Francesco Puppi running uphill🇮🇹

Francesco Puppi

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Born January 26, 1992Sponsor Hoka
UTMB 935ITRA 948Wins 13Podiums 24

Italian mountain and ultra-trail runner born in Como who began running at age 6. After excelling in mountain running with a 2017 World Championship title (awarded after Petro Mamu's doping disqualification), he transitioned to ultra-distance racing from 2023 onward. Known for his work ethic and resilience, Puppi has overcome multiple injuries including pubic bone stress fractures (2021), elbow fractures from cycling and racing falls (2021, 2022), yet returned to win major championships. His 2024-2025 seasons have been remarkably successful with victories at prestigious 50K races in the U.S. (Chuckanut, Lake Sonoma) and Europe (Lavaredo), his first 100K win at Canyons, and a dominant CCC victory. Coached by Tito Tiberti and sponsored by Hoka, he combines exceptional climbing ability with ultra endurance.

Race Results

2025
7 races5 wins
9th
World Mountain and Trail Running Championships/Long Trail
Sep 27
82km
5,450m+
9:20:22
Canfranc
1st
Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc/CCC
Aug 29
101km
6,000m+
10:06:02
Strava
10th
Sierre-Zinal
Aug 9
31km
2,100m+
2:37:49
1st
Lavaredo Ultra Trail/Lavaredo 50K
Jun 27
47km
2,500m+
4:02:31
1st
The Canyons Endurance Runs/100K
Apr 26
101km
3,800m+
8:04:36
1st
Chianti Ultra Trail/Chianti Marathon Trail
Mar 23
46km
1,700m+
3:16:57
1st
Transgrancanaria/Marathon
Feb 21
46km
1,500m+
3:23:26
2024
8 races4 wins
1st
Ultra Trail Lago d'Orta/UTLO 75K
Oct 12
73km
4,000m+
6:21:04
1st
Julian Alps Trail Run/JAT Sky Trail
Sep 21
53km
2,400m+
4:31:15
2nd
Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc/OCC
Aug 29
56km
3,200m+
5:14:46
15th
Sierre-Zinal
Aug 10
31km
2,100m+
2:38:03
8th
Marathon du Mont-Blanc/42km du Mont Blanc
Jun 30
43km
2,500m+
3:42:25
16th
OFF Road Running Championships Annecy/Vertical Kilometer
May 31
8km
980m+
0:46:23
1st
Vertical Fenis
May 1
5km
1,040m+
0:38:31
1st
Lake Sonoma 50/Lake Sonoma 50 Miler
Apr 13
84km
3,350m+
6:30:17
View All 47 Results

Career Highlights

2025: CCC winner in dominant wire-to-wire performance (10:06:02), first 100K victory at Canyons (8:04:36)
2024: Chuckanut 50K course record (3:26:31) and Lake Sonoma 50 victory (6:30:17) during U.S. tour
2023: Successful ultra transition with Lavaredo 50K course record (4:02:16), OCC victory (upgraded from 2nd), Grand Trail des Templiers 2nd place
2022: World Trail Championships silver medal (short course, Chiang Mai) despite injury-plagued season with two elbow fractures
2021: Golden Trail World Series runner-up, El Hierro victory after Angermund's navigation error; Marathon PR 2:16:18 in Siena; major injuries end season (pubic stress fracture, tendinitis, cycling crash elbow fracture)
2020: Italian Long Distance Mountain Running Champion (Trophée Nasego)
2019: 4th at World Trail Championships (Miranda do Corvo), silver at World Long Distance Mountain Running Championships (Villa La Angostura) behind Jim Walmsley
2017-2018: WMRA World Cup runner-up both years, 2017 NYC Marathon 19th place (2:25:35, top Italian)
2017: World Long Distance Mountain Running Champion (Premana 32km) after Mamu disqualification, European Championships bronze, Team World Champion
2015: Bronze at World Long Distance MR Championships (Zermatt Marathon 42.2km), Italian Vertical Kilometer Champion, Team World Champion
2015: Breakthrough year - wisely abandoned Stramilano half-marathon avoiding injury, then earned world championship medals

Key Achievements

CCC Winner (2025) - 10:06:02
Canyons Endurance Runs 100K Winner (2025) - 8:04:36, first 100K race
Chuckanut 50K Winner (2024) - Course Record 3:26:31
Lake Sonoma 50 Winner (2024) - 6:30:17
Lavaredo 50K Winner (2023) - Course Record 4:02:16
OCC Winner (2023) - 4:44:58 (upgraded from 2nd after Angermund's disqualification)
World Trail Championships Short - Silver (2022 Chiang Mai)
Golden Trail World Series - 2nd Overall (2021), El Hierro Winner
World Long Distance Mountain Running Champion (2017 Premana) - 3:14:37
World Long Distance MR Championships - Gold (2017 Individual after Mamu disqualification, 2017 Team, 2015 Team)
World Long Distance MR Championships - Silver (2019 Villa La Angostura)
World Long Distance MR Championships - Bronze (2015 Zermatt, 2019 Team)
World Trail Championships - 4th (2019 Miranda do Corvo)
World Mountain Running Championships - Silver (2016 Team, 2018 Team)
European Mountain Running Championships - Bronze (2017 Individual)
European Mountain Running Championships - Gold (Team)
European Mountain Running Championships - Silver (Team)
Italian Vertical Kilometer Champion (2015, 2018)
Italian Long Distance Mountain Running Champion (2020)
WMRA World Cup - 2nd Overall (2017, 2018)
New York City Marathon - 19th, top Italian (2017) - 2:25:35
Marathon PR: 2:16:18 (2021 Siena)

Notable Traits

Started running at age 6 with his cousin at a local athletics club
Learned the value of hard work early, not initially a natural talent
Gained body awareness after wisely abandoning 2015 Stramilano half-marathon to avoid Achilles injury
Originally finished 2nd at 2017 World Long Distance Mountain Running Championships, elevated to champion after Petro Mamu's doping suspension
Finished 2nd overall in 2021 Golden Trail World Series after winning El Hierro finale (overcame shoe loss at Chiemgau)
Endured difficult 2021-2022 period with multiple serious injuries: pubic stress fracture, abdominal/adductor tendinitis, two elbow fractures
Made successful transition to ultra-distance racing from 2023, immediately setting course records
Marathon runner credentials: 2:16:18 PR, top Italian finisher at 2017 NYC Marathon
Set multiple course records: Lavaredo 50K (2023), Chuckanut 50K (2024)
Graduate of University of Milan