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European Cross Country Championships 2025

The SPAR European Cross Country Championships 2025 will be held in the picturesque resort of Lagoa, Portugal on 14 December 2025 - bringing together Europe's elite cross-country runners for one of the continent's premier winter athletics events.

Event Facts

Event: SPAR European Cross Country Championships 2025
Location: Lagoa, Portugal
Date: Sunday 14 December 2025
Series: European Athletics
Streaming: Live and on demand, free on Eurovision Sport
Cross Country Races: Senior men & women, U23 men & women, U20 men & women and a mixed relay.

SPAR European Cross Country Championships 2025 Schedule

All times are listed in local Portugal time (WET/UTC) and are subject to change.

Sunday 14 December 2025

Time	Race Category
09:30	U20 Women's Race - 4290m
10:00	U20 Men's Race - 4290m
10:26	U23 Women's Race - 5790m
11:00	U23 Men's Race - 5790m
11:30	Mixed Relay - 4 x 1500m
12:00	Senior Women's Race - 7290m
12:41	Senior Men's Race - 7290m

About the SPAR European Cross Country Championships

The SPAR European Cross Country Championships is Europe's annual cross-country running showpiece, first held in 1994 and featuring senior, U23 and U20 races with medals for both individual and national teams. The event is organised by European Athletics.

Great Britain, France and Spain lead the overall medal table.

In 2025 the event heads to Lagoa, marking the fourth time Portugal has hosted the championships (last in Lisbon, 2019). The location in the Algarve region presents a potentially milder winter terrain for the athletes.

What is Cross Country?

Cross country running is an endurance sport where athletes race over natural terrain, often through parkland or countryside. It tests both stamina and adaptability, as conditions and elevation constantly change.

How long is a cross country race?

Cross country race distance vary by age and competition level. At the European Championships, the senior races typically range from 7.5km, while U23 and U20 categories cover 4-6km. The Mixed Relay features four athletes each running a 1.5km lap, offering a faster, more tactical format.

What is a mixed relay?

A mixed relay in cross country is a team race where two men and two women from the same nation each run a single leg of the course, typically around 1.5km per leg. The athletes alternate in a set order, passing a baton between each other.

How to train for cross-country running

Cross country training blends aerobic endurance, strength and agility. Athletes often train on uneven terrain to simulate race conditions, combining tempo runs, hills, interval sessions and long runs. Strength and core work are also vital for maintaining form over challenging terrain.

What is the difference between cross country and track?

While both involve running, cross country focuses on natural terrain and endurance, while track athletics take place on a flat 400m oval track. Cross country runners must adapt to changing surfaces, gradients and weather. In contrast, track racing focuses on pacing consistency and exact distance precision.

Top Athletes to Watch

Here are some of the key competitors expected to feature:

Jakob Ingebrigtsen (Norway) - a dominant figure in European cross-country, multiple time champion and the current defending senior men's champion.
Nadia Battocletti (Italy) - previous senior women's champion, bringing track strength and cross-country experience.
Innes FitzGerald (Great Britain) - 19-year-old Brit in dominant form chasing a third successive U20 title.
Thierry Ndikumwenayo (Spain) - 2024's senior men's bronze medallist who also spearheaded Spain's team gold performance.
Konstanze Klosterhalfen (Germany) - the 2024 European cross-country runner-up and 5000m European champion in 2022.
Nick Griggs (Ireland) - already a three-time Euro Cross medallist, he will be eager to upgrade his U23 silver from 2024.

Recap: European Cross Country Championships 2024

The previous edition of the championships took place in Antalya, Türkiye. The European Cross Country Championships 2024 results saw the senior individual titles won by Ingebrigtsen (men) and Battocletti (women). In the medal table Great Britain topped the tally: 12 medals overall and 6 gold medals.