Where Legends are Made: the Golden Trail World Series Heads to Sierre-Zinal

With barely any time to recover from the Salomon Pitz Alpine Glacier Trail, the Golden Trail World Series (GTWS) cross the border from Austria into Switzerland for Sierre-Zinal, the fifth race of the season, taking place on Saturday, August 8. A permanent fixture on the calendar since the creation of the circuit, the historic Swiss race once again brings together the world’s trail running elite on its demanding 31-kilometre course with 2,200 metres of elevation gain, a route as fast as it is selective that has earned it the nickname “The Cathedral of Trail Running.”

The defending champions, Philemon Kiriago (Run2Gether On Trail) and Caroline Kimutai (Salomon), return with the goal of retaining their titles. Standing in their way will be the current GTWS leaders and reigning series champions, Elhousine Elazzaoui (NNormal) and Madalina Florea (Scott), alongside a strong field of former winners and ambitious contenders eager to claim one of the most prestigious victories in international trail running for the first time.

SIERRE-ZINAL: THE CATHEDRAL OF TRAIL RUNNING

In 1974, mathematician Jean-Claude Pont envisioned a route linking Sierre and Zinal via ancient transhumance trails. More than half a century later, those 31 kilometres have become one of the most iconic courses in trail running, renowned not only for the history and prestige surrounding the race, but also for the unique atmosphere created by the thousands of spectators lining the route to cheer on the runners.

The journey begins in Sierre at an altitude of 560 metres and packs much of its difficulty into the first 11 kilometres. During this opening section, athletes tackle more than 1,420 metres of elevation gain, including the climb that hosts the uphill segment (1.2 km at an average gradient of 20.9%), where the five fastest runners will earn 10, 8, 6, 4 and 2 points respectively.

After this first major challenge, the race opens up into a spectacular traverse through the alpine scenery of the Anniviers Valley. Although much of the elevation gain has already been completed, the course continues to climb steadily towards Nava (2,424 m), the highest point of the route and a section where decisive gaps can still emerge.

Along the way, runners pass iconic landmarks such as Ponchette, Chandolin, and the historic Hotel Weisshorn, all beneath the watchful presence of the five peaks above 4,000 metres that give the race its nickname, the legendary “Race of the Five 4,000ers”: the Weisshorn (4,506 m), Zinalrothorn (4,221 m), Obergabelhorn (4,063 m), Matterhorn(4,478 m), and Dent Blanche (4,357 m). It is in this dramatic high-mountain setting, roughly halfway through the race, that the sprint segment (1.7 km and -0,7%) will also take place.

From Nava, the course plunges into a thrilling descent towards the finish line in Zinal (1,675 m), a stage for some of the most memorable finishes in recent trail running history. It was here, for example, that Kilian Jornet and Philemon Kiriago produced their unforgettable duel in 2024. Fittingly, the downhill segment (1.1 km at -24.2%) is located on this explosive final section, just 2.6 kilometres from the finish, where every second counts.

Unchanged since its creation, the Sierre-Zinal course has witnessed the evolution of trail running and the steady progression of performance standards. Today, the course records belong to Kilian Jornet, a ten-time winner of the race, with a time of 2:25:34, and Switzerland’s Maude Mathys (Asics), a four-time champion, who set the women’s benchmark at 2:49:20.

THE RACE EVERYONE WANTS TO WIN

A victory at Sierre-Zinal can define a career. Widely regarded as one of the most prestigious races in the world, the historic Swiss event attracts the very best mountain runners every year, alongside elite athletes from other endurance disciplines. Leading the list of favourites are the defending champions, Philemon Kiriago and Caroline Kimutai.

Few athletes know the road to victory at the “Cathedral of Trail Running” better than Kiriago. The Kenyan claimed the title in 2023 and 2025, while in 2024 he finished just one second shy of victory after one of the most memorable finishes in the race’s recent history. Kimutai, meanwhile, secured her first Sierre-Zinal victory last year and returns determined to defend her crown and claim a second GTWS win of the season, following her triumph at Ledro Sky Trentino in Italy.

The defending champions will face stiff competition from reigning Golden Trail World Series champions Elhousine Elazzaoui and Madalina Florea, who arrive in Switzerland after delivering commanding victories in Austria. Yet Sierre-Zinal remains one of the few races where neither has managed to produce their very best performance.

The men’s race will also feature the entire podium from the 2025 edition. Alongside Kiriago will be his Run2Gether On Trail teammates Patrick Kipngeno and Michael Saoli, both eager to challenge their compatriot and add their names to the prestigious winners’ list.

The field of contenders is further strengthened by a host of world-class athletes, including Adrien Briffod (Asics), the Olympic triathlete who stunned fans in 2025 by leading much of the race before finishing fourth; Andreu Blanes(Salomon), winner in 2022; Martin Nilsson, sixth last year; Brayan Rodríguez; Christian Allen (Nike ACG) Daniel Pattis (Brooks), runner-up at Zegama-Aizkorri this season; and Taylor Stack, who completed the podium at the iconic Basque race.

In the women’s race, much of the spotlight will fall on Maude Mathys. The Swiss star, who holds the course record and has been one of the most dominant athletes in trail running over the past decade, is expected to be one of the main challengers to Florea and Kimutai. Other leading contenders include Oria Liaci (Brooks), fourth at Sierre-Zinal in 2025and a World Championship medallist; Laura Hottenrott, silver medallist at the 2026 European Uphill Championships; rising Chinese star Miao Yao (Nike ACG); Sara Alonso (Asics), winner of three GTWS races (Marathon du Mont-Blanc, Kobe Trail and Zegama-Aizkorri); Anna Gibson (Brooks); Ruth Gitonga (Run2Gether On Trail), second at Pitz Alpine; and Nienke Brinkman (Nike ACG), who came within touching distance of victory with her second-place finish at Sierre-Zinal in 2021.

Also lining up will be Jessie Diggins, one of the biggest names in cross-country skiing. The American arrives at Sierre-Zinal with an outstanding résumé that includes six overall World Cup titles, 18 individual World Cup victories, and four Olympic medals: one gold, one silver, and two bronze.

A GLOBAL CELEBRATION OF TRAIL RUNNING

Sierre-Zinal is not only home to the world’s trail running elite. More than 6,000 runners will also take part in the popular “Tourist” category, a non-competitive and untimed event in which participants set off between 4:45 and 6:15 a.m., tackling the course at their own pace and soaking up the unique atmosphere and landscapes of the race.

This mass participation, with nearly 70 nationalities represented, reinforces the event’s international appeal and helps explain why Sierre-Zinal is also often referred to as the “New York City Marathon of trail running.” More than just a race, it has become a true celebration of the sport, bringing together elite athletes and passionate runners from around the world on one of trail running’s most iconic courses.

WATCH THE ACTION LIVE

The race will be broadcast live across Warner Bros. Discovery’s platforms (HBO Max, Eurosport and TNT Sports), as well as through an extensive network of international broadcasters.

The women’s race will get underway on Saturday, August 8 at 10:30 CET, with the men’s race scheduled to start at 11:00 CET. Fans can follow the action live and in full on HBO Max from 10:20 CET, while Eurosport 2 will join the broadcast from 11:45 CET.

Beyond the live coverage, fans can stay up to date through real-time updates on the official Golden Trail World Series channels and via the live timing service available on the series official website. A comprehensive highlights programme featuring the best moments from the race will also be released during the week following the event and will be available on Eurosport, HBO Max, and the official GTWS YouTube channel.

KINOMAP BRINGS THE SIERRE-ZINAL EXPERIENCE HOME

Following its addition as an official sponsor of the Golden Trail World Series, Kinomap continues to bring fans closer to the action. To mark Sierre-Zinal, the leading interactive training platform for cycling, running and rowing will make part of the iconic Swiss course available to its users through high-quality geosynchronised video. This unique experience will allow athletes and fans alike to train virtually on one of the most prestigious trail running courses in the world.