After eight thrilling races across some of the world’s most spectacular locations, the 2025 Golden Trail World Series (GTWS) crown is at stake from 10 to 12 October at the Ledro Sky Trentino Grand Finale. It will be the last battle of the season, set in a unique environment suspended between Lake Garda and the Chiese Valley, surrounded by trenches and remnants of the First World War. A technical and visually stunning race, deeply connected to its local territory, featuring a 6.9 km prologue with 500 meters of ascent and a 21 km main race with 1,600 meters of elevation gain.

The GTWS Grand Final preserves the essence of the traditional Ledro Sky, though with an extended route that climbs to higher altitudes to traverse the spectacular ridgelines of the Ledro mountains — the famous greste — with constant ascents and descents between Cima Parì, Cima Sclapa, and Cima d’Oro, following the Pichea–Rocchetta ridge. This area of great natural value forms part of the Ledro Alps nature reserve network and is recognized by UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere (MAB) program.

One of the key aspects of the Grand Finale is its scoring system: double points will be awarded compared to a regular race, with 400 points for the winner (100 in the prologue and 300 in the main race). The points earned over the weekend will be added to each athlete’s three best results from the season, ultimately determining the overall GTWS champions.

In addition, the final race will feature three timed segments that, while not counting toward the general classification, will reveal the best sprinters, climbers, and descenders of the weekend.

ATHLETES TO WATCH

The GTWS Grand Final once again stands as the race with the highest concentration of elite talent of the entire season. Almost all of the athletes ranked in the men’s and women’s top 30 will be present at Ledro Sky Trentino to defend their positions and fight for the title. They will be joined by 56 runners from 12 territories, qualified through the various Golden Trail National Series (GTNS) events. Based on the current standings, these are the main contenders for the overall victory:

  • Elhousine Elazzaoui (Morocco – Nnormal). The Moroccan athlete, reigning GTWS champion, arrives at the Grand Finale as the overall leader with 600 points, earned through three consecutive victories at Zegama-Aizkorri (Spain), Broken Arrow Skyrace (USA), and Tepec Trail (Mexico). His last GTWS appearance was at Sierre-Zinal (Switzerland), where he finished ninth. The Ledro Sky Trentino course undoubtedly suits him better than the Swiss terrain, but only a win will guarantee his crown without depending on his rivals.
  • Patrick Kipngeno (Kenya – Run2gether On Trail). Although currently second in the overall standings, Kipngeno’s chances for the title remain wide open. He has 588 points, just 12 behind Elazzaoui, thanks to his victories at the Kobe Trail (Japan) and the Jin Shan Ling Great Wall Trail Race (China), along with second places at Tepec Trail and Sierre-Zinal. Unlike Elazzaoui, Kipngeno recently competed in the Vertical Kilometer at the World Mountain & Trail Running Championships in Canfranc Pirineos (Spain), where he claimed third place.
  • Philemon Kiriago (Kenya – Run2gether On Trail). Also standing at 588 points, just 12 shy of the leader, Kiriago arrives at the Grand Finale with his title hopes fully alive and a season trajectory remarkably similar to his compatriot’s. With two victories this year — at Il Golfo dell Isola Trail (Italy) and Sierre-Zinal — Kiriago comes into Ledro as the new World Champion in the classic distance, also earned in Canfranc Pirineos.

In addition, the rest of the athletes currently ranked in the men’s top 10 will also be on the start line, including Michael Selelo Saoli(Kenya – Run2gether On Trail), Daniel Pattis (Italy – Brooks), Taylor Stack (USA – Brooks), Roberto Delorenzi (Switzerland – Brooks), Cesare Mestri (Italy – Nike ACG), Dominik Rolli (Switzerland – Salomon), and Pierre Galbourdin (France – Brooks).

Up to five women are within 100 points of the overall lead, all with a strong chance of claiming the GTWS title. Of the top six, only Caroline Kimutai (Kenya – Salomon Milimani Runners), winner of both the Great Wall of China Race and Sierre-Zinal, will be absent — as will the rest of the Salomon Milimani Runners team. Although all administrative procedures were completed on time, the athletes were unable to obtain their visas to travel to Italy. As a result, the main contenders for the women’s crown are:

  • Madalina Florea (Romania – Scott Running). The Romanian athlete has shown remarkable consistency since the first race of the season. In five appearances, she has earned one victory (Il Golfo dell’Isola Trail), two second places (Kobe Trail and Broken Arrow Skyrace), and a third place (Jin Shan Ling Great Wall), which place her at the top of the standings with 576 points. After finishing 12th at Sierre-Zinal, the penultimate race of the season, Florea continued to compete successfully, adding more victories to her name — including a win at the prestigious ETC at UTMB.
  • Sara Alonso (Spain – Asics). After a mid-season injury, Sara Alonso returns to the GTWS on an upward trajectory, looking to rediscover the form she showed early in the season with her victories at Kobe Trail and Zegama-Aizkorri. The Spanish runner narrowly missed the podium at the UTMB OCC and finished second in the short trail at the World Championships in Canfranc. She currently sits second overall with 566 points, just 10 behind Florea.
  • Malen Osa (Spain – Salomon). Third at Kobe Trail and Zegama-Aizkorri, Osa returned to the fight for the overall title with her runner-up finish at the Salomon Pitz Alpine Glacier Trail (Austria), once again proving her excellent early-season form. Currently fourth in the rankings with 540 points, she is just 36 points away from the lead.
  • Joyce Njeru (Kenya – NNormal). The defending champion arrives at the Grand Finale only 38 points behind the leader. After a slow start to the season, the reigning GTWS champion rediscovered her best form by winning the Broken Arrow Skyrace — setting a new course record in the process. Njeru recently competed at the World Championships in Canfranc, where she finished fourth in the 14-kilometer classic discipline. In 2024, she already proved her strength in the finals, winning the prologue and finishing third in the main race to secure the overall title.
  • Lauren Gregory (USA – Nike ACG). With 484 points (92 behind the leader), the American rounds out the group of five athletes within 100 points before the Grand Final. Winner of the Tepec Trail, Gregory recently finished fifth in the 14-kilometer classic race at the Canfranc World Championships. In 2024, she showed excellent form at the GTWS Final, taking second place in both the prologue and the main race.

Rounding out the current women’s top 10 are Philaries Kisang (Kenya – Run2gether On Trail), Rosa Lara Feliu (Spain – Compressport), Naomi Lang (United Kingdom – Salomon), and Anna Gibson (USA – Brooks).

SCHEDULE & HOW TO FOLLOW

  • Women’s prologue: Friday, October 10 – 10:00 AM (UTC+2)
  • Men’s prologue: Friday, October 10 – 11:00 AM (UTC+2)
  • Women’s race: Saturday, October 11 – 12:00 PM (UTC+2)
  • Men’s race: Sunday, October 12 – 12:00 PM (UTC+2)

Both the women’s and men’s races will be broadcast live on October 11 and 12 on HBO Max (Europe and USA), Eurosport (Europe and Asia), Discovery+ (Europe), TNT Sports (United Kingdom), FloSports (USA and Canada), LN24 (Belgium), Supersport (Sub-Saharan Africa), and Run Yeah (China).

PIEVE DI LEDRO: THE HEART OF THE EVENT

Pieve di Ledro, on the shores of Lake Ledro, will be the epicenter of the weekend. At Spiaggia Pieve, spectators will enjoy an expo area with sports exhibitors and food stalls, a large screen to follow the race, and a public-access village. In this same setting, the athlete presentation will take place on Thursday, October 9, at 5:00 PM, followed by the closing party and elite athlete poster signing on Sunday, October 12, starting at 7:00 PM.

With its authentic beauty, the Ledro Valley provides the perfect backdrop for the Ledro Sky Trentino Grand Finale — a natural gem nestled between the Brenta Dolomites, Lake Garda, and the Chiese Valley. This corner of Garda Trentino blends nature, sport, culture, and tradition, with pristine landscapes, charming villages, and a rich culinary heritage that combines Alpine and Central European flavors. Lake Ledro, one of the cleanest and most swimmable in Trentino, is the heart of the valley and a paradise for water sports and outdoor activities such as hiking and paragliding.

The area also hosts important UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including the Pile Dwelling Museum of Ledro and the Alpi Ledrensi & Judicaria Biosphere Reserve, which reflect the deep connection between nature and culture. In this privileged environment, trail running and skyrunning find their finest expression through a network of paths that cross lakes, mountains, and valleys, offering spectacular views and a unique connection with nature.