The 2025 Ultra-Trail Cape Town delivered world-class performances and high drama as the World Trail Majors series concluded on November 22nd. Despite extreme weather conditions that battered the event village with 90 km/h winds, the races went ahead as planned, showcasing the resilience of both organizers and athletes.
Men’s 100K: Mogavero’s Last-Minute Heroics
In one of the most thrilling finishes of the year, American Jeff Mogavero staged a dramatic late-race surge to claim victory in the 100-kilometer race. With just 20 kilometers remaining, Russia’s Dmitry Mityaevâa two-time champion of this raceâheld a commanding four-minute lead and appeared destined for victory.
But Mogavero had other plans. The 2025 Western States 100 fourth-place finisher went into overdrive on the final climb and descent, vaulting from third place to first in spectacular fashion. He crossed the finish line in 11:04:53, edging Mityaev by a mere 31 seconds in one of the tightest margins in race history.
Men’s 100K Top Results:
- 1st Place: Jeff Mogavero (USA) – 11:04:53
- 2nd Place: Dmitry Mityaev (Neutral) – 11:05:24
- 3rd Place: Matthew Healy (South Africa) – 11:11:26
The 99-kilometer course, featuring 4,676 meters of climbing, lived up to its reputation for rugged, technical terrain on brutally steep gradients. The front-loaded elevation profile includes the high point at Platteklip Gorge around 25 kilometers into the race, testing runners early before the technical descents that defined the race’s outcome.
Women’s 100K: Budha Dominates from Start to Finish
Nepal’s Sunmaya Budha put on a commanding performance, winning with the same consistent pacing that earned her second place at the Trail World Championships Long Trail in September. Unlike the men’s nail-biting finish, Budha’s victory was never in doubt.
By the time she reached Nursery Ravine at 79 kilometers, Budha had built a crushing one-hour lead over Antonina Iushina in second place. She never let off the gas, crossing the finish line in 12:25:55 to cap a remarkable season.
Women’s 100K Top Results:
- 1st Place: Sunmaya Budha (Nepal) – 12:25:55
- 2nd Place: Antonina Iushina (Neutral) – 13:33:31
- 3rd Place: Tara Fraga (USA) – 13:47:04
- 4th Place: Alyssa Clark (USA) – 14:03:11
- 5th Place: Sarah Humble (USA) – 14:46:08
The victory was especially sweet for Budha, as it secured her the overall World Trail Majors series title. Having won the Hong Kong 100K earlier in the season, her Cape Town triumph earned her an additional 12,000 Euro prize for the series championship.
The 100 Miler: South Africa Dominates at Home
The flagship 100-mile race, which started at 5:00 PM on Thursday, November 21st, showcased the strength of South African ultra runners. The 163-kilometer course with nearly 7,000 meters of elevation gain pushed athletes to their limits across Cape Town’s most iconic and remote mountain trails.
Men’s 100 Mile Results:
South African men swept the podium in front of their home crowd:
- 1st Place: Ryan Sandes (South Africa) – 21:19:47
- 2nd Place: Tolstenko (Russia) – 22:40:47
- 3rd Place: Admire Muzopumbwa (Zimbabwe) – 22:41:40
Muzopumbwa’s third-place finish was particularly impressive, as he was catching Tolstenko in the final kilometers and finished less than a minute behind. The Zimbabwe-born runner has been posting excellent results throughout the year, underscoring the depth of regional ultra-distance talent.
Women’s 100 Mile Results:
South Africa’s Nicolette Griffioen delivered the performance of the weekend, not only winning but shattering the course record:
- 1st Place: Nicolette Griffioen (South Africa) – 24:40:58 (Course Record)
- 2nd Place: Simone Malan (South Africa) – 26:39:35
- 3rd Place: Kerry-Ann Marshall (South Africa) – 27:26:30
Griffioen’s record-breaking performance capped an unprecedented season in which she won all three of South Africa’s major trail events: Ultra-Trail Drakensberg, Mountain Ultra Trail by UTMB, and now Ultra-Trail Cape Town. The all-South African women’s podium highlighted the country’s growing dominance in ultra-distance trail running.
The 55K: International Talent on Display
The 55-kilometer Peninsula Traverse showcased elite international competition across the northern mountain range, including Table Mountain, Lion’s Head, and the Constantia Winelands.
Men’s 55K Results:
- 1st Place: Johannes Wingenfeld (Germany) – 5:13:00
- 2nd Place: Robbie Simpson (UK) – 5:20:00
- 3rd Place: Charles Hamilton (Australia) – 5:33:00
Wingenfeld’s victory ended Simpson’s three-year winning streak at the distance. Notable runners who started strong but didn’t finish included recent Grampians Peaks Trail 50K winner Peter FraĆo (Slovakia), Jeshurun Small (USA), and Bongmusa Mthembu (South Africa).
Women’s 55K Results:
- 1st Place: Rebecca Kohne (South Africa) – 6:11:44
- 2nd Place: Olivia Dubern (France)
- 3rd Place: Ram Maya Budha (Nepal)
Kohne’s victory was particularly impressive as it came in her debut ultra-distance race, demonstrating the depth of South African trail running talent.
Racing Through the Storm
The 2025 edition will be remembered not just for the stellar performances, but for the extreme weather that tested everyone involved. Overnight winds reaching 90 km/h on Thursday caused extensive damage to the Race Village at Gardens Rugby Club, tearing apart marquee structures and forcing organizers to close the village to spectators for safety reasons.
Race Director Stuart McConnachie made the difficult but necessary call to prioritize safety while keeping the races on schedule. Participants could still start and finish at the venue, but supporters were advised that runners would need to vacate immediately after receiving their finisher medals.
The strong South Easter winds continued to affect the weekend, ultimately forcing the cancellation of Sunday’s 35-kilometer Table Mountain race. However, by Saturday’s 100K and 55K races, conditions had improved significantly, with enthusiastic Cape Town crowds lining the trails to support the athletes.
A Festival of Trail Running
Despite the weather challenges, Ultra-Trail Cape Town 2025 reinforced its status as one of the world’s premier trail running events. The six-day festival featured six races ranging from 16K to 100 miles, attracting 2,800 athletes from 66 countries.
As the finale of the World Trail Majors series, the event carried extra significance, with series titles and substantial prize money on the line. The combination of world-class competition, spectacular scenery, and Cape Town’s legendary trails continues to make UTCT a bucket-list race for trail runners worldwide.
Looking Ahead
The performances at Ultra-Trail Cape Town 2025 set a high bar for the 2026 season. Mogavero’s dramatic comeback victory, Budha’s dominant run to the World Trail Majors title, and Griffioen’s course record all provided memorable moments that will be discussed throughout the trail running community for months to come.
For South African trail running, the home nation’s podium sweep in the 100 Miler and strong showings across all distances demonstrated that the country has arrived as a powerhouse in the sport. With athletes like Griffioen completing unprecedented sweeps of major races and newcomers like Kohne winning debut ultras, the future looks bright.
Race Director McConnachie summed it up well: after eleven years, Ultra-Trail Cape Town continues to expand its global significance and cement its role as a must-run event for the world’s top trail athletesâeven when Mother Nature tries to intervene.
