Peter Fraňo of Slovakia is the 2025 Transvulcania Ultramarathon men’s champion. In this interview, he talks about how the day went for him, how he coped with unexpectedly cold and wet conditions, and a close race with Italy’s Andreas Reiterer toward the finish. He also talks about his plans for the rest of the year, which include making his Western States 100 debut.
Be sure to read our 2025 Transvulcania Ultramarathon results article for the full race story.
[Editor’s Note: If you are unable to see the video above, click here to access it.]
Peter Fraňo, 2025 Transvulcania Ultramarathon Champion, Interview Transcript
iRunFar: Meghan Hicks of iRunFar. I’m with Peter Fraňo. It’s the day after the 2025 Transvulcania Ultramarathon. Congratulations, Peter. You’re the champion.
Peter Fraňo: Thank you very much.
iRunFar: How does that feel now that it’s a day later? You’re out of the storm, you’re down in the sunny weather at sea level?
Fraňo: Yeah, it’s okay. I prefer this weather compared to what happened yesterday.
iRunFar: I feel like the weather was kind of the headline for the day. It was just not good from the start until not too long from the finish. What did the conditions feel like for you?
Fraňo: Yeah, it was really cold. I didn’t expect this weather on Canary Island. Yeah, a lot of rain, strong wind, and I didn’t have a windproof jacket, so I was frozen on the top. So yeah, it was really challenging. But yeah, I survived and I crossed the finish line, so it was okay.
iRunFar: I did wonder about the jacket. You were one of the few top men who wasn’t wearing a jacket, but who finished and finished well. The people who didn’t have jackets on didn’t continue on when they were at Roque. You just didn’t have a jacket that you needed for that, or it wasn’t good enough?
Fraňo: Yeah, I didn’t have it because …
iRunFar: You didn’t have it.
Fraňo: … it was not mandatory, so I said, “Yeah, we are in Canary Island. It can’t be so cold.” But yeah, it was really cold. So yeah, I think I was lucky that I survived the cold because I was really frozen on the top, so it was a risk for sure.
iRunFar: How much of the race became managing the conditions and taking care of yourself versus strategizing and going for your best position? Was it more of a “just try to survive the day?”
Fraňo: No, no, no, no.
iRunFar: No. Not that bad.
Fraňo: No, I was competing.
iRunFar: Yeah.
Fraňo: So yeah, I felt good since the beginning. I was in the leading group and I pushed a little bit more after El Pilar. Then on the top, on the ridge, it was really cold, but I knew I have to continue. I have to push, and I can’t stay because I will be frozen. So yeah, I just push and then in the downhill it was better and better. So yeah, it was about competing and not about surviving.
iRunFar: So, to backtrack just a little bit to the early part of the race. Maybe to El Pilar, to Reventón, you were in the lead group, whether it was you were leading or you were just with them, staying in contact. What was that early part where there were still kind of a lot of guys there, and you were going back and forth a bit?
Fraňo: Yeah, we’ve been in leading groups since the beginning. I don’t know, five, six, seven guys. Then in El Pilar, I think we were four together. And then yes, I was fifth, fourth, third, and I move a little bit forward in the uphills. And in the uphills after El Pilar, I take the first place and that’s all.
iRunFar: And then you said once you got up high, like Roque de los Muchachos, maybe like 50k into the course, you felt like you sort of had to push to stay warm. That’s what was happening there?
Fraňo: Yeah, it was really cold.
iRunFar: So cold.
Fraňo: I was completely frozen. I wasn’t able to open my gel anything. I just wanted to go down to the sea level. And yeah, also in the downhill, Andreas catch me because yeah, I was frozen. I didn’t feel my legs, anything. So I said, “Okay, don’t get any injuries, so don’t risk too much.” So yeah, he catch me and then we did the second half of the downhill together.
iRunFar: Yeah. So what was that like for you? You were coming downhill from Roque de los Muchacho, I think he caught you around the Torre de El Time area? And then the second half of that downhill, it’s such a long downhill, it goes on and on, you were together, I think maybe a little back and forth here and there. What was that like?
Fraňo: Yeah, but we were together only two or three seconds, the gap, not no more. So yeah, he catch me, he take the lead, and I followed him. I found a good rhythm again in the downhill. And yeah, then we changed the position sometime, but we were together until Tazacorte.
iRunFar: Do you think it was the competition that brought your legs back, or do you think just getting lower and lower and getting warmer and warmer, you could use your legs the way you wanted to?
Fraňo: Both.
iRunFar: Both? Yeah.
Fraňo: Of course it helped me that Andreas catch me because I had to compete again because I didn’t had idea about my gap in the downhill. So I was pushing in the downhill, but not too much. I didn’t risk. And then, yeah, we were faster in the second downhill. I pushed a lot in the downhill and also it was warmer and warmer. So both.
iRunFar: You said when you were up high, your hands were too cold to take your nutrition. Were you able to start working your nutrition and your water bottles and everything towards the end?
Fraňo: Yes, but I was afraid to drink a lot in the downhill, so I didn’t take anything until Tazacorte.
iRunFar: Oh, wow. And then did you get a little nutrition in at Tazacorte?
Fraňo: Yes. One gel and I had a flask with some electrolytes, so I take it.
iRunFar: Okay. And then talk about those closing kilometers from Tazacorte at the sea back up to the finish line at Los Llanos, you and Andreas came together to Tazacorte, but then you immediately, on the alternate road run, you put a gap on him, and it just kept growing to the finish line. What was that like for you?
Fraňo: Yeah, I felt the whole day really good in the uphills and also on flat terrain. So I decided to push as fast as I can. So yeah, I tried with the first attack and yeah, I made a small gap. Then I just continue until finish line.
iRunFar: You looked, what’s the right word? Just on the verge of collapse, that maybe if the race had been a couple kilometers longer, it would’ve been hard for you. You were relieved to finish?
Fraňo: I was happy it wasn’t longer, but yeah, I had some energy with maybe one kilometer.
iRunFar: One more kilometer. Yeah. So I feel like your progress as a runner just keeps progressing. Like step up, step up, step up. This is another step up from last year’s performances. Do you feel that way too?
Fraňo: Yeah, I feel I’m improving every season, so I hope I didn’t reach my top level yet.
iRunFar: Yeah. What do you think that’s coming from? Is it growing experience with how to do these longer races? Are you refining your training, your nutrition? Where do you think that’s coming from?
Fraňo: Yeah, I’m more experienced in ultra for sure, but every season I change something. I’m trying to learn and improve my trainings and nutrition and everything. So yeah, I think it’s the combination of everything.
iRunFar: And later this year, where do your fans and followers get to see you race this year?
Fraňo: Yeah, I go to Western States, and then another goal is World Championship.
iRunFar: Okay, so Western States next?
Fraňo: Yes.
iRunFar: And then converting to more vertical training and preparing …
Fraňo: Exactly.
iRunFar: … for the long trail at Trail World Championships.
Fraňo: Yes.
iRunFar: All right. We had cold and stormy yesterday. Are you ready for the probable heat of Western States?
Fraňo: I was hoping for hot weather yesterday, so we’ll see on Western States.
iRunFar: Well, you can start your heat training today by lying by the pool this afternoon.
Fraňo: That’s the plan.
iRunFar: Okay, Peter, congratulations on your win of the 2025 Transvulcania, and we’ll see you soon at Western States.
Fraňo: Thank you very much.
