At the age of 34, Jornet covered the 42 km and 2,736 m of elevation gain of the race at a frantic pace, under a magnificent sun, carried by the encouragement of the thousands of people posted along the route.

The Catalan, who improved the race record held by the Norwegian Stian Angermund (3 h 45 min 08), was three minutes ahead of the young Italian (24 years old) Davide Magnini (3 h 39 min 31), with whom he fought a duel for a long time.

The Spaniard Manuel Merillas, skyrunning world champion and holder of the speed record on Mont Blanc (6:35 in 2021), finished 3rd (3:45:43).

The joy of the Spaniard Kilian Jornet, winner for the 10th time in 11 participations in the Zegama-Aizkorri trail, on May 29, 2022 in the Basque Country, ahead of the Italian Davide Magnini and the Spaniard Manuel Marillas Ander GILLENEA AFP

Jornet, leaving the village of Zegama, made a triumphal entry into this small town not far from San Sebastian, where his two little girls were waiting for him.

"I'm older, I have children," replied Jornet very smiling at the microphone of the organization, asked about his feelings after this tenth success.

"The first time I raced (in Zegama), I had to come home quickly after the race because I had school exams to take. But it's the same atmosphere, the same race, I love it. It's good to be here, the sport is changing but it stays the same".

The Spaniard Kilian Jornet is preparing to win the Zegama-Aizkorri trail for the 10th time in 11 participations, on May 29, 2022 in the Basque Country, in the record time of 3 hours 36 min 40 seconds, or 9 minutes better than the one established in 2017 Ander GILLENEA AFP

The Spaniard, who lives in Norway, won the Zegama trail for the first time in 2007, then in 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2019.

The Zegama-Aizkorri trail, the first stage of the 2022 Golden Trail Series circuit, made its return after two years of absence due to the health crisis linked to covid.

Jornet said on Sunday that he would "continue to run and savor each passing day", while preparing for the big goal of his year: the Hardrock 1000, an ultra-distance race (171km) which will start on July 15 from Silverton (Colorado) and where he will have to compete with the other extreme trail star, the Frenchman François D'haene.

© 2022 AFP