The Italian runner of the HOKA team lands in Gran Canaria to fight for the victory in the Marathon
Francesco Puppi (Como, Italy,1992) will run for the first time in The North Face Transgrancanaria. The transalpine runner will be one of the favorites to win the 2025 Marathon, one of the most exciting races of this edition, starting from Tejeda and running through impressive stretches such as the Camino de La Plata to the long-awaited finish line in Maspalomas.
The HOKA team runner usually runs on all types of surfaces, although he has specialized in mountain races, where he has also achieved his best sporting results. Puppi has an ITRA ranking of 928, which proves that he is one of the most important names in trail running today.
Despite his young age, in 2016 he already achieved a podium finish at the prestigious Sierre-Zinal, where he finished third. In 2019 he achieved a very valuable second place in the long-distance world championship in Patagonia, and the following year he won the Fletta Trail Run (2020). His good results continued in 2021 with another podium at Chiemgau Trail Run (2nd) and an impressive victory at The One Race El Hierro, in the final of the Golden Trail World Series circuit. In 2022 he came close to becoming world champion in Chiangmai, finishing second. In 2023 he hit the ground running with victories in Lavaredo Ultra Trail by UTMB and OCC, as well as a second place in Festival Des Templiers.
As for his most recent results, the HOKA athlete had a dream 2024, scoring victories in races like Chuckanut 50K (March); Lake Sonoma 50 (April) and Julian Alps Trail Run by UTMB (September), plus a second place at OCC. This 2025 he already placed his name at the top in the Ronda Ghibellina Trail Half Marathon on January 26.
Now it is the turn of his debut in The North Face Transgrancanaria Marathon, where he will be on the starting line in Tejeda together with other illustrious names such as Robert Pkemoi or Miguel Arsénio. The fight for the podium will be very close in a race that promises a very high pace with several important descents and 1,840 meters of positive elevation.
The North Face Transgrancanaria is a race organized by Arista Eventos that is sponsored by the Cabildo de Gran Canaria institutions, through Turismo de Gran Canaria and the Insular Sports Institute; the Government of the Canary Islands with the Canary Islands Latitude of Life; Maspalomas Costa Canaria; the Municipal Sports Institute of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria; the Teror City Council and the Tejeda City Council. In addition, it has the support of private companies as The North Face, San Roque University Hospitals, and Fred. Olsen Express, 226ERS, Sonocom Audiovisuales, Lopesan Hotel Group, ExpoMeloneras and Aguas de Teror.
Photographs: Timothée Nalet