With 4 of the 8 stages already completed, it's time to take stock of the Golden Trail World Series mid-season rankings.
4 races, 7 winners!
The Golden Trail World Series has already held four races this season: Kobe Trail (Japan), Four Sisters Mountain (China), Zegama-Aizkorri (Spain) and the Marathon du Mont-Blanc (France). It's already shaping up to be a spectacular season with an unusually dense field, as demonstrated by the 7 different winners (3 in the men's and 4 in the women's) since the start of the year; only Patrick Kipngeno managed to take away two victories on the two Asian races.
So, let's look at who this season's top podium spots are so far:
- Patrick Kipngeno (KEN – Run2gether/On AG): Kobe Trail and Four Sisters Mountain
- Kilian Jornet (ESP – Nnormal): Zegama-Aizkorri
- Elhousine Elazzaoui (MAR – Nnormal): Marathon du Mont-Blanc
- Maude Mathys (CHE – Asics): Kobe Trail
- Joyce Njeru (KEN – Atletica Saluzzo): Four Sisters Mountain
- Sylvia Nordskar (NOR – Hoka): Zegama-Aizkorri
- Judith Wyder (CHE – Hoka): Marathon du Mont-Blanc
Remember, runners can accumulate points in 4 of the 8 stages (maximum) to try and qualify in the top 30 to be invited to the Grand Final, which will be held in Ascona/Locarno in Switzerland from 17th to 22nd October. Some runners have already participated in 4 races (which is the case for Elhousine Elazzaoui), whereas others have only just begun their season at the Marathon du Mont-Blanc. Therefore, the overall ranking will change significantly between now and the end of the season.
Join us on 10th August at Sierre-Zinal for the 5th stage of the GTWS!
The mid-season top 10
Men
1 – Elhousine Elazzaoui (MAR – Nnormal): 752 pts
2 – Bogdan Damian (ROM – Datacor Running Team): 476 pts
3 – Daniel Pattis (ITA – Brooks): 465 pts
4 – Roberto Delorenzi (CHE – Brooks): 435 pts
5 – Alain Santamaria Blanco (ESP – Salomon): 420 pts
6 – Marcin Kubica (POL – Salomon): 418 pts
7 – Patrick Kipngeno (KEN – Run2gether/On AG): 400 pts
8 – Leonard Mitrica (ROM – Datacor Running Team): 387 pts
9 – Miquel Corbera Rubio (ESP – Brooks): 384 pts
10 – Adil Moussaoui (MAR – Egari): 374 pts
Women
1 – Rosa Lara Feliu (ESP – Compressport): 569 pts
2 – Maude Mathys (CHE – Asics): 532 pts
3 – Malen Osa (ESP – Salomon): 500 pts
4 – Theres Leboeuf (CHE – Compressport): 478 pts
5 – Sylvia Nordskar (NOR – Hoka): 457 pts
6 – Marta Martínez Abellán (ESP – La Sportiva): 444 pts
7 – Caterina Stenta (ITA – Salomon): 421 pts
8 – Naiara Irigoyen Indave (ESP – A4XKM): 420 pts
9 – Joyce Njeru (KEN – Atletica Saluzzo): 366 pts
10 – Sara Alonso (ESP – Asics): 332 pts