• The GTWS witnessed an unforgettable race in Noli, marked by intense heat and constant changes of pace along the Mediterranean coast.
  • Florea and Kiriago now lead the GTWS after claiming victory in the third stop of the circuit.
  • Zegama-Aizkorri will be the next round of the series, taking place on May 25.

NOLI, ITALIA — The third stop of the 2025 Golden Trail World Series brought the world’s best trail runners to the Italian coast, where Il Golfo dell’Isola Trail delivered a course as technical as it was scenic. Spanning 26 kilometers of pure intensity, with a demanding elevation profile that tested every athletic skill and ideal weather conditions, the race set the stage for two thrilling battles at the front. In the end, Madalina Florea (Romania – Scott Running) and Philemon Kiriago (Kenya – Run2gether On Trail) claimed victory, becoming the new leaders of the 2025 GTWS after three races.

FLOREA DEFENDS HER TITLE IN NOLI AND CLAIMS THE OVERALL LEAD AFTER A RELENTLESS BATTLE

At 11:30 a.m., the women’s race got underway with a compact group pushing hard from the very first kilometer. Kenyan runners Philaries Jeruto Kisang (Kenya – Run2gether On Trail) and Valentine Jepkoech Rutto (Kenya – Atletica Saluzzo) set the early pace, but it wasn’t long before Madalina Florea (Romania – Scott Running) positioned herself between them during the climb to Vetta Capo, one of the course’s most technical sections.

Up to kilometer 14.5, the Kenyan duo remained in control, but at the second aid station, Florea shifted gears, overtaking both with a determined and powerful stride. In the final kilometers, Kisang managed to close the gap again, leading to a thrilling finish where Florea’s downhill skills and endurance proved decisive.

With a time of 2:22:29, Madalina Florea successfully defended her 2023 victory and crossed the finish line alone, taking over the overall lead in the series. Kisang (Kenya – Run2gether On Trail) placed second in 2:22:56, while Rutto rounded out the podium in 2:25:33. Spain’s Rosa Lara Feliu (Spain – Compressport) delivered a strong comeback to take fourth, and Kenya’s Miriam Chepkirui completed the prestigious top five.

Madalina wins the Il Golfo Dell Isola Trail - GTWS - Golden Trail World Series

At the finish line, Florea expressed her gratitude: “Thanks to my family, my partner, and everyone in Romania who supports me. I was controlling the race, but something felt off. Sometimes we have good days, sometimes not. I had energy, but something was bothering me. I had some stomach issues, but I managed to hold on until the end. I’ve been waiting since the 2023 final to win another GTWS race.”

Her main rival, Kisang, also reflected on the shared battle: “I was fighting with Madalina the whole race. In the end, I came second, but I’m happy. I had problems on the final climb, I had to walk. The battle with Madalina was really tough.”

Rutto added: “The race was very hard and complex. The climbs, especially the rocky parts—if you made a mistake or slipped, you could fall. In the first loops I was leading, but I thought if I kept that pace, I wouldn’t finish the race, so I decided to slow down and accept my position. Now I’ll go back to Kenya to train for the World Championships, and then I’ll return for Sierre-Zinal.”

Philaries Kisang chasing Madalina Florea on the Il Golfo Dell Isola Trail - GTWS - Golden Trail World Series

KIRIAGO STRIKES BACK WITH AUTHORITY AND TAKES THE OVERALL LEAD

The men’s race kicked off at a blistering pace set by the Kenyan trio of Philemon Kiriago, Paul Machoka (Kenya – Atletica Saluzzo), and Michael Selelo Saoli (Kenya – Run2gether On Trail), closely followed by Elhousine Elazzaoui (Morocco – NNormal) and Rémi Bonnet (Switzerland – Salomon). Bonnet, who was very active early on, gradually lost ground in the second half of the race and eventually dropped out of the top 10, struggling with the demanding and technical terrain.

By kilometer 14.5, Kiriago and Elazzaoui had broken away at the front. The Moroccan briefly took the lead, but a problem on the final descent forced him to stop for a few moments—an opportunity Kiriago seized to cross the finish line first in 2:01:47. Elazzaoui held on for second place, while Machoka secured the final podium spot after maintaining a strong and steady pace.

“Today was a great day for me,” said Kiriago. “My rivals made it tough—I didn’t always believe I would win.”

Elazzaoui acknowledged the incident: “I had to stop for a few seconds on the descent. Philemon was coming in strong and overtook me. I’m happy for him.”

Third-placed Paul Machoka celebrated his debut in the series: “Podium in my very first Golden race—I’m really happy to be third here. The descents were very hard for me, but I tried to give it my all.”

Philemon Kiriago in the downhill - GTWS - Golden Trail World Series

TOP 10 MEN & WOMEN

Women

1.     Madalina Florea (Rumanía – Scott Running) – 2:22:29
2.     Philaries Jeruto Kisang (Kenia – Run2gether On Trail) – 2:22:56
3.     Valentine Jepkoech Rutto (Kenia – Atletica Saluzzo) – 2:25:33
4.     Rosa Lara Feliu (España – Compressport) – 2:27:48
5.     Vivien Bonzi (Italia – Brooks Trailrunners) – 2:31:25
6.     Alice Gaggi (Italia – Brooks Trailrunners) – 2:32:17
7.     Marie Nivet (Francia – Nike Trail) – 2:33:14
8.     Miriam Chepkirui (Kenia) – 2:35:36
9.     Silvia Schwaiger (Slovakia – Salomon Running Team) – 2:36:47
10.  Céline Aebi (Switzerland – LV Langenthal) – 2:37:24

Men

1.     Philemon Kiriago (Kenya – Run2gether On Trail) – 2:01:47
2.     Elhousine Elazzaoui (Marocco – NNormal) – 2:02:06
3.     Paul Machoka (Kenya – Atletica Saluzzo) – 2:02:44
4.     Cesare Maestri (Italy – Nike Trail) – 2:03:10
5.     Michael Selelo Saoli (Kenya – Run2gether On Trail) – 2:03:11
6.     Richard Omaya (Kenya – Run2gether On Trail) – 2:03:16
7.     Rolli Dominik (Switzerland) – 2:03:40
8.     Roberto Delorenzi (Switzerland – Brooks Trailrunners) – 2:06:52
9.     Jan Torella (Spain – Salomon Future International Team) – 2:07:13
10.  Pierre Galbourdin (France – Brooks Trailrunners) – 2:08:31

Cesare Maestri on his way to the top 5 at the Il Golfo Dell Isola Trail - GTWS - Golden Trail World Series

HEADING TO ZEGAMA: THE CATHEDRAL OF TRAIL RUNNING

With Philemon Kiriago and Madalina Florea now leading the overall standings, the Golden Trail World Series turns its focus to one of the most anticipated races of the season: Zegama-Aizkorri, set to take place on May 25 in the heart of the Basque Country. The iconic mountain marathon, featuring 42 kilometers and over 2,700 meters of elevation gain, will once again deliver a technical and spectacular course, amplified by the passion of its legendary crowd.

Widely regarded as the cathedral of trail running, Zegama will pose a fresh challenge for GTWS contenders, who will have to face long-distance specialists and navigate a course that is longer, tougher, and ever-changing. The race is expected to be pivotal in the fight for the 2025 GTWS title, as the combination of intense competition and brutal terrain could bring major shakeups in the overall rankings. The countdown has officially begun.

GTWS 2025 CALENDAR

The nine races that make up the official Golden Trail World Series 2025 calendar:

  • April 19 – Kobe Trail – 21.3 km / 2,109 m D+ – Kobe, Japan
  • April 26 – Jinshanling Great Wall Trail Race – 24.2 km / 1,800 m D+ – Chengde, Hebei, China
  • May 17 – Il Golfo dell’Isola Trail – 26 km / 1,400 m D+ – Noli, Italy
  • May 25 – Zegama-Aizkorri – 42 km / 2,736 m D+ – Zegama, Spain
  • June 22 – Broken Arrow Skyrace – 21.7 km / 1,433 m D+ – Olympic Valley, USA
  • June 29 – Tepec Trail – 32 km / 1,800 m D+ – Huasca de Ocampo, Mexico
  • August 2 – Salomon Pitz Alpine Glacier Trail – 23.5 km / 1,700 m D+ – Pitztal, Austria
  • August 9 – Sierre-Zinal – 31 km / 2,200 m D+ – Sierre, Switzerland
  • October – Grand Final – Valle di Ledro, Garda Trentino