Kipngeno and Groeber Conquer Myoko Trail as Kiriago Takes Over the GTWS Lead

The debut of Myoko Trail in the Golden Trail World Series (GTWS) confirmed Patrick Kipngeno (Run2Gether On Trail) as the man to beat in Japan, having won all three races held by the circuit in the country.

The race also marked the breakthrough of Hanna Groeber (IRCZRH). The reigning European Up and Down champion secured her first-ever GTWS victory, cementing her status as one of the sport’s most exciting rising stars on the international trail running scene.

Both athletes triumphed over a demanding 24km course featuring nearly 2,000m of vertical gain, with two major climbs and two descents across the Myoko mountain range, one of Japan’s most iconic alpine regions.

KIPNGENO REIGNS IN MYOKO AS KIRIAGO TAKES OVER THE GTWS LEAD

Patrick Kipngeno, the Vertical Kilometer World Champion, found the perfect terrain in Myoko to showcase his strengths. The race began at Suginohara Ski Resort, located around 800m above sea level, and offered little respite from the very start.

After the gun, runners faced a brutal climb of more than 1,000m of vertical gain packed into just five kilometres. Kipngeno set the pace in a leading group that included Michael Selelo (Run2Gether On Trail), Timothy Kibett(Salomon), Philemon Kiriago (Run2Gether On Trail) and Brayan Rodríguez, with only seconds separating the contenders.

It was Kibett who took control during the long descent towards the first passage through the finish area, where the downhill segment was located: a steep one-kilometre section averaging an 18% gradient. The standout performer was Anders Kjaerevic (VJ Shoes/Saysky), one of the strongest downhill runners on the circuit this season, who completed the segment in 2:45 to earn 10 valuable bonus points in the overall standings.

Once past the halfway point, the athletes crossed under the start arch once again to tackle a second loop featuring almost another vertical kilometre of climbing. At kilometre 12, Kibett held a one-minute advantage over Kipngeno and Selelo. Further back, Kiriago passed through two minutes behind the leader but claimed the sprint segment, a one-kilometre stretch with an average gradient of 2.6%, clocking 2:58 to secure another 10 crucial points in his championship campaign.

However, Kibett’s early efforts began to take their toll. Kilometre after kilometre, his lead started to shrink as Kipngeno carefully managed his effort and relied on his experience. The Run2Gether On Trail athlete landed the first blow by winning the uphill segment, a little over one kilometre at a punishing 17.7% gradient, in 10:24. Despite this, Kibett still reached the second summit, located at kilometre 19.5, with a 46-second advantage. His time in the lead, though, was running out.

Fatigue ultimately proved decisive. First, Kibett had to stop to retrieve a bottle he had dropped on the descent. A few minutes later, he was even forced to sit down briefly on the side of the trail. It was there, while resting, that he watched Kipngeno fly past him on his way to victory.

The Kenyan crossed the finish line in 2:07:12, claiming his third GTWS victory on Japanese soil. After a superb comeback, Philemon Kiriago finished second, 1:25 behind, while Michael Selelo completed the podium at 1:53. As had already happened at Sierre-Zinal, the podium was entirely occupied by Run2Gether On Trail athletes.

After the race, Kipngeno admitted he had not expected to take the win. “I knew I was racing against very strong athletes, so I came here well prepared,” he said. The Kenyan also explained that he never felt tempted to follow Kibett’s aggressive pace: “I wasn’t under any pressure. I had my strategy and knew I didn’t want to run at that pace. I ran my own race.” Looking ahead to next week’s race on the Great Wall of China, where he also won in 2025, Kipngeno said recovery would be his priority: “Today I felt tired, but I still managed to win.”

The result has also reshuffled the men’s overall standings. The absence of series leader Elhousine Elazzaoui(NNormal) allowed Philemon Kiriago to move into first place after completing his fourth scoring race of the season. As only each athlete’s four best results count towards the rankings before the Grand Final, Kiriago now sits on 860 points, ahead of Elazzaoui on 824. The title race, however, remains wide open, with Kiriago still capable of extending his lead in China by improving one of his existing results or collecting additional points through the bonus segments.

GROEBER BREAKS THROUGH WITH MAIDEN GTWS WIN IN MYOKO

The women’s race had a clear protagonist from the very beginning: Hanna Groeber. The German runner took the initiative from the start and reached kilometre three, midway through the opening climb, with Ruth Gitonga (Run2Gether On Trail) close behind. Further back, Barbora Bukovjan (Salomon), Marie Nivet (Nike ACG), Estel Roig (Scott) and María Fuentes (Kailas Fuga) all remained within a minute of the lead.

After reaching the upper slopes of the mountain, the athletes launched into a spectacular descent offering stunning views of the surrounding landscape, including Lake Nojiri. By kilometre eight, Groeber had already opened a gap of 1:08 over Gitonga and 2:50 over Bukovjan, while Nivet trailed by more than three and a half minutes. The eventual winner also claimed the downhill segment in 3:27, extending her advantage to two minutes by the first passage through the finish area.

The sprint segment, located shortly after the finish-line passage on a fast four-kilometre linking section between the two major climbs, went to Marie Nivet, who posted a time of 3:42. The French athlete once again demonstrated her ability to grow stronger as the race progressed, just as she had done at Québec Mega Trail. That smart pacing strategy also helped her win the uphill segment in 12:42, allowing her to move past both Bukovjan and Gitonga, the latter eventually finishing outside the podium positions.

Meanwhile, Groeber continued to dictate the race from the front. The reigning European Up and Down Champion crossed the finish line in 2:30:19, securing her first-ever Golden Trail World Series victory. Nivet completed her comeback to claim second place, 2:48 behind the winner, while Bukovjan rounded out the podium at 3:34.

After the race, Groeber admitted she had not expected to take the lead so early. “My goal was to be among the top three to five runners at the first summit, so I thought I might have a chance,” she explained. The German athlete said the confidence gained from her recent European title had been crucial to executing her race plan. “That victory gave me the confidence to run my own race. When I reached the second summit in the lead, I thought the win could be mine.” She even shared part of the final descent with Timothy Kibett: “It was really fun,” she said with a smile.

The women’s overall standings also saw some changes after Myoko Trail. Madalina Florea (Scott), absent from the Japanese race, retains the overall lead with 872 points. Ruth Gitonga moved up to second place with 698 points, while Barbora Bukovjan now sits third with 696 points.

In the team standings, Salomon secured victory thanks to a strong and balanced performance across both races. Fourth and fifth places from Timothy Kibett and Joey Hadorn in the men’s race, combined with the performances of Barbora Bukovjan and Silvia Schwaiger, who finished third and sixth respectively in the women’s race, proved decisive in sealing the team win.

TITLES ON THE LINE AS GTWS HEADS TO THE GREAT WALL 

With barely any time to recover, the GTWS now heads to China for the final race of the regular season ahead of the Muju Trail Grand Final (South Korea), which will take place in October.

The Jinshanling Great Wall Trail Race is a truly unique event: the only race on the circuit held on one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World. Its GTWS debut in 2025 produced spectacular images of the world’s best trail runners climbing and descending the steep, uneven steps of the Great Wall, in a setting where China’s rich history and cultural heritage meet the modern spirit of trail running.

The 23km course, featuring 1,600m of vertical gain, combines demanding sections along the Wall’s ancient and highly technical staircases with a second half characterised by relentless steep climbs and descents on sandy terrain, testing both the endurance and technical skills of the athletes.

As usual, the race will be broadcast live on WBD Sports platforms (HBO Max, Eurosport and TNT Sports), as well as through an extensive network of official broadcasters around the world.