10 DAYS TO GO!! THE 2024 VALSIR MOUNTAIN RUNNING WORLD CUP IS HERE
With just 10 days until the 2024 Valsir World Mountain Running World Cup kicks off, anticipation is at an all-time high. Shoes are being laced and hearts are racing with excitement.
The World Cup, celebrating its 25th anniversary alongside the World Mountain Running Association's 40th year, is open to anyone eager to run in stunning and iconic mountain locations. Kicking off in the USA on June 21st, over 6,000 athletes will compete in 12 races, beginning with the Broken Arrow race in June and culminating with the Val Bregaglia Trail in Italy in October.
Andrea Rostan (La Sportiva) wins the Vertical Uphill at Broken Arrow 2023. Photo © Peter Maksimov
The opening weekend promises a thrilling start with two Gold Label races in just three days. On Friday, June 21st , the Uphill race will challenge competitors with its snow-laden "stairs to heaven" at Palisades Tahoe, followed by the Classic 23km on Sunday, June 23rd .
Among the pre-registered athletes are two-time Uphill World Champion and 2022 Valsir World Cup Champion Patrick Kipngeno (Run2gether), 2023 World Cup winner Philemon Kiriago (Run2gether) or Joseph Gray (HOKA) in the men's field. In the women’s field, notable names include last year's Palisades winner Anna Gibson (Brooks) and 2023 Sierre-Zinal winner Sophia Laukli (Salomon). This lineup promises an exhilarating start to the series!
JULY: A MONTH OF HIGH-OCTANE RACES
July brings a packed schedule, with races nearly every weekend. The month begins with the Grossglockner Mountain Run in Austria on July 7th, where athletes will ascend 13.3 km and 1,300m+ from Heiligenblut to Kaiser-Franz-Josefs-Höhe, against the breathtaking backdrop of the Grossglockner glacier.
©Marco Gulberti
On July 14th , the action moves to Castro-Daire, Portugal, for the Montemuro Vertical Run. This race will challenge athletes with a 9km climb to the summit of Fragas do Inferno (1,317m) in the Serra de Montemuro. Among the competitors are 2023 winner Scout Adkin (HOKA), Charlotte Cotton (A.D. Marathon), and Canadian runner Rémi Leroux (Merrel).
The Montée du Nid d'Aigle, a classic race from Saint Gervais to Refuge du Nid d'Aigle, takes place on July 20th. This visually stunning 20km race, with an elevation gain of 1850m, offers views of Mont Blanc and the Glacier du Bionnassay, weather permitting.
July concludes with the return of Giir di Mont, a grueling 32km race above Premana, Italy, featuring challenging ascents and descents. The race's unique atmosphere and stunning mountain views make it a fan favorite.
AUGUST AND BEYOND: THE EXCITEMENT CONTINUES
August 10th brings the iconic Sierre-Zinal race, renowned for its demanding Swiss trails. Elite athletes like Sophia Laukli (Salomon), Monica Madalina Florea (Salomon), Philemon Kiriago (Run2gether), Patrick Kipngeno (Run2gether), and Kilian Jornet (Nnormal) will vie for the prestigious title of "Queen and King of the Mountain."
Joyce Njeru at Sierre Zinal 2022. Photo © Marco Gulberti- WMRA
September sees the World Cup in Casto, Italy, the hometown of Valsir, for the Vertical and Trofeo Nasego events. The local tifosi will create a vibrant atmosphere, cheering on athletes like Andrea Mayr (AUT), Henri Aymonod (The North Face), and American Liam Meirow (Nike) as they tackle the Corna di Savallo (1.436m) or pass by the Rifugio Nasego.
October brings the series to Slovenia for the Classic distance event at Šmarna Gora, with its 10km course featuring 710m+/350m- through the Sava River valley, culminating at the historic Puščavnica in zvonček svetega Antona chapel overlooking Ljubljana.
The season culminates in Italy with the final race in Chiavenna, continuing the tradition of the vertical kilometer and the Val Bregaglia Trail, which will determine the overall World Cup champions and celebrate the WMRA's 40th anniversary with a grand party, bringing together athletes, family, and friends from the global mountain running community such as World Athletics, ITRA, European Athletics and many more!
THE WMRA AND ITS COMMITMENT TO CLEAN SPORTMANSNSHIP
Since its inception, the WMRA has adhered to strict anti-doping regulations, complying with World Athletics protocols. The 2024 series will feature WADA-accredited anti-doping measures in every race, continuing the tradition of rigorous testing implemented since 2007.
In 2023 alone, 70 tests were conducted in the 18 races of the Valsir Mountain Running World Cup series, with more than 72 planned for this season and its 12 races, all of them by independent and accredited local entities, always recognized by the respective athletics local federation and the WADA.
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