Despite a return to some of the harshest conditions in the event’s history, Terra de Gigantes 2026 delivered the fastest performances ever recorded on the course. Snow, winter winds, and brutal terrain failed to slow the champions who rewrote the record books from Portugal’s highest peaks to the Atlantic coast.

The race began in biting cold, with snowfall blanketing frozen ground and heavy clouds swallowing the mountain summits – a reminder that last year’s sunny gunstart was the exception, not the rule. 

Within the opening miles, the field plunged downhill in full blizzard conditions as Britain’s Robbie Britton asserted himself early, establishing a pace matched stride for stride by compatriot Dave Phillips. Britton, the UK’s 24-hour run record holder, arrived with elite credentials and recent international podium finishes, while Phillips came into the race in formidable form following a silver medal at the Gran Canaria 360 Challenge and victory at the Essex Way Ultra 82 Miles.

In one of the largest women’s fields Terra de Gigantes has seen, Rebecca Hormann began to separate herself almost immediately. Armed with a formidable résumé of five wins across 2024 and 2025 – including dominant 100-mile victories – the Swiss contender’s pedigree showed as she not only took control of the women’s race, but surged firmly into the overall top three.

Dawn on Day 2 revealed a striking development: despite frost-laced conditions, both the men’s and women’s leaders were already further along the course than at the same point in 2025. The question was no longer about speed, but sustainability.

With Torre and Açor behind them, only one giant remained: Alto de Trevim. Rising to 1,200 metres above sea level, Trevim offers sweeping views on a clear day: the Serra da Estrela where the race began, and far in the distance, the Atlantic Ocean and the finish at Nazaré. 

Through two full sunsets the competitors pressed on, finding brief refuge in small towns before re-emerging onto exposed climbs and damp roads, where winter winds tore relentlessly across the high ground. At the front, the leading trio pushed beyond exhaustion to produce something truly special.

That moment came in the wee hours of the morning, with nine-metre waves crashing just beyond the finish arch at Nazaré. As high winds swirled through the Praça Sousa Oliveira, Phillips took the tape and stopped the clock in 40:51:33. He had surged past Britton in the final 50 kilometres to claim victory – and obliterate the course record by nearly seven hours.

Britton paid the price for the ferocious tempo he had set, but regrouped to secure second place in 45:31:12. Hormann followed in 46:13:46, claiming the women’s title and an extraordinary third overall, smashing the previous women’s course record by more than nine hours.

All three had surpassed the 47:45:46 winning mark set by defending champion Dani Corvo, who was unable to continue after approximately 20 hours in this year’s race.

Carlos Abreu rounded out the men’s podium in 49:51:57, also earning a hometown triumph as the first Portuguese finisher. Among the women, Ireland’s Una Miles claimed silver in 56:59:41, while Italy’s Francesca Ferraro secured bronze in  71:45:26, arriving under the 74-hour cutoff.

With winning times incrementally falling from 49:33 in 2023 to 47:45 in 2025, 2026 marked a seismic leap forward. Records weren’t just broken; they were rewritten.

Terra de Gigantes once again delivered a finish for the ages, launching the 2026 One Hundred World Championship season and awarding the first championship points of the year as part of the Alliance Series.

The 2025 Sicoob Mons Ultra Trail will be remembered not only for its champions, but for an extraordinary achievement behind the scenes: zero serious rescue incidents across all race distances. The credit belongs to a dedicated race support crew of more than 150 people, affectionately known as the Faces of Mons, whose commitment and expertise formed the backbone of the event.

Long before the first athlete reached the start line, these crew members were already working—marking trails, setting aid stations, preparing logistics, and coordinating safety teams across the vast, technical terrain of Nova Trento. Their presence was constant: on remote ridges, deep in forest sections, at creek crossings, and in bustling aid zones where their energy lifted exhausted athletes.

Many team members were locals: students, teachers, firefighters, farmers, and lifelong trail enthusiasts. Others travelled from neighbouring regions, drawn by the reputation of the One Hundred series and the pride of supporting Brazil’s premier ultra event.

Their work went far beyond handing out water or directing traffic. They monitored athlete well-being, communicated constantly with medical staff, provided real-time GPS and environmental updates, and executed a proactive safety plan that proved flawless.

Athletes spoke repeatedly about the crew’s warmth and professionalism. Whether offering a bilingual pep talk, a perfectly timed refill, or a reassuring nod in the dark of night, the Faces of Mons created the safe and uplifting environment that allowed every athlete to push toward their limits.

The zero-rescue statistic is a testament to them: a rare, remarkable achievement in a race of this distance and difficulty.

“They are the heart of this event,” said Race Director Danilo Pinheiro. “Without them, there is no One Hundred Mons Final. They are the quiet heroes of every finish line.”

Their dedication turned a world-class race into an unforgettable community triumph.

Few stories resonated with spectators as deeply as the journey of Canadian couple Kirsti Dolson and Matthew “Shep” Shepard, who came to Brazil to race – and unexpectedly became beloved figures in Nova Trento.

Their plan was simple: run together, support each other, and experience one of the world’s most beautiful and demanding trail events. But what unfolded over the course of the week was something far more meaningful.

From the early checkpoints, the pair were impossible to miss, laughing, encouraging each other, and taking on the course with an infectious positivity that lifted everyone around them. Volunteers cheered extra loudly when they approached. Spectators learned their names. Even local families began following their progress live.

When a steep climb near the halfway point challenged many athletes, Kirsti and Shep tackled it side-by-side, stopping to help another runner who was struggling with cramps. The moment was captured by an amateur photographer, later becoming one of the most-shared images of the event.

Their bond, their kindness, and their perseverance quickly earned them the nickname “Os Canadianos do Coração” — The Canadians of the Heart.

Despite facing heat, fatigue, and the sheer brutality of the terrain, Kirsti and Shep kept moving with purpose. Their final kilometres were slow but determined, and when they entered the finishing corridor hand-in-hand, the Nova Trento crowd erupted. It was one of the loudest receptions of the entire championship weekend.

"We came here for a race," Shep said. "But what we found was a community."

Kirsti added, "These trails challenged us, but the people here changed us."

Their story became a symbol of the event’s spirit—proof that in ultra-running, heart matters as much as speed.

In an event defined by global competition, it was local Brazilian standout Rodrigo Oliveira who delivered one of the most emotional and celebrated victories of the week, winning his category in under 20 hours and doing so on his home terrain, in front of an electrified Nova Trento crowd.

Rodrigo is no stranger to the region’s rugged trails. The dense forest, the exposed climbs, the unpredictable footing—features he trained on for years. But on race day, he elevated his performance into something extraordinary.

From the opening kilometres, Rodrigo showed a calm but assertive rhythm, staying near the front without overextending. His pacing was immaculate. As international athletes battled the humidity and technical terrain, Rodrigo looked almost effortless, feeding off the cheers at every village crossing.

He made his move at the halfway mark, strengthening his lead with a series of powerful climbs and opening a gap that would grow steadily over the final hours.

Every split confirmed what the spectators already felt: they were watching a homegrown masterclass.

As he entered the final stretch, the atmosphere in Nova Trento transformed. Crowds lined the barriers, flags waved, and the noise swelled into a roar as Rodrigo sprinted home in one of the fastest times ever recorded on the course.

His sub-20 finish didn’t just secure a win; it ignited national pride. Local media highlighted him as the face of Brazil’s trail-running future, and fans gathered long after the finish to celebrate him as their champion.

"Running here isn’t just racing," Rodrigo said. "It’s representing every person who trained on these trails before me. This wasn’t my victory alone; it belonged to Nova Trento."