Kimutai and Elazzaoui Take Control in Ledro for GTWS Round Two

The wild peaks of Ledro Sky Trentino (21.5 km and 1,777 meters of elevation gain), the second stop of the 2026 Golden Trail World Series (GTWS), further strengthen Caroline Kimutai’s (Salomon) bid for the overall title after her victory in Italy. The Kenyan secures her third win in the circuit—following Jinshanling Great Wall Trail Race and Sierre-Zinal in 2025—and firmly establishes herself as one of the top contenders. Reigning champion Madalina Florea (Scott), who finished second, and 2024 winner Joyce Njeru (NNormal), third, also enter the title race in their season debut.

The race also confirmed the dominance of Elhousine Elazzaoui (NNormal), winner of the last two overall titles and of the season opener in Zegama-Aizkorri. The Moroccan leads the 2026 standings with authority, claiming two wins from two races after deciding his duel in the final kilometers against Run2Gether On Trail athletes Philemon Kiriago, second, and Michael Selelo Saoli, third. In a moment for the history books, both winners crossed the finish line together.

KIMUTAI DOMINATES FROM START TO FINISH

Caroline Kimutai led the race from start to finish, only briefly surrendering the lead in the closing meters of the sprint segment (1.08 km), located just 200 meters after the start along the shores of Lake Ledro. Joyce Njeru launched an early attack to chase the points awarded to the five fastest athletes in each segment (10, 8, 6, 4 and 2), but it was ultimately Madalina Florea who claimed the best time by the narrowest of margins—just two tenths of a second (3:41).

As the long, steady climb toward Cima Pari began, Kimutai moved back into the lead and strengthened her advantage, also taking the uphill segment (11:24 over 1.1 km at a 19.43% gradient). Behind her, Nina Engelhard (PSV Grün-Weiß Kassel) lived up to her vertical kilometer world champion status by leading the chase before the technical ridge between Cima Sclapa and Cima d’Oro, a narrow, undulating section of trail and rock. At Cima Pari, Kimutai held a three-minute lead over Engelhard and Florea, four and a half minutes over Njeru, and five over Ruth Mwihaki (Run2Gether On Trail).

Florea, drawing on her course knowledge after winning the overall title here in 2025, clawed back time on the descent toward the finish. This section included the downhill segment (1.47 km at -27.8%), won by Andrea Kolbeinsdóttir(Salomon) in 6:32. By kilometer 15.8, Kimutai’s lead had been reduced to two minutes over Florea and three over Njeru. Mwihaki, meanwhile, had dropped more than four and a half minutes, with Lucija Krokc closing in on fifth place.

At the finish, Kimutai managed her advantage well, crossing the line two minutes ahead of Florea. Njeru followed six minutes back to complete the podium, while Engelhard and Kolbeinsdóttir rounded out the top five. “It wasn’t easy for me, but I gave everything I had. I wasn’t running just for myself, but also for my team. My coach helps me every day to improve my downhill running, and that’s made a difference. Training in Kenya is not easy, so I’m very happy to win,” Kimutai said at the finish line.

In the overall standings, Estel Fortin (Scott) remains in the lead with 260 points, thanks to a tenth and twelfth place in Zegama-Aizkorri and Ledro Sky Trentino. Tove Alexandersson (Salomon) sits second with 230 points, while — due to the segment points allocation — Caroline Kimutai and Madalina Florea are tied for third place in the standings with 214 points each.

ELAZZAOUI IN TOTAL CONTROL

The sprint segment also set the tone for the men’s race around Lake Ledro, with Philemon Kiriago taking the win in 3:09. The Kenyan carried that momentum into the main climb, forming a leading trio alongside compatriots Michael Selelo Saoli and Paul Machoka (Atletica Saluzzo). Just behind, Elhousine Elazzaoui—who had briefly lost ground after the lake—responded quickly to rejoin the front group, soon followed by Isacco Costa (La Sportiva).

The uphill segment created a second selection. Elazzaoui claimed it in 9:39, just one second faster than Kiriago, while Saoli conceded five seconds. Even so, all three reached Cima Pari together, where Saoli launched an attack to go clear solo. About a minute and a half later, a chasing group of four crested the summit: Samwel Kiprotich (Salomon), Machoka, Patrick Kipngeno (Run2Gether On Trail), and Costa, who had regained contact after losing ground on the climb.

With the ridge in sight, Elazzaoui and Kiriago managed to stay within reach of Saoli. The descent did little to break things apart: Kiriago was the fastest of the leading trio (6:16), although the quickest time overall once again went to Damian Bogdan (Kailas Fuga) in 5:26, repeating the downhill form shown in Zegama.

Everything remained open heading into the final loop around Pieve di Ledro. On the rolling terrain, Elazzaoui eventually dropped the Kenyan runners and still had time to wait for Kimutai after catching up in the closing meters. The Moroccan took the win in 1:55:48, with Kiriago second at 1:18 and Saoli third at 1:22.

“Winning in Ledro is something special for me, especially after racing Zegama last weekend. Despite the fatigue, that race gave me confidence. All along the course, people were cheering ‘Vai Elhousine!’ It was an incredible and very fast race. I’m really happy to win here again—I had great memories from the 2025 final,” Elazzaoui said at the finish.

In the overall standings, Elazzaoui leads convincingly with 422 points, ahead of Alain Santamaría (X-Bionic Integrity) and Damian Bogdan with 239 and 235 points, respectively. In the Ledro Sky Trentino team ranking—based on the top two results in both men’s and women’s races—Salomon took the win.

NEXT STOP: QUEBEC MEGA TRAIL

With the first European block completed, the Golden Trail World Series will make a historic debut in Canada on July 5with the Quebec Mega Trail (30 km and 1,450 meters of elevation gain). The race will take runners along some of the country’s most iconic trails, on a course set around Mont-Sainte-Anne and designed specifically for the occasion.

The route combines stunning scenery with sweeping views of the Laurentian Mountains and the Jean-Larose Falls, with a demanding profile: two steep early climbs featuring technical descents, followed by a much faster second half that trends downhill all the way to the finish.