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Jinshanling Great Wall Trail Race: all to Play for as the GTWS Heads to the Great Wall of China
Following the debut of Myoko Trail (Japan) on the calendar, the Golden Trail World Series (GTWS) now heads to the Great Wall of China for the seventh and final regular-season race before the Muju Trail Grand Finale (South Korea), which will take place next October (24-25).
Covering 24 kilometres with 1,889 metres of elevation gain, the Jinshanling Great Wall Trail Race offers one of the most spectacular and distinctive settings on the circuit, and remains the only GTWS event held on one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World.
Fresh from their victories at Myoko Trail, Patrick Kipngeno (Run2Gether On Trail) and Hanna Groeber (IRCZRH) will both return to the start line in China, alongside Philemon Kiriago (Run2Gether On Trail), who arrives as the new leader of the men’s overall standings following his strong performance in Japan.
In the women’s race, Caroline Kimutai (Salomon), one of the leading contenders for the overall title, has a golden opportunity to close the gap in the standings. The Kenyan will look to take advantage of the absence through illness of current series leader Madalina Florea (Scott) in a race that could prove decisive in shaping the championship battle.
Beyond the fight for victory and the overall standings, the Chinese round will also be crucial in the battle for the positions that carry end-of-season rewards. Athletes will be competing to secure or improve their place inside the top 20, which comes with prize money, as well as to finish within the top 30, guaranteeing GTWS financial and logistical support for the 2027 season.
Adding further intrigue is the strategic importance of the points available in the timed segments, which could ultimately prove decisive in the overall standings heading into the season-defining finale in South Korea.
A RELENTLESS CHALLENGE ON THE GREAT WALL OF CHINA
The Jinshanling Great Wall Trail Race course perfectly embodies the essence of the Golden Trail World Series: world-class competition, demanding terrain and extraordinary cultural and natural settings. Few venues reflect this philosophy better than Jinshanling, located in the heart of the Yan Mountains, just over two hours from Beijing, and home to one of the most spectacular and best-preserved sections of the Great Wall of China.
The race follows a clockwise loop that combines the challenge of the monument’s historic stairways with a second half defined by a relentless succession of steep climbs and descents across dry, sandy and highly technical terrain. Rather than featuring one decisive climb, the course delivers constant attrition, offering little respite and forcing athletes to manage their effort from start to finish.
The timed segments are spread across some of the countless undulations that define the course. The uphill segment is located at kilometre five and consists of a demanding one-kilometre ascent at an average gradient of 16.6%. Climbing the Great Wall’s steep and uneven steps, it will test the athletes’ strength, power and endurance.
Just three kilometres later comes the sprint segment, a 1.6-kilometre section featuring 56 metres of ascent and 53 metres of descent, where speed, explosiveness and the ability to adapt to constant changes in gradient will be key.
The downhill segment will appear in the final third of the race, around kilometre 14.6. At 1.3 kilometres in length with an average gradient of -17.9%, it is one of the longest and fastest descents on the circuit. Its steepness and the nature of the terrain can make it particularly technical and slippery in dry conditions.
The cultural heritage of the Great Wall and the identity of the region are woven into every aspect of the race, including its visual identity. The event logo is inspired by the only Qilin mural preserved along this section of the Wall. In Chinese tradition, the Qilin is an auspicious creature associated with good fortune, courage, integrity, harmony, protection and the pursuit of excellence.
These values resonate both with the historical legacy of the Great Wall, a symbol of resilience and a witness to centuries of history, and with the spirit of trail running itself, a sport rooted in self-discovery, perseverance and exploration.
KIRIAGO DEFENDS THE LEAD AS THE MEN’S TITLE RACE HEATS UP
The Myoko Trail reshaped the men’s overall standings. Philemon Kiriago (860 points), runner-up in Japan, moved to the top of the rankings after completing his fourth scoring race and overtaking Elhousine Elazzaoui (NNormal), who now sits second with 824 points. The Kenyan heads to China with the opportunity to strengthen his lead ahead of the Grand Finale, although doing so will require either improving one of his four counting results or collecting additional points in the timed segments, a factor that could prove decisive in the championship race.
Just behind him is Patrick Kipngeno (772 points), third overall and fresh from victory at Myoko Trail. The Run2Gether On Trail athlete has established himself as a specialist on Asian soil, boasting a perfect winning record in GTWS races held on the continent. Kipngeno has already claimed five GTWS victories in Asia: two at Kobe Trail in Japan (2024 and 2025), one at Myoko Trail (2026), and two in China at Four Sisters Mountain Trail (2024) and the Jinshanling Great Wall Trail Race (2025). With a record like that, he once again starts the weekend among the leading favourites.
And if victory does not go to Kiriago or Kipngeno, there is every chance it could still remain within the Run2Gether On Trail camp. Michael Selelo, fourth overall with 754 points, arrives in outstanding form thanks to his remarkable consistency. The Kenyan has finished on the podium in all four GTWS races he has contested this season, establishing himself as one of the circuit’s most reliable performers.
Another athlete to watch is Brayan Rodríguez, one of the breakthrough performers of the season. The Mexican showed his potential with top 10 finishes at both Québec Mega Trail and Sierre-Zinal, and was running with the leaders at Myoko before a crash disrupted his race. Despite the setback, his performances this year suggest he is capable of challenging the sport’s established names.
Beyond the fight for victory, the race on the Great Wall will also be crucial for athletes aiming to secure a place inside the top 10 of the overall standings. Among them are Bogdan Damian (Kailas Fuga), currently sixth with 556 points, along with Nashon Kiplimo (Salomon) and Isacco Costa (La Sportiva), who occupy ninth and tenth places with 481 and 470 points respectively.
The list of contenders is further strengthened by the presence of world-class athletes such as Joey Hadorn, Ryunosuke Omi and Zhu Yutao, all of whom will be looking to seize their opportunity in one of the most spectacular and iconic settings on the GTWS calendar.
THE WOMEN’S OVERALL STANDINGS TIGHTEN BEFORE THE GRAND FINALE
In the women’s field, Hanna Groeber (IRCZRH) arrives in China fresh from claiming her maiden Golden Trail World Series victory at Myoko Trail. That breakthrough performance propelled the German to seventh place in the overall standings with 502 points, further underlining her steady progression throughout the season. The reigning European Up & Down Champion will now look to build on that momentum and continue climbing the rankings ahead of the Grand Finale.
One of her main rivals will be Caroline Kimutai (Salomon), who holds particularly fond memories of the Jinshanling Great Wall Trail Race. The Kenyan announced herself on the GTWS stage with victory in the Chinese race in 2025 and returns this year determined to once again challenge for the top step of the podium. Currently fifth overall with 614 points, Kimutai is back in action after missing the Japanese round and has a golden opportunity to close the gap to her closest rivals and move nearer to championship leader Madalina Florea (Scott), who tops the standings with 872 points.
Florea’s absence also creates an opportunity for Ruth Gitonga (Run2Gether On Trail), who currently occupies second place overall with 698 points. The Kenyan was in contention for victory at Myoko until the closing stages of the race, but a difficult final climb saw her slip out of the podium positions. In China, she will be looking to bounce back and strengthen a position that has become one of the key storylines in the overall standings battle.
Close behind her are Barbora Bukovjan (Salomon) and Marie Nivet (Nike ACG), who sit third and fourth overall with 696 and 663 points respectively. The duo produced one of the most compelling battles of Myoko Trail, with Nivet narrowly edging out Bukovjan by just 45 seconds in the fight for the podium. With such small margins separating them, the battle for the provisional overall podium is set to be one of the highlights of the race.
The fight to finish the season inside the overall top 10 will also attract plenty of attention. Renee Cardinaals (All4running / Esprit Montagne), currently eighth with 478 points, and María Fuentes (Kailas Fuga), tenth with 454 points, will both be looking to defend their positions in an increasingly competitive standings battle. Just behind them, Estel Roig (Scott), thirteenth with 393 points, continues to close in on the top 10, while fellow Spaniard Naiara Irigoyen, currently eighteenth with 267 points, will aim to take another step forward and move closer to the leading positions.
Leading the home challenge will be Chi Lingjie (Salomon), who can count on strong local support in one of the most iconic races on the GTWS calendar.
CHINA’S TRAIL RUNNING SCENE CONTINUES TO REACH NEW HEIGHTS
Over the past decade, trail running has experienced remarkable growth in China, with an increasing number of runners heading into the mountains to combine sport, adventure and a closer connection with nature.
The arrival of world-class international races, together with the rapid development of a strong national race calendar, has helped establish China as one of the most promising and dynamic markets in the global trail running landscape.
This growth is also reflected in the structure of the Golden Trail Series in China. In 2026, the country not only hosted a Golden Trail National Championship, a single race designed to crown the nation’s top athletes, but also the Golden Trail National Series China, a circuit consisting of four races plus a Grand Finale. The top two men and women in the overall standings, along with the highest-ranked male and female U23 athletes, earn aGolden Ticket for the GTWS Grand Finale in South Korea.
The Jinshanling Great Wall Trail Race aims to further drive this momentum by introducing runners from around the world to China’s mountains, landscapes and rich cultural heritage through trail running and one of the planet’s most iconic landmarks.
As part of its commitment to supporting the continued development of trail running in Asia and following the 50% increase in prize money introduced for the 2026 season, the Golden Trail World Series has doubled the prize purse for both Asian races leading into the Grand Finale. A total of €40,800 will be awarded to the top 10 men and women in China, including €6,000 for each race winner, further enhancing the competitive appeal of an event that continues to grow in stature on the international trail running calendar.
HOW TO FOLLOW THE JINSHANLING GREAT WALL TRAIL RACE
The Jinshanling Great Wall Trail Race will be broadcast live across Warner Bros. Discovery’s platforms, including HBO Max, Eurosport and TNT Sports, as well as through an extensive network of international broadcasters.
The action gets underway on Sunday, 27 September, with the women’s race scheduled to start at 14:00 local time (CST), equivalent to 08:00 CEST, followed by the men’s race at 14:20 CST (08:20 CEST).
Live coverage will be available in full on HBO Max from 07:50 CEST, just ten minutes before the women’s start. Meanwhile, Eurosport 2 will join the action live from 08:15 CEST, covering the decisive stages of the race.
In addition to the television broadcast, fans will be able to follow the race minute by minute through the official Golden Trail World Series social media channels and via the live timing service available on the series website.
Once the race is over, viewers can relive the key moments through the official race highlights programme, which will air on Eurosport and HBO Max on Wednesday, 30 September at 22:00 CEST. The highlights show will also be available on the official Golden Trail World Series YouTube channel 24 hours after its initial broadcast.
RUN THE GREAT WALL OF CHINA WITH KINOMAP
Thanks to Kinomap, the leading interactive training platform for cycling, running and rowing, and an official partner of the Golden Trail World Series, runners can now experience what it feels like to race along the Great Wall of China without leaving home. Following the Jinshanling Great Wall Trail Race, the spectacular course will be available on Kinomap as a high-quality geolocated video, allowing athletes from around the world to virtually train on one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World.
