Italy’s Nadir Maguet made a late-race pass to find himself on the 2026 Transvulcania Ultramarathon podium in third place. In the following written interview, Nadir talks about his past skyrunning, his decision to race the Transvulcania Ultramarathon, how he paced his race and found himself in a podium position on the final climb, and his plans for the rest of the summer.
For more on how the race played out, read our in-depth 2026 Transvulcania Ultramarathon results article.
Nadir Maguet crosses the finish line of the 2026 Transvulcania Ultramarathon in third place. Photo: iRunFar/Meghan Hicks
Nadir Maguet, Post-2026 Transvulcania Ultramarathon, Interview Transcript
iRunFar: Nadir Maguet, congratulations on your third-place run at the Transvulcania Ultramarathon. Before asking about the race, could you tell us a bit about your background and how you first got into running?
Nadir Maguet: I started running as preparation for the winter season for competing in ski mountaineering races. Initially with vertical races, then moving on to skyraces, marathons, and now entering the world of ultras.
iRunFar: You’ve had a lot of success with skyunning over the past decade. Why did you decide to step up in distance and try Transvulcania in particular?
Maguet: My true nature is skyrunning, where I can express myself best. But I’ve always loved challenging myself, finding new motivation and inspiration to discover new things about myself. Almost like personal challenges. This year I decided to attempt my first 100-kilometer race at the CCC, but first I wanted to test myself on a race longer than my comfort zone, and I decided to come to Transvulcania because I’ve always admired it as a race. And here I am.
iRunFar: Going into the race, did you have time to scout any of the course ahead of time? If yes, what were your initial impressions of it?
Maguet: I managed to see the first section of the climb, about 13 or 14 kilometers. I was fascinated by the terrain and the landscape. I knew the upper part of the race would be simply stunning, and it was.
iRunFar: Knowing that the course ends in a 2,500-meter descent, how did you prepare for that ahead of time? There are a few skyraces with almost this much descent, but it’s such a big vertical change. Were you looking forward to the long descent, or nervous about it?
Maguet: I asked friends who have run here before for information and advice, and they all told me that the last descent was long, technical, and very tough. I generally like technical descents. I tried to arrive at the descent with good energy left in my legs to have a strong finish, especially since I didn’t know how I’d react after so many hours of racing.
I wasn’t nervous during the race; I knew I could handle it well with my technical skills and then push through the final climb.
iRunFar: You seemed to run comfortably in the middle of the top 10 for much of the climb up to Roque de los Muchachos. What was your race strategy for the first part of the race?
Maguet: In reality, you always try to develop a strategy or plan for longer races. But in the end, the best thing is to know how to listen to yourself. After Los Canarios at 8k, I felt good and decided to go ahead of the group, push up the climb, and set my own pace. Throughout the race, I always tried to stay within my limits and race within my own limits. I think that’s the best thing for long races and allows you to experience them to the fullest.
iRunFar: From the beginning, the men’s race was fast. Were you ever worried that you were going too fast from the start, especially given the length of the race? Were there any parts on the climb where you felt particularly strong?
Maguet: At the beginning, there was a nice, consistent pace, not excessive. Then, when I made some selections on the climbs, I thought to myself that maybe it would have been better to stay where I was. As they say in Italian, “Don’t wake a sleeping dog.” But I actually only ever listened to my feelings.
My best moment was on the last climb, where I knew I could push to the limit without fear, as well as fight for the podium.
Nadir Maguet climbs near the high point of the 2026 Transvulcania Ultramarathon. Photo: iRunFar/Eszter Horanyi
iRunFar: You were several minutes back from third place at the course high point. How did you approach the descent in terms of the level of risk you were willing to take?
Maguet: Yes, the podium was far away, Ben [Dhiman] was struggling a bit behind me, and I had a good lead. My goal was to continue managing the race well and finish in the top five — without mistakes or risks. I wanted to finish.
iRunFar: How were you feeling on that final climb up to Los Llanos at the finish line? When were you first able to see Damien [Humbert] in third place ahead of you in the closing kilometers? Where did the pass happen? Were you worried that Damien would catch back up?
Maguet: When I reached the last refreshment point, I realized I had Damien half a minute ahead of me. My mind went into a magic bubble. I thought about all the work I’d done, how happy I was to be there and with the race up to that point, and about the people back home who had followed me. And I said to myself: I have to do this for myself and for them. I set off again, feeling great. I overtook him right at the start of the last climb, and I turned off my brain; I only had one focus in my head. Reaching the podium at the finish line was to experience the emotions I’d dreamed of back home for so long.
iRunFar: Did you ever have Petter [Engdahl] in your sights as well?
Maguet: I ran with Petter for about half the race; he’s a longtime friend, and it was a pleasure to share some of the time with him. I could see him on the final climb; I had just over a minute to go, but it was difficult to close the gap, and I was already very happy with my race up until that point.
iRunFar: What was the sensation of crossing the finish line in a podium position?
Maguet: I experienced so many emotions in the final meters before the finish line, emotions I’d dreamed of experiencing for a long time. They’re a kind of culmination of all the work, passion, dedication, and sacrifices made to get to that moment, by me and the people close to me in life. It’s gratifying, as well as very intense. I think it’s the main reason I love running.
iRunFar: This was your longest race by a significant margin. What did you think of the length? Is the plan to do more ultras in the future?
Maguet: Definitely, yes. My goal is to run a 100k this year, and this was definitely a great introduction. It’s true there’s almost 30k to go, but the way I finished the race, I wanted to continue. I like the feeling of searching deeper within myself, as an athlete and as a person. I think ultras can bring me a lot of satisfaction, as well as many difficult moments that are essential for growth.
iRunFar: Do you think a race like Transvulcania better suits those who come from skyrunning, or those who come from a longer ultra background?
Maguet: The final descent can certainly suit an athlete coming from skyrunning, but to get there with good legs to push, a lot of work is needed to improve over long distances. I think the technical aspect of ultras isn’t that crucial, but it can be a good friend in many situations, helping you find your comfort zone and conserve energy.
iRunFar: What are your plans for the rest of the summer?
Maguet: Now I have two 50k races — Lavaredo and Monte Rosa Walser Waeg, both UTMB — to best prepare for the finals in Chamonix, where I’ll run the CCC. I won’t deny that if the conditions are optimal and I’m in good physical shape, I’d like to try again for Kilian [Jornet’s] record on the Matterhorn.
iRunFar: Congratulations on your podium run, and thank you!
Nadir Maguet looking calm early in a breakout ultramarathon performance, where he took third at the 2026 Transvulcania Ultramarathon. Photo: iRunFar/Meghan Hicks
