Sierre-Zinal is living history in trail running’s world. It’s one of the sport’s most iconic and pioneering races, a dream for every athlete to take part—and a privilege reserved for only a few to win. Now in its 52st edition, the “Race of the Five 4000ers”—named after the five peaks over 4,000 meters that dominate the skyline along the route (Weisshorn, Zinalrothorn, Obergabelhorn, Matterhorn, and Dent Blanche)—features a 31-kilometer course with 2,200 meters of elevation gain. Once again, it brings together the world’s trail running elite for a relentless race against the clock on one of the fastest courses of the season. It will also be the final opportunity for athletes to score points toward the overall standings in the 2025 Golden Trail World Series (GTWS) ahead of the Grand Finale in Ledro-Trentino this October.

https://youtu.be/yM6MDrQHvYc

The race starts in Sierre, at 560 meters above sea level, and crosses the breathtaking landscapes of the Swiss canton of Valais. The first 11 kilometers include the steepest climb of the route, with over 1,300 meters of vertical gain. From there, the race turns into a fast-paced rollercoaster, continuing to climb until reaching Nava at 2,424 meters—the highest point of the course. From Nava, it’s a continuous descent all the way down to the finish line in Zinal, at 1,675 meters. On many occasions, the race reaches its climax in the explosive final kilometer, which often proves decisive in crowning the winners.

Kilian Jornet (Spain – NNormal) and Maude Mathys (Switzerland – Asics), two of the most decorated athletes in trail running history, hold the course records with times of 2:25:34 and 2:49:20, respectively. Jornet set his record in 2024, while the women’s record has remained untouched since 2019. Could 2025 be the year those barriers fall once again? One thing’s for sure: as in every edition, Sierre-Zinal will gather the highest concentration of elite athletes on the circuit.

MEN’S RACE: ATHLETES TO WATCH

23 men have already completed Sierre-Zinal in under 2:40:00. This year, 8 of the top 10 finishers from 2024 will be back on the start line—only Kilian Jornet will be missing—as well as 15 of the top 20 from last year.

  • Philemon Kiriago (Kenya – Run2gether On Trail). Currently third in the GTWS 2025 standings, Kiriago knows what it takes to win Sierre-Zinal—he did it in 2023. In 2024, he nearly repeated that feat in a thrilling final kilometer alongside Kilian Jornet. He ultimately crossed the finish line just 1.5 seconds off the course record, proving he’s a real threat to break it in 2025.
  • Andreu Blanes (Spain – Hoka). After winning Sierre-Zinal in 2022 and spending two years focused on track and road, Blanes is back on the trails. He made his 2025 GTWS debut at Zegama-Aizkorri, where he placed second and led much of the race. Sierre-Zinal suits his strengths perfectly, thanks to his background on the track and road (14:00 in the 5,000 m and 7:52 in the 3,000 m).
  • Elhousine Elazzaoui (Morocco – NNormal). The reigning champion and current leader of the Golden Trail World Series—with three wins this season—returns to a race where he’s yet to shine. However, the Moroccan is arguably in the best shape of his career, making him a serious contender. After long-awaited victories at Zegama-Aizkorri (2025) and the Marathon du Mont-Blanc (2024), a win at Sierre-Zinal would add another jewel to his crown of iconic trail running triumphs.
  • Leonard Chemutai (Uganda – Adidas). Another speedster from the track world, Chemutai could be a perfect fit for the Sierre-Zinal profile. He was a finalist in the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the recent Paris Olympic Games and was crowned World Champion in the Up & Down discipline in 2023.
  • Patrick Kipngeno (Kenya – Run2gether On Trail). Ranked second in the GTWS 2025 standings, Kipngeno has always been close to victory at Sierre-Zinal, with two second-place finishes (2022 and 2023) and a third place in 2024. After claiming wins this season at the Kobe Trail (Japan) and the Jin Shan Ling Great Wall Trail Race (China), he’s chasing a crucial victory that would give him a perfect 600 points ahead of the Grand Finale.

Other notable names include Roberto Delorenzi (Switzerland – Brooks), World Champion in the Up & Down discipline and fifth-place finisher at Sierre-Zinal in both 2023 and 2024; Sylvain Cachard (France – Hoka), who placed fourth in 2024; Christian Allen(USA – Nike); Timothy Kibett and Samwel Kiprotich (Salomon Milimani Runners), who finished first and second respectively at last week’s Salomon Pitz Alpine Glacier Trail (Austria); and Lucas Nanchen (Switzerland – NNormal), the top local athlete from Valais competing this year.

WOMEN’S RACE: ATHLETES TO WATCH

11 women have already completed Sierre-Zinal in under 3:10:00. This year, 7 of the top 10 finishers from 2024 will be on the start line.

  • Joyline Chepngeno (Kenya – Salomon Milimani Runners). She shocked the world with her win at Sierre-Zinal 2024—her first race outside Kenya and her debut in high-level mountain running. This year, she returns as the defending champion, with more experience and familiarity with the course, making her a top contender for victory.
  • Maude Mathys (Switzerland – Asics). The recent history of Sierre-Zinal is written in her name. She has won the race four times (2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022) and still holds the course record, untouched for over five years. While injuries have limited her form in recent months, Mathys returns to the start line as the local hero and the most accomplished Swiss mountain runner of all time.
  • Philaries Kisang (Kenya – Run2gether On Trail). Third in 2023 and fourth in 2024, Kisang is another strong contender for the win. This will be her third GTWS race of the season, after finishing second at Il Golfo dell Isola Trail and sixth last week in Austria.
  • Joyce Njeru (Kenya – NNormal). She made an impressive debut at Sierre-Zinal in 2023, finishing second. Her 2024 performance was more modest, placing 12th. Now, she returns to Sierre-Zinal ranked fourth in the GTWS 2025 standings and in top form, having won the Broken Arrow Skyrace (USA) and finished second at Tepec Trail (Mexico).
  • Caroline Kimutai (Kenya – Milimani Runners Salomon). After a flawless start with a victory at the Jin Shan Ling Great Wall Trail Race, luck wasn’t on her side at the Salomon Pitz Alpine Glacier Trail, where she finished seventh despite being one of the favorites. Nevertheless, Kimutai is always a contender whenever she lines up at the start. This will be her first time at Sierre-Zinal.

Other athletes to watch include Katie Schide (USA – On), two-time winner of the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc; Miao Yao (China – Salomon), who placed fourth at Sierre-Zinal in 2023; Anna Gibson (USA – Brooks), third at the Broken Arrow Skyrace and sixth at Sierre-Zinal last year; Lauren Gregory (USA – Nike), this year’s winner at Tepec Trail; and Oria Liaci (Switzerland – Brooks), the top Valaisan at Sierre-Zinal 2024, where she finished eighth.

SCHEDULE & HOW TO FOLLOW

The race will be broadcast live on August 9 via HBO Max (Europe and USA), Eurosport and Discovery+ (Europe), TNT Sports (United Kingdom), FloSports (USA and Canada), RTS and Canal 9 (Switzerland), LN24 (Belgium), Supersport (Sub-Saharan Africa), and Run Yeah (China).

  • Women’s race: Saturday, August 9 – 11:00 AM (UTC+2)
  • Men’s race: Saturday, August 9 – 11:00 AM (UTC+2)

MAUDE MATHYS, A LEGEND CAGED IN MOTION

Maude Mathys, current holder of the Sierre-Zinal women’s course record with a time of 2:49:20 (2019), is one of the most iconic figures in global trail running. In recent days, the documentary “A Legend Caged in Motion” was released, offering an intimate look at her 2024 season. The film traces a year that began with a strong win at Kobe Trail (Japan) but soon became overshadowed by the return of injuries—just as she was preparing for Sierre-Zinal, her most beloved race and main goal of the season. The full documentary is available on the Golden Trail World Series YouTube channel.

A POPULAR CELEBRATION

In addition to the elite race, Sierre-Zinal is a true community celebration. The “Tourist” category, reserved for non-competitive runners, will start between 4:45 and 6:15 AM, allowing thousands of mountain lovers to enjoy the same course as the professionals. The blend of elite athletes and everyday runners—with 6,800 participants selected from over 20,000 applications—is one of the key elements that fuels the unique, vibrant atmosphere that makes Sierre-Zinal a legendary event.