{"id":20887,"date":"2025-05-21T18:09:00","date_gmt":"2025-05-21T16:09:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ojovolador.com\/?p=20887"},"modified":"2026-10-11T06:31:42","modified_gmt":"2026-10-11T04:31:42","slug":"algodonales-paragliding-world-cup-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ojovolador.com\/en\/algodonales-paragliding-world-cup-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"Algodonales Paragliding World Cup 2025: the perfect stage to kick off the season"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"Algodonales,<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

From 10 to 17 May, Algodonales \u2014 that Andalusian corner where good thermals are part of the landscape \u2014 became the world epicentre of paragliding. For the first time in its history, this legendary flying site hosted a round of the Paragliding World Cup (PWC). And it was no ordinary debut: it was a week of top-level flying, unpredictable weather and pilots who, quite literally, let themselves be carried\u2026 but with their heads.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Algodonales, a veteran site that debuted as a World Cup venue<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

With more than 30 years of history as a free-flight site, Algodonales is known for its excellent conditions and its vibrant flying community, which have made it a reference in Europe. The surprising thing is that it had never hosted a World Cup until now. But as so often happens in paragliding \u2014 and in life \u2014 sometimes you have to wait for the thermals to line up.<\/p>\n\n\n

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120 elite pilots from every corner of the planet opened the 2025 season of the world\u2019s most demanding competition circuit on Spanish soil. And they did so in conditions that demanded everything: technique, tactics and a little patience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The tasks: five days, five different challenges<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Task 1 \u2013 11 May<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The wind made sure it was noticed. From the very start, it demanded precision on launch. Even so, it was a fast 71.65 km task. Baptiste Lambert (France) took the men\u2019s win with an impressive average speed of 43.10 km\/h. Andy Tallia was second and Marcelo S\u00e1nchez third, the first Spanish pilot in goal. Violeta Jim\u00e9nez (USA) crossed first in the women\u2019s category, a first warning that she meant business. 100 pilots completed the course.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Task 2 \u2013 12 May<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

70 km with wide turnpoints. What looked like a gaggle task became a stroke of audacity: Bogdan Bialka (Poland) decided to fly alone for much of the course\u2026 and won at 36.63 km\/h. Hungary\u2019s Peter Buday was second and P\u00e1l Tak\u00e1ts third. Alexia Fischer, from the USA, took the win among the women. Roger Pifarr\u00e9 finished fifth, the best Spanish pilot. 108 pilots completed the task.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Algodonales 2025. Photo: Anna Berger<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Task 3 \u2013 13 May<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Clouds at dawn and general doubt. But when the day opened up, strong thermals arrived. The problem was the crosswind on launch, which made getting away difficult. Honorin Hamard seized the right moment and never let go, on a complex course with five turnpoints in tiki-taka style and a long final glide. Honorin dominated without a hitch at 40.20 km\/h. Second was fellow Frenchman Jonathan Marin, and third Roger Pifarr\u00e9, once again the best Spanish pilot in the race. Violeta Jim\u00e9nez (USA), in 55th place, was the first woman in goal. 94 pilots made goal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cancelled task \u2013 14 May<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cancelled due to adverse weather. Because flying is great, but sometimes staying on the ground is also wise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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PWC Algodonales 2025. Photo: Anna Berger<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Task 4 \u2013 15 May<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The fourth task was shorter but no less technical, with four turnpoints and goal at 56 km. Wind all day and yet a very high average speed, with 40 pilots flying above 35 km\/h. Cl\u00e9ment Latour (France) adapted better than anyone and took the day, followed very closely by Martin Jovanoski and Justin Puthod. Alexia Fischer was the first woman, while the best Spanish pilot of the day was Jos\u00e9 Gim\u00e9nez Belda. Ninety-four pilots in goal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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PWC Algodonales 2025. Photo: Xavier Laporte<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Task 5 \u2013 16 May<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A task to frame. 113.8 km on a five-turnpoint course that ended with a spectacular landing on the beach. Thermals reached 2,500 metres. Flavio Funiati (FRA) flew at 43.03 km\/h to win the race, followed by Andy Tallia and Baptiste Lambert, a trio of French aces. Violeta Jim\u00e9nez won the women\u2019s category again. Jos\u00e9 Gim\u00e9nez Belda came in 4th, the best Spanish pilot of the day. 116 pilots made goal on the beach \u2014 an unforgettable postcard and the best memory of the competition for most pilots!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Task 6 \u2013 17 May<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

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PWC Algodonales 2025. Photo: Martin Scheel<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

A challenging triangle of almost 83 km brought the championship to a perfect close: a frantic, technical race in which the top 20 in goal all flew at over 34 km\/h. This time it was Baptiste Lambert who won the task, with Andy Tallia second: although Andy made goal 46 seconds ahead of Baptiste, leading points worked their \u201cmagic\u201d. Either way, Andy took the overall win at this PWC Algodonales 2025. Third on the day was Germany\u2019s Stephan Sch\u00f6pe. France\u2019s Constance Mettetal was the first woman to complete the course. Marcelo S\u00e1nchez was the first Spanish pilot, in seventh place, and 120 pilots \u2014 almost the whole field \u2014 made goal; two landed out and three did not take off\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Overall rankings: the names on the podium<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

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Overall podium PWC Algodonales 2025. Photo: Laura Sepet<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Overall top 10<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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  1. Andy Tallia (FRA) Ozone Enzo 3\/Ozone Submarine \u2013 4456.8 pts<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Baptiste Lambert (FRA) Ozone Enzo 3\/Ozone Submarine\u2013 4412.5 pts<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Petr Kostrhun (CZE) Ozone Enzo 3\/Ozone Submarine\u2013 4408.0 pts<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Martin Jovanoski (MKD) Ozone Enzo 3\/Ozone Submarine\u2013 4406.6 pts<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. Clement Latour (FRA) Ozone Enzo 3\/Ozone Submarine\u2013 4406.3 pts<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  6. Jonathan Marin (FRA) Ozone Enzo 3\/Ozone Submarine\u2013 4401.8 pts<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  7. Washington Peruchi (BRA) Niviuk Icepeak X-One\/Ozone Submarine\u2013 4396.4 pts<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  8. Ferdinand Vogel (GER) Ozone Enzo 3\/Ozone Submarine\u2013 4389.9 pts<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  9. Marcelo S\u00e1nchez Vilchez (ESP) Niviuk Icepeak X-One\/Ozone Submarine\u2013 4377.4 pts<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  10. Russell Ogden (GBR) Ozone Enzo 3\/Ozone Submarine\u2013 4375.3 pts<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n
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    \"Women\u2019s
    Women\u2019s podium PWC Algodonales 2025. Photo: Laura Sepet<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

    Women\u2019s top 3<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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    1. Alexia Fischer (USA) \u2013 4308.6 pts <\/li>\n\n\n\n
    2. Constance Mettetal (FRA) \u2013 4230.9 pts <\/li>\n\n\n\n
    3. Violeta Jimenez (USA) \u2013 4044.1 pts <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

      Spain at home: flying with local knowledge (and pressure)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

      Competing at home has its own challenges. You know the terrain, yes, but the whole world is watching. And in that context, the Spanish pilots rose to the occasion.
      Marcelo S\u00e1nchez V\u00edlchez was the best-placed Spanish pilot, slipping into the overall top 10. Francisco Reina, Roger Pifarr\u00e9 and \u00c1lvaro Romero also put in outstanding performances. Proof that Spanish paragliding is world class.
      <\/p>\n\n\n

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      9th \u2013 Marcelo S\u00e1nchez V\u00edlchez \u2013 4377.4 pts
      16th \u2013 Francisco Javier Reina Lagos \u2013 4338.7 pts
      20th \u2013 Roger Pifarr\u00e9 \u2013 4322.0 pts<\/strong>
      26th<\/strong> \u2013 \u00c1lvaro Romero Camacho \u2013 4285.2 pts
      43rd<\/strong> \u2013 Boris Miladinov \u2013 4147.0 pts
      48th<\/strong> \u2013 Francisco Javier L\u00f3pez Ricardo \u2013 4132.9 pts
      50th<\/strong> \u2013 Marcos Sancho \u2013 4124.0 pts
      70th<\/strong> \u2013 Sergi Claret \u2013 3987.5 pts
      73rd<\/strong> \u2013 Luis Mart\u00ednez Iturbe \u2013 3971.6 pts
      79th<\/strong> \u2013 Miguel D\u00edaz Ruiz \u2013 3923.2 pts
      86th<\/strong> \u2013 Manu Nieto \u2013 3855.9 pts
      92nd<\/strong> \u2013 Horacio Llorens \u2013 3727.3 pts
      96th<\/strong> \u2013 Pablo Menchero \u2013 3478.1 pts
      105th<\/strong> \u2013 Daniel Vergara \u2013 3356.4 pts<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      CIVA, host of the competition<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

      The Club Internacional de Vuelo Libre Algodonales (CIVA) showed its organisational and logistical capability at this World Cup. From the choice of Algodonales\u2019 impressive setting to the management of every detail, including pilot safety and task tracking, its work was impeccable. Thanks to its experience and dedication, this event has left an indelible mark on the history of world paragliding. To find out more about CIVA, visit its website: civalgodonales.com<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

      A season opener that sets the bar in the clouds<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

      Algodonales more than delivered: good weather (within reason), impeccable organisation and a setting that adds beauty to the technical challenge. There were days for strategy, others for intuition, and some where flying was almost an act of faith.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      And so the 2025 season got under way: flying high, tight competition and the feeling that this year will give us plenty to talk about in the air.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Full official results here:<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n