Lucy Gossage wins the Ultratrail Spine Race 2025

Triathlon and ultra-distance racing have become fundamental passions for many athletes looking to test their physical and mental endurance.
At the beginning of 2025, the British Lucy Gossage has left its mark on one of the most extreme competitions on the planet: the Spine Race, with a route of 431 kilometres through the most demanding landscapes in the United Kingdom.
The athlete, known for her triumphs in HOMBRE DE HIERRO and long-distance events, has now achieved a major feat by winning this year's edition.
Lucy Gossage's victory
Lucy Gossage crossed the finish line of the Spine Race 2025 in first place in the women's category and fourth overall.
Her time was 87 hours and 41 minutes, which left her almost seven hours behind her closest rival, Robyn Cassidy.
The Spine Race, which runs the entire length of the Pennine Way, requires not only athletic preparation but also great mental strength. Participants face bitter cold, snow, rain and terrain that challenges at every turn.
Gossage showed unstoppable determination from the moment he took the first step in Edale, a village near Manchester, with the finish line located in Kirk Yetholm, almost on the border with Scotland.
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Why the Spine Race 2025 is a unique event
The fame of this ultramarathon lies in its 431 kilometres, which must be covered in a maximum time of 168 hours.
There are no mandatory stages or stops, so the pace and breaks depend entirely on each competitor's strategy. The cumulative gradient of more than 10.000 metres adds a level of challenge that pushes physical endurance to the limit.
The weather is another factor that adds difficulty. The race takes place at the beginning of the year, when the weather conditions in the British Isles are usually quite harsh, with snow, wind and frequent rainfall.
Lucy Gossage's triathlon career
Before turning her attention to ultrarunning, Lucy Gossage was well-known on the international long-distance triathlon circuit.
His first major title came in 2012, when he won the race Challenge Barcelona (Ironman distance). Later, in 2013, he triumphed in IRONMAN UK e IRONMAN Wales, and continued adding achievements in subsequent seasons.
In 2015 and 2016, she reached the Top 10 on the IRONMAN World Championship in Kona, Hawaii. He even won in such tough tests as the IRONMAN from Lanzarote (on two occasions) and the mythical Norseman Triathlon, which tests athletes with icy waters, huge gradients and a finish at the top of a mountain.
After sealing an important legacy in triathlon, Gossage decided to focus his training on ultra-distance races, proving that his abilities could shine in multiple endurance disciplines.
Strategy and overcoming in 431 kilometers
The 2025 Spine Race was no walk in the park for Gossage. Robyn Cassidy took the lead in the first half of the race, and Lucy had to meticulously manage her strength to close the gap on a merciless course.
Accumulated fatigue, hours of darkness and the need to get just enough sleep are factors that test ultrarunners, who learn to find energy even when everything seems lost.
Lucy, who is familiar with effort management from her experience in triathlon events, applied a strategy of constant rhythms and very specific breaks.
The psychological pressure of chasing an elusive leader did not dampen her resolve. As the miles ticked by, she managed to establish a steady pace, catch Cassidy and eventually pull away from her by a wide margin.
With this victory, Lucy Gossage adds another milestone to her extensive career in long-distance events.
Her name is likely to continue making headlines in the future, whether in triathlon or ultramarathons, as her determination seems to have no end in sight.