Soldevila Dominates VK OPEN Grand Finale in Bulgaria
Arnau Soldevila, the accomplished skyrunner from Andorra, has been crowned the 2025 VK OPEN Champion following a remarkable performance at the Vertical Ruy race in Bulgaria. The event, held on Saturday, October 18, 2025, served as the Grand Finale of the VK OPEN Championships, where Soldevila not only secured the race victory but also established a new course record.
New Course Record Set at Vertical Ruy
Soldevila's winning time of 36'58" at the Vertical Ruy crushed the previous course record by a full minute. This exceptional feat earned him both the individual race title and the prestigious overall VK OPEN Champion trophy. Reflecting on his victory, Soldevila stated, 'I'm very happy to be here in Bulgaria. The circuit was ideal for me – a sustained and demanding vertical with steep gradients of around 30%. From the start, I felt strong and fought for victory with Inui and Pagnuev, ultimately taking the overall championship title.' Second place in the race went to Suguru Inui from Japan, who finished in 37'05", followed by Aleksei Pagnuev (AIN) in third with a time of 37'53".
Vertical Ruy: The Grand Finale Challenge
The Vertical Ruy race, located in Bulgaria, was a pivotal event in the 2025 VK OPEN Championships calendar, hosting the Grand Finale. The course, known for its challenging profile, spans 4.3 kilometers with a vertical climb of 930 meters, culminating at the summit of Mount Ruy at an altitude of 1,706 meters. The race begins in the village of Zelenigrad and features varied terrain, including steep inclines through mixed forest. This year marked the second edition of the Vertical Ruy, and its inclusion as the VK OPEN Grand Finale brought international attention to the region.
The VK OPEN Championship Series
The VK OPEN Championship is an international circuit dedicated to promoting the VERTICAL discipline in skyrunning, highlighting the Vertical Kilometer® format. A Vertical Kilometer race involves an uphill mountain run with an elevation gain of 1,000 meters over a distance typically not exceeding 5 kilometers. The 2025 edition of the VK OPEN Championships featured eight races across six countries, with the Grand Finale in Bulgaria being a crucial determinant for the overall champions. Athletes' final rankings are typically decided by counting their best two race results plus the final. Arnau Soldevila's victory builds on previous successes, having placed third in the VK OPEN in the preceding year.
8 Comments
Bermudez
While setting a new course record is a remarkable feat for Soldevila, the sport's highly specialized nature limits its appeal. It's difficult to compare it to more traditional athletic disciplines.
Matzomaster
Another 'world champion' in a sport literally nobody has heard of.
ZmeeLove
What an achievement! Setting a new record by a full minute is insane.
Mariposa
Absolutely incredible! Soldevila is truly in a league of his own.
Muchacha
Running up a mountain? Call me when there's an actual sport involved.
Comandante
Who funds these obscure events? Seems like a waste of resources.
BuggaBoom
Hardly a mainstream sport. The appeal is incredibly niche.
lettlelenok
Soldevila's physical prowess is undeniable, crushing the record is impressive. However, the VK OPEN still struggles for widespread recognition outside its dedicated community.