“We had to adapt the route because of the fires in 2024, which ended up taking away part of the route where the race passed”, revealed the race organiser, Sidónio Freitas, about the reasons for the lower participation number.

At a press conference in the gardens of Quinta Magnólia, in Funchal, Sidónio Freitas admitted that the organisation thought about cancelling the race, which runs from one end of Madeira Island to the other in a northwest-southeast direction, something that only didn't happen only due to the “history of trail-running in Madeira” and the importance of the occasion.

“In economic terms, MIUT has a very positive impact on the regional economy, pouring resources into all municipalities in the region,” according to the race director.

The fact that this was already an “emblematic event” in Madeira also gave strength to the organisation, highlighting the “passionate landscape” and the opportunity to strengthen the island’s reputation as a destination of choice.

“We have the ability to do a race in the mountains and finish on the seafront, something that is not done anywhere else in the world,” highlighted Sidónio Freitas.

Organised by Clube de Montanha do Funchal (CMoF) and supported by almost 700 volunteers, the MIUT is part of the 115-kilometre distance, which constitutes the main race, as well as the 85, 60, 42 and 16-kilometre races.

Of the approximately 1,600 foreigners registered, France is the most represented country, followed by Germany, the United Kingdom and Poland, out of a total of 67 nationalities, this being a new record.

Among the elite athletes, the presence of the Portuguese Miguel Arsénio and the French Germain Grangier stands out, in the men's sector, in addition to the American Katie Schide and the German Katharina Hartmuth, in the women's sector.

For the second consecutive year, the 115-kilometer race, which starts in Porto Moniz and ends in Machico, is part of the World Trail Major (WTM) world circuit, of which CMoF is a founding partner.