Mafra hosts the 1st CISM Military Ultra Trail Marathon Challenge
MAFRA (POR) – The city of Mafra in Portugal welcomed military endurance athletes from across the world from 19 to 23 March 2026 for the successful staging of the 1st CISM Military Ultra Trail Marathon Challenge, a landmark event that introduced ultra trail running into the CISM sports programme. Set against the historic backdrop of the Portuguese Combined Arms School, the event combined military tradition, sporting excellence and international camaraderie, fully embodying the CISM motto “Friendship through Sport.”
The event brought together a diverse and competitive field, with participating delegations including Portugal, Spain, France, Ecuador and Denmark, among others. The United Kingdom took part as a non-CISM member nation, while the United Arab Emirates attended as an
Observer Nation, further underlining the growing global interest in endurance-based military sport.
At the heart of the competition was a demanding 50-kilometer ultra trail race that tested the limits of each participant. The course between the cities of Torres Vedras and Mafra offered a challenging mix of terrain, requiring not only physical strength and endurance, but also mental resilience and tactical awareness. The race was also part of the Linha de Torres Trail, a route inspired by the historic Lines of Torres Vedras, built during the Peninsular War to defend Lisbon. This added a strong historical dimension to the event, linking military sport with Portugal’s military heritage. Athletes were pushed to their limits throughout the race, delivering performances of the highest standard.
In the women’s individual race, Portugal’s Cláudia Moreira secured victory with an outstanding performance on home soil, ahead of Spain’s Consuelo Velasco in second place and Brenda Marín in third. In the men’s race, France dominated the podium with Aurélien Escolano claiming first place, followed by his teammate Nicolas Allemeersch in second, while Ecuador’s Apupalo Javier completed the podium in third place.
The team competitions further highlighted the strength of the participating nations. Spain claimed victory in the women’s team ranking, ahead of Portugal, while in the men’s competition France secured first place, followed by Portugal and Spain. The overall quality and competitiveness of the teams reflected the high level of preparation and commitment across all delegations.
Beyond performance, the event also celebrated the core values of CISM. Ecuador was awarded the Fair Play Cup in recognition of its exemplary sportsmanship and conduct throughout the competition, while Spain received the Challenge Trophy as the best overall nation of the event.
The closing and medal ceremony, held in a prestigious ceremonial setting in Mafra, provided a fitting conclusion to this edition. Athletes, officials and organizers gathered to celebrate not only the medal winners but also the spirit of unity, resilience and mutual respect demonstrated throughout the week.
(Source: CISM Media & Communication Department)
