Zhao sets new peak in the Italian Alps

China's Zhao Jiaju crossed the line first in the 330km category of the Tor des Geants on Wednesday, taking 65 hr, 55 min and 22 sec to traverse the grueling course through the Italian Alps.

The 31-year-old outran a stacked field of international veterans, broke the course record by 13 minutes, and became the first Asian athlete to win one of the world's most unforgiving ultra races.

This year's course measured 336.1 kilometers, taking runners over 25 high-altitude passes — some above 3,000 meters — with more than 24,000 meters of cumulative elevation gain and a 150-hour cut-off.

As well as the brutal elevation, runners battled volatile mountain weather and sleep deprivation to complete a race that, since it was established in 2010, often has a finish rate below 60 percent.

Zhao's breakthrough comes at the end of a tough road, both literal and figurative. In 2025, on his first attempt at the 330km category, he had to drop out at the 203.8km aid station.

Rather than discouraging him, the setback sharpened his determination.

"After dropping out last year, I made up my mind that I would conquer it," Zhao said.

"I know myself. In speed-oriented races, I can't finish among the leaders. But in a race like this, which is all about ultra long distance and is won on willpower, I have great confidence that I can take it."

The ultra runner, who has won the 168km category of the Chongli 168 Ultra Trail Race in Hebei province four times, believes that extraordinary willpower is his strength.

"I left home to make a living when I was a teenager. I feel that no matter what life throws at me, it can't break my spirit."

Born in Southwest China's Guizhou province, Zhao loved martial arts from a young age.

At 15, he went alone to Wudang Mountain in Hubei province, hoping to become a master's apprentice and train in martial arts. But, with no money for tuition, he could only work part-time in local restaurants and learn martial arts by watching videos. He later drifted through different cities, working as a courier, a security guard and a food delivery rider.

After practicing Chinese traditional martial arts and kickboxing for a while, he realized that, given his training conditions and ability, he was not good enough to compete and make a living from fighting.

In 2014, he came across a poster on a street in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, advertising a marathon and didn't look back.

Working as a food delivery rider at the time, he figured out a way to combine training with work. He just ditched the bike.

"Back then, I would often carry three or four takeout orders in my left hand and three or four in my right, racing against the scooters on the street the whole way."

"I did about 1,500 orders a month, each averaging a two — to five-kilometer distance. It wasn't systematic training, but it did strengthen my overall physical fitness," he recalled.

He ran errands for people — and ran toward a clearer future for himself. With the physical foundation that martial arts had given him and his unconventional training routine, he began to win prize money in marathon races.

From 2017, he began competing frequently in trail races, using races as training.

He rose rapidly through the ranks in 100km ultra events, becoming the first Chinese winner of the Spartan Race Super in 2018, setting a new Jiangnan 100-mile record in 2020, and claiming the Mount Fuji Ultra Marathon title as the first Chinese male champion in 2023.

In July 2026, he secured his fourth Chongli 168 Ultra win while breaking his own course record.

His record victory in Italy came far from smooth. He led from the start, making his first stop after 35 hours and 42 minutes of continuous running. He spent 50 minutes at the aid station changing clothes, eating and getting around 20 minutes of sleep.

At the 203.8 km mark, he was overtaken by Swiss veteran Jonathan Schindler, but, as the race wore on, Zhao's endurance advantage became more evident.

During the night section of the second day — the stretch where runners are most likely to succumb to drowsiness and make mistakes — he pushed, took the lead back and never let it go.

By the time he crossed the finish line, he had stretched that lead to more than 50 minutes.

"It was miserable. My muscles ached, the soles of my feet hurt, and I went days and nights without sleep. Even when I tried to nap, I couldn't fall asleep," he said.

"But, I got through it on sheer willpower."

Zhao's latest victory has drawn widespread attention to trail running, a sport which is growing rapidly in China.

In 2025, the country hosted 258 mountain trail races of 25km or more registered with the Chinese Mountaineering Association, covering 29 provinces, regions and municipalities. Including shorter training races and community races, the number exceeded 800 events.