The 2025 Golden Trail World Series (GTWS) continued this Saturday in Jinshanling (China) with an epic race marked by rising heat, dry and dusty terrain, and a brutal course across the Great Wall of China, where Caroline Kimutai (Kenya – Milimani Runners) and Patrick Kipngeno (Kenya – Run2gether On Trail) claimed victory. With a star-studded lineup and a historic backdrop, Jinshanling delivered a demanding and thrilling day. A spectacular and punishing course, alternating endless stairways and ridgeline sections near the East Gate of the Wall.
KIPNGENO REPEATS VICTORY AND KIMUTAI SHINES IN HER GTWS DEBUT
The women’s race started at 2:00 p.m. local time on a very fast initial asphalt section, allowing for an explosive start led by Miao Yao (China – Salomon). Close behind, a strong group of favorites formed, including Caroline Kimutai (Kenya – Milimani Runners), Joyline Chepngeno (Kenya – Milimani Runners), Madalina Florea (Romania – Scott), Joyce Muthoni Njeru (Kenya – NNormal), and Sara Alonso (Spain – Asics).
After the first few kilometers and the opening steep climbs, the group remained compact, while the dry, punishing terrain began to create gaps. Around 40 minutes into the race, as they entered the Great Wall, Caroline Kimutai took the lead firmly, closely followed by Chepngeno and Florea. The relentless ups and downs took a heavy toll on the runners’ legs, causing constant changes at the front.
Twenty minutes after the women’s start, the men’s race kicked off at a blistering pace. Ezekiel Rutto (Kenya – Milimani Runners) led the early stages, closely followed by Philemon Kiriago (Kenya – Run2gether On Trail), Cesare Maestri (Italy – Nike), and Patrick Kipngeno (Kenya – Run2gether On Trail). The technical and demanding course combined long, exposed ridgelines with tough climbs that forced the runners to manage their effort wisely.
While Caroline Kimutai held her lead in the women’s race, Patrick Kipngeno steadily gained ground in the men’s race, capitalizing on his ability to adapt to the constant changes in elevation. By the halfway point, Kipngeno had taken the lead, closely followed by Timothy Kibett (Kenya – Milimani Runners) and Joey Hadorn (Switzerland – Salomon), who demonstrated excellent terrain reading on the more technical sections.
The accumulated effort began to take its toll. Joyce Muthoni Njeru and Malen Osa (Spain – Salomon) were forced to abandon, while Sara Alonso surged forward, moving into fourth place after a decisive push on the single-track sections. The women’s podium seemed to be taking shape: Kimutai led with authority, Chepngeno held strong in second, and Florea secured third.
In the final kilometers, Patrick Kipngeno imposed his pace and, despite pressure from Kiriago and Hadorn, managed to maintain his lead, crossing the finish line in 2:13:05 to claim his second consecutive victory in the 2025 GTWS.Philemon Kiriago finished second (2:13:48) and Joey Hadorn completed the podium with an excellent third place (2:14:03).
After crossing the finish line as the winner, Patrick Kipngeno said:
"I was very tired after the last race (Kobe Trail). I started behind the lead group, but from kilometer 17, I told myself I wanted this title in China and pushed to win the race."
In the women’s race, Caroline Kimutai crowned her spectacular debut in the circuit with a commanding win in 2:39:14. Joyline Chepngeno finished second (2:41:26) and Madalina Florea third (2:43:15). Sara Alonso secured fourth place, and Miao Yao completed the top 5 after a grueling day on one of the most iconic stages in the world.
Radiant at the finish line, Caroline Kimutai summed up her first victory in the circuit:
"I’m very happy. It wasn’t easy, but I trained very hard from November until today. The toughest part was from kilometer 17, where I fell several times, but I got up and kept going. I didn’t give up and pushed through to the finish."
TOP 10 MEN AND WOMEN
Top 10 Women
- Caroline Kimutai (Kenya – Milimani Runners) – 2:39:14
- Joyline Chepngeno (Kenya – Milimani Runners) – 2:41:26
- Madalina Florea (Romania – Scott) – 2:43:15
- Sara Alonso (Spain – Asics) – 2:44:19
- Miao Yao (China – Salomon) – 2:50:26
- Takako Takamura (Japan) – 2:54:21
- Marie Nivet (France – Nike) – 2:58:33
- Lingjie Chi (China) – 3:02:58
- Courtney Barnes (United States – Brooks) – 3:05:05
- Rachel Tomajczyk (United States – Merrell) – 3:06:08
Top 10 Men
- Patrick Kipngeno (Kenya – Run2gether On Trail) – 2:13:05
- Philemon Ombogo Kiriago (Kenya – Run2gether On Trail) – 2:13:48
- Joey Hadorn (Switzerland – Salomon) – 2:14:03
- Timothy Kibett (Kenya – Milimani Runners) – 2:17:42
- Cesare Maestri (Italy – Nike) – 2:20:38
- Samwel Kiprotich (Kenya – Milimani Runners) – 2:21:22
- Daniel Pattis (Italy – Brooks) – 2:23:23
- Pierre Galbourdin (France – Brooks) – 2:24:15
- Ezekiel Rutto (Kenya – Milimani Runners) – 2:24:18
- Sylvain Cachard (France – Hoka) – 2:27:19
THE CHARM OF LIGURIA: NEXT STOP, IL GOLFO DELL´ISOLA TRAIL
The 2025 Golden Trail World Series heads to the Italian coast for its third stop: on May 17, the world’s best runners will take on Il Golfo dell’Isola Trail. Starting and finishing in Noli, a former maritime republic bathed by the Ligurian Sea, the race features an explosive 26 km course with 1,400 meters of elevation gain across rugged trails, panoramic ridgelines, and cliffs plunging into the Tyrrhenian Sea. A technical and fast terrain, with the scent of the Mediterranean and rock underfoot, promises another thrilling race.
