Francesco Puppi
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.
UTMB Index
935
Birth Date
January 26, 1992
Birth Place
Como, Italy
Sponsor
Hoka
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)
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
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