotur – Islas Canarias; the Tejeda City Council; and sponsors Joma and Fred. Olsen Express. The event is also backed by partners such as Aguas de Teror, Pepsi, Lorenzo González Automoción, Emicela, Gofio La Piña, Bonflex, Provital, and Inetel.