TSEPELOVO, Greece – The 10th anniversary race, Zagori Mountain Running, was completed with Zagori’s 46 unique villages, perched on steep slopes, impressive stone mansions, cobbled streets, arched bridges, and the Northern Pindos National Park as the extraordinary backdrop.

More than 2,600 professional and amateur athletes from 27 countries visited Epirus, July 23-25, for the biggest mountain running race, Zagori Mountain Running. Races were held in utmost safety with a strict health protocol, in the presence of Deputy Minister for Environmental Protection Issues Giorgos Amyras. The event highlighted the sports, tourism, and cultural aspects of the region, attracting more than 12,500 visitors, with the hotels’ occupancy in Zagorochoria reaching 100% during the races.

Passion at the “place beyond the mountain”

Races’ action started in Tsepelovo, on July 24 at 4:30 in the morning, with the TeRA 80km mountain running race. In the men’s milestone-race in the history of mountain ultras, the top Spanish athlete, Miguel Angel Heras Hernandez was the winner. Fotis Zisimopoulos followed in 2nd place and Apostolos Tzoumakas finished very close to him in 3rd place. The Spanish athlete said right after his finish: “The truth is that I did not expect to meet such a beautiful race. I saw an excellent event, with an amazingly well-signed route, with exceptional natural landscapes that anyone can visit and admire.”

In the women’s race, Nikoleta Tzavara finished 1st, followed by Styliani Leonidaki in 2nd place, and Martha Xirofotou in 3rd place.

More than 2,600 professional and amateur athletes from 27 countries visited Epirus, July 23-25, for the biggest mountain running race, Zagori Mountain Running. Photo: Zagori Mountain Running

At 6 in the morning, the Marathon 44+ was held. In the fulfilling 44km race, Thanasis Pagounadis was the winner in the men competition, Alexandros Tzoumakas finished 2nd, and Georgios Dimoulas was 3rd. Respectively, in the women’s category, the bronze Olympic medalist Christina Giazitzidou finished 1st, Dimitra Tsalokosta was 2nd, and Maria Malai took 3rd place.

On July 25, the two brand new routes of the Half Marathon 21km and Entry Race 10km followed. In the men’s 21km route, Aggelos Fragkoulis was the winner, followed by Bill Balamotis in 2nd place, and Lampros Basiadimas in 3rd place. In the women’s race, Dimitra Chairopoulou was the winner, Anastasia Tzarou finished 2nd and Maria Loufeki 3rd.

Finally, in the men’s 10km, Georgios Dimoulas was the winner, Athanasios Barbagiannis was 2nd, and Ioannis Stalikas was 3rd. In women, Panagiota Toka finished 1st, Elena Klapanara 2nd, and Despina Floka 3rd.

The full results are available online: https://www.zagorirace.gr/live-prosorina-apotelesmata-agonon/.

The 10th anniversary race, Zagori Mountain Running, was completed with Zagori’s 46 unique villages, perched on steep slopes, impressive stone mansions, cobbled streets, arched bridges, and the Northern Pindos National Park, as the extraordinary backdrop. Photo: Zagori Mountain Running

In the context of the 10th anniversary Zagori Mountain Running, the representative of My Adventure, Vasilis Tzoumakas stated: “With great pleasure we welcomed again visitors from 27 different countries in Zagori, in an effort from all of us to return to normality, while showcasing the region’s mountain sports tourism. With an even stricter health protocol, we laid the foundations from the beginning, for a safe event and met again with beloved familiar faces and new people. I would like to thank all the sponsors, partners and of course the volunteers who stood by us and supported this effort from the first moment. We are now renewing our appointment with the biggest mountain running race for 2022.”

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