2021 has been a year of firsts for the World Cup. Not only did it visit Poland for the first time – twice, at Tatra Race Run and Tatra Skymarathon – but it also ventured into Spain for the first time. After a hugely successful Canfranc-Canfranc in mid-September we’re heading back to Spain for Zumaia-Flysch this weekend (3rd October).
In what may be the biggest weekend ever for the World Cup, we’re bringing you four events this week. Two are in Palisades Tahoe, California, USA, and two are in Zumaia, in the Basque Country in the north of Spain. Here's our preview for rounds 12 and 13 of the World Cup at Broken Arrow!
Stage 11 of this year’s World Cup took us to a venue with a difference! Instead of a traditional mountain setting, Trofeo Ciolo takes place on the coast in Puglia, right down in the heel of Italy. But ‘different’ definitely doesn’t equal ‘easier’ here because this 11.7km course packs 640m of ascent and 518m of descent in almost continual climbing and descending on technical, rugged paths.
For the next stage of the World Cup we head to a completely different venue, unlike any other on the circuit. Trofeo Ciolo takes place in Gagliano del Capo, right down in the heel of Italy. We are no longer in the mountains, we’re right on the coast, but this won’t make this race any easier!
World Athletics assists the World Mountain Running Association (WMRA), the International Trail Running Association (ITRA) and the International Association of Ultrarunners (IAU) in organising the World Mountain and Trail Running Championships (WMTRC) on a biennial basis. The WMTRC is where the world’s best off-road runners are released into the wild. Held over three days, elite international athletes compete in a total of 10 official world championships across four competition formats, as well as other open or promotional races for mass participation athletes. The WMTRC celebrates the force of nature, capturing new frontiers or re-purposing off-season resorts.
In 2021, due to the Corona pandemic situation, for the second consecutive year, a World Mountain Running Championships was not able to be held. The WMRA member federations have selected teams, the runners were working hard and had a the goal to be ready for the most important Mountain Running race of the year. To enable at least one International race in the season for National teams, the WMRA decided to organise a new competition, called the WMRA Nations Cup to allow National teams to compete against each other.
