Three Peaks 2025 - Race Report

Three Peaks Race winner Nichola Jackson (right) celebrates with INOV8 team-mate Meryl Cooper

The iconic Three Peaks Race celebrated its 70th edition with more than 600 individual runners completing its gruelling 24-mile course.

Stars of the show were Ben Rothery and Nichola Jackson, who won the men’s and women’s races respectively.

THREE PEAKS RACE - WOMEN

Nichola was one of six INOV8 athletes to take to the start line in Horton, Yorkshire Dales, and tackle the mighty peaks of Pen-y-ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough.

The reigning English Fell Running champion led until the climb up Whernside when she was overtaken by fellow INOV8 athlete Laury Eloy and Emma Moran.

Nicola then flew downhill to the checkpoint at Hill Inn and regained the lead.

However, in thrilling women’s race, the top positions changed again on the ascent to Ingleborough, with Laury summitting first, followed by Three Peaks course record holder Vic Wilkinson and Nichola in third.

Not to be denied a first win in the famous race, Nichola fought back again on the long descent back to Horton, brilliantly overhauling a three-minute deficit to cross the line victorious in 3:45:55.

An exhausted Nichola falls to the floor and takes a drink after winning the 24-mile race

Vic – a true legend of the race – took second in 3:47:24, chased home by Laury – one of three INOV8 athletes from France taking part – just 10 seconds later in 3:47:34.

It was Laury’s first experience of racing in England, coming off the back of an excellent skimo season back home and, before that, a superb ride at the Tour de France Femmes.

Returning strongly from injury, ultra runner Meryl Cooper completed the INOV8 women’s team in ninth place in 4:10:52.

2025 champion Nichola said: “I was really struggling going up Ingleborough and fell back to third. My dad was there and had some Coca-Cola. I knew it would either kill or cure me. I was either going to be sick or it would be just what I needed. Thankfully it worked.

“That along with – I’m not going to call it abuse – but him shouting at me, really helped. I was able to rally and catch the runners in front of me.

“It’s not the most technical descent off Ingleborough, but it is a long one, so I knew I had to bide my time. Once I went past, I had to keep going. I couldn’t let them come back. It was tight, but I didn’t want it to be a sprint finish – that would have been even more painful.

Nichola Jackson on the Three Peaks Course

A focused Nichola pushing the pace at the 2025 Three Peaks Race

“I was so happy to cross the finish line and win. It was brilliant to have my parents and my partner Billy here to support me. My mum and dad have been coming to every race since I started running, when I was about eight years old, so I think this win means as much to them as it does to me.”

Laury added: “It was a very fun race – very hard and very fast. It’s not the same as in France, not the same mountains, but I love English races. The atmosphere was cool, and it was so nice to hear everyone cheering.

“It was a very good race between me and the English girls. But on the last downhill, my leg gave out, so I just ran, and I wanted to finish the race.”

Top cyclist, skimo and trail running athlete Laury Eloy letting it fly on a downhill

THREE PEAKS RACE – MEN

The men’s race was equally exciting, with double Olympic triathlon champion Alistair Brownlee leading until the descent off Whernside when he was overtaken by eventual winner Ben Rothery.

A former fell running junior who went on to become one of triathlon’s greatest ever, Alistair eventually placed third, sandwiched between INOV8 athletes Clovis Chaverot and Yannick Noel.

Ben’s winning time was exactly 3:00:00, with Clovis clocking 3:07:32, Alistair 3:08:00 and Yannick 3:08:47.

Clovis Chaverot and Yannick Noel on the Three Peaks Course

Clovis Chaverot and Yannick Noel descend off Pen-y-ghent, with other runners making their way up

Like their French team-mate Laury, this was a first-time racing on English soil for Clovis and Yannick, who had made the trip over earlier in the week and spent time at INOV8 HQ in the Lake District.

With big results on the European circuit – including a top 10 for Yannick at last year’s UTMB – both runners held high hopes going into the Three Peaks Race but did not know the course or its true challenges. Therefore, their performances – like that of Laury – are truly exceptional.

Clovis was fifth to Pen-y-ghent before speedily moving up to third by the summit of Whernside. He then passed Alastair and held onto second place all the way to the finish.

Yannick was seventh at one stage but showed all his ultra-running strength to pull through the field and grab fourth spot.

The final member of the INOV8 men’s team, Chris Holdsworth, withdrew from the race before the ascent of Ingleborough, having run brilliantly in the early stages.

Chris Holdsworth on the Three Peaks Course

Chris Holdsworth - one of the early pacesetters - passes the famous Ribblehead Viaduct

Clovis said: “The race was really fun. It wasn’t exactly what I was expecting – it was much more technical than I thought, so I was really surprised.

“I ran with Alistair almost the whole time on the flat sections. It was really hard — he was so quick! I tried to stay on his wheel, and maybe that made me suffer a bit on the last part of the race.

“I’d love to come back and do a fell race where you need to do more orienteering. I’d like to learn more about the culture and take part in another fell race, maybe something even more pure.”

THREE PEAKS RACE - RELAY

For the first time, the Three Peaks Race also staged a relay event, with almost 50 teams of six runners racing around the same course as the individuals.

The winning men’s team was Wharfedale Harriers in 3:06:53, with Mountain Chicas taking the women’s victory in 3:47:42.