49th Royal Victoria Hotel Ras Rhyngwladol Yr Wyddfa // International Snowdon Race 2026 – Race Report

Llanberis, Wales – After weeks of hot and sunny weather in the area, cooler, overcast conditions welcomed over 450 runners to the 49^th running of the Royal Victoria Hotel  Ras Rhyngwladol Yr Wyddfa International Snowdon Race 2026, as Italy once again repeated their history-making efforts of 2025 by taking the title in the form of men’s winner Massimiliano Berti, along with a clean sweep of the men’s podium.

The women’s race proved to be wonderful spectacle as Scottish international Emily McNicol ran a controlled race from the front to secure the win, following in the footsteps of compatriots Angela Mudge, Holy Page and Cationa MacDonald on the role call of winners from Scotland.

As is traditional at Snowdon strong teams from Wales, England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland and Italy come together for what is renowned as one of the classic European races on the calendar, with international athletes once again producing some incredible racing.

Though the weather was grey in the Llanberis village, reports from the summit spoke of sunny conditions and warmth, as Yr Wyddfa provided an inversion of clouds as the runner made their way up this famous mountain, rolling out at the traditional 2pm start time.

The pace up front in the men’s race was being set by Italians Tiziano Moia long with Berti, as they hit the mountain proper following the fast tarmac start, and it was clear that there could be something special on the cards as they hit the Halfway House mark in a sub-20minute time of 19:49.

In the women’s event McNicol wasn’t hanging around as she blasted up to the halfway point. In close attendance was 2022 winner, Hannah Russell wearing the vest of England, Eve Pannone who was running in the open race this year, was in third with Welsh athlete Eden O’Dea once again have a great race on home soil.

As the leading runners approached the turn round point of the race and the 1085m summit, Moia and Berti had a commanding lead in the men’s race, showing impressive climbing skills, cresting in 40:45, for one of the fastest ascents in recent years.

In the women’s race McNicol and Russell were establishing a commanding lead over the competition, with the Scottish athlete hitting the summit in 49:27, beginning her descent with a lead of just 14 seconds over Russell. Eden O’Dea summitted in third position. Italy’s Luna Giovanetti was making her move in 6^th, and ready to show her descending skills as they made the charge back to Llanberis.

The positions at the head of the race were by now becoming clear as young Italian athlete Berti led Moia, as they hurtled back to Llanberis. These two were now in full command as and the blue vests of Italy looked set to take all three podium spots, with Giulio Simonetti having moved into third place with just over 2 miles to go.

As the race progressed it was clear that Berti was on for something special time-wise, pulling away from Moia with every stride, rounding the final bend he was greeted by a huge crowd at Cae’r Ddol, having time to smile and raise the finish line ribbon to take a fantastic win in 1:04:13, the fastest time since 2019 – adding his name to the illustrious role call and becoming the latest in a long line of Italian winners.

Moia finished a jubilant second in 1:05:47, with the charging Simonetti (1:07:14) completing the podium, as three Italian athletes took the clean sweep. English athlete Ed Corden finished a strong 4^th, with open division runner Max Walker completing the top 5. Italy’s perfect score meant an obvious win in men’s team prize.

In the women’s race Emily McNicol was producing a super performance, making the technical slopes of Yr Wyddfa look easy, and entering the finish straight knowing that she had the win in the bag, crossing the line to take the women’s title in a very swift 1:16:56.

Hannah Russell kept McNicol in her sights for as long as she possibly could, racing to a brilliant second-place in 1:17:38.

Italy’s Giovanetti produced another Italian descending master-class, to move from 6^th to third (1:18:18) with the fastest female descent time of the day in 26:05. The super-consistent Pannone finished an excellent fourth and Wales’ Eden O’Dea improved greatly on her 2025 performance to finish 5^th. As with the men, Italy’s women were triumphant in the team race taking 3^rd, 6^th and 7^th.

Results

Men’s Top 3
1. Massimiliano Berti (Italy) 1:04:13
2. Tiziano Moia (Italy) 1:05:47
3. Giulio Simonetti (Italy) 1:07:14

Team: Italy

Women’s Top 3
1. Emily McNicol (Scotland) 1:16:56

2. Hannah Russelli (England) 1:17:38
3. Luna Giovanetti (Italy) 1:18:18

Team: Italy

Race Preview

Llanberis, Wales – With less than 2 weeks to go until the 49th edition of the International Snowdon Race / Ras Rhyngwladol yr Wyddfa, sponsored by the Royal Victoria Hotel on Saturday 18^th July, another historical race awaits on Wales’ highest mountain.

Though this is the 49^th edition of the race, 2026 marks 50 years since that inaugural race, which has a rich history and has grown to be one of the greatest in the world of mountain running. (missed 2020, 2021 due to covid)

This year’s race entries are full, with 500 general places taken. An additional 50 international runners will also toe the line in Cae Ddol, as mountain runners from across Europe will travel to Llanberis, for one of the greatest sporting events on the Welsh calendar, which can trace it’s beginnings back to July 1976.

Women’s Preview

This year’s women’s race looks set to be highly competitive race, with six returning champions, alongside a number of athletes who have podiumed in the last 10 years.

2018 winner Bronwen Jenkinson returns to Llanberis in the red vest of Wales. Now resident in the Lake District, Bronwen has made her way back into the sport after a number of years away from running and will receive a warm welcome from the local support. Eden O’Dea also returns for Wales after a strong 8^th place run in 2025.

2022 women’s winner Hannah Russell runs for the English team, alongside the 2023 winner from Scotland, Holly Page. England are also bolstered by the 2025 English Fell Champion Sara Willhoit, who finished second in the race in 2022.

2024 9^th placer Catriona MacDonald runs for the Scottish team, having also won the race all the way back in 2010.

Italy’s Andrea Schweigkofler leads the charge for the women in the azzuri blue, after winning a number of SkyRaces in 2025.

The Republic of Ireland team has some new faces in their line-up when it comes to this race, with youngster Rebecca Magee leading the trio making the trip to Llanberis. And Northern Ireland will once again have experienced Snowdon International representative Naomi McCurry in their line-up.

English athlete Eve Pannone takes part in the Open race, after finishing second in 2024 and third in 2025 in the vest of England, and will certainly be mixing it with the international athletes on race day.

Men’s Preview

As ever the Welsh team will be looking to perform well on home soil and are led by youngsters Keiran Wynne-Cattanach and Cai Dafydd, who finished 2^nd and 3^rd at the Welsh trial race on Cader Idris in May. A name that is well known to many is GB international marathon runner Josh Griffiths, who will be wearing the red of Wales on Yr Wyddfa for the first time.

The English team will be strong as ever and look to take back the team prize that they conceded to the Italian team last year. They are led by 2025 4^th placer Dan Haworth. John Battrick who finished 10^th in 2025 also lines up in the vest of England.

Italy have a strong history of success at the event, having taken five individual men’s titles in the last eight editions of the race. They convincingly won the team race in 2025, and took a clean sweep of the podium positions. and will return to try and retain that team prize and challenge for the individual victory with Luca Merli, Tiziano Moia, Giulio Simonetti and Massimiliano Berti taking to the start line.

Scotland is another nation that has tasted Snowdon success over the last few years with Andrew Douglas winning in 2019 and Ross Gollan in 2022. This year the Scots have an interesting line-up of youth and experience which includes Kieran Cooper and Finlay Todd.

The Republic of Ireland have a rich history of success at the event with Tim Conway amongst those lining up in the emerald green in 2025. He is backed up by Michael Patterson and Rudy Mayne in the Irish vests.

Completing the international teams are Northern Ireland, with 8^th-placer in 2025 Tom Crudgington, looking to move up the rankings as he returns to Llanberis in 2026.

On the Open side for the men Grant Cunliffe will be racing in the club vest of Rossendale, after finishing 3^rd in the vest of England in 2024.

One runner will once again make history in 2026. Eryri Harrier Malcolm Jones from Tremadog ran in the very first race in 1976 and has managed to complete every race since Therefore, Malcolm will be running his 49^thSnowdon Race this year and makes history as the only person to have competed at every event.

The race organisation are as ever very grateful to Cyngor Gwynedd Council and Parc Cenedlaethol Eryri National Park for their support. Aberglaslyn Search and Rescue Team will also be on the mountain keeping the runners safe throughout the race.

The race will be televised with a one-hour highlights programme on terrestrial TV via S4C, and also be available on the BBC iPlayer, with the programme produced by North Wales-based production company Cwmni Da.

Other features of the day will be the traditional junior races starting ten minutes after the main race at 2.10pm on the Saturday for 10-18 years, once again supported by the Eryri National Park and will be organised by the Byw’n Iach, Cyngor Gwynedd team.

Registration for junior races will take place from 9.30am-1.30pm at the Llanberis community centre.

Race organiser Stephen Edwards takes charge of his 16^th event in 2026, and states:

“We are delighted to be partnering up with The Royal Victoria Hotel as our headline partner for 2026. The Vic as it’s know locally, has been the home to the race since 1976, when they also sponsored the race. We’re also really pleased to be partnering with NNormal and Pete Bland Sports, and of course the wonderful support that we get from Snowdon Mountain Railway, The buzz in Llanberis come race weekend is unbelievable, you really do have to be here to be able to understand that. This race means so much to the area and the people of Llanberis, especially for myself me as a local lad. I’ve been organising the race since 2009 and have been on the committee helping my dad since I was 12-years old.

“My heart-felt thanks go to the Snowdon Race committee and Llanberis community who are incredibly hard-working and supportive to me as race organiser. People have stated that they thought the race was organised by a commercial event company, but actually it’s just a team of volunteers. Let us all in the village and communities be proud for what we have here, including the voluntary organisation.

“I’ll be organising my final race in 2027, when it will be the 50th race and full of celebration, with past runners coming back to Llanberis along with a week of events in the village. To think what it has become all those years after that very first humble race back in 1976 is incredible really, and all thanks to Ken Jones’ vision, and I am extremely proud to be able to carry on taking the iconic event and taking it the next level.

“We feel that the race is still the best and most iconic, mountain race or event in Llanberis. And that’s what makes this race so magical – it’s an international event, with a local feel, and long may that continue.”

For further information visit https://www.snowdonrace.co.uk

ENDS