The following release from Hector Rubio, media manager, World Mountain Running Association, highlights the 2024 Valsir Mountain Running World Cup calendar. Cover photo of Scout Adkin courtesy Marco Gulberti.
Featuring a roster spanning eight countries, encompassing 10 events and a total of 13 races, this season promises a thrilling array of locations, beloved classics, and reunions with long-established courses, offering a spectacular racing calendar spanning a stretch of 5 months from June through October.
In conjunction with esteemed mountain race collaborators worldwide, our enduring partnership with Valsir has paved the way for several enhancements to this season’s World Series. Upholding our commitment to clean sportsmanship, all Gold Label races will boast WADA-accredited anti-doping measures. Furthermore, in a bid to bolster athlete support, we’ve amplified travel assistance and escalated the overall prize pool, with the Valsir World Cup champions set to claim €5,000 in 2024.
Valsir Mountain Running World Cup showcases sportsmanship. Photo: Marco Gulberti
USA Hosts first event in the World Cup
Commencing in June, the Valsir World Mountain Running World Cup initiates its journey to the World’s top mountain races with the United States. Returning to Palisades Tahoe, California, the inaugural race begins with the adrenaline-pumping Broken Arrow Skyrace!
The opening weekend kicks off with a whirlwind of excitement, featuring 2 Gold Label races in a span of 3 days. The season’s curtain-raiser commences with the Short Uphill on Friday, June 21, followed by the Classic 23km on Sunday, June 23. Over recent years, these races have witnessed the presence of World Champions and World Cup winners, promising a spectacular start to the series!
Four events in July
Subsequently, July heralds a frenzied month of activity with races scheduled nearly every weekend! Revisiting familiar courses, July 7 sees the return of the Grossglockner Mountain Run in Austria, while July 14 marks our journey to Castro-Daire, Portugal, for the 4th edition of Montemuro Vertical Run. Notable victories by Alexandre Ricard and Scout Adkin (featured in the lead photograph) in the previous year add to the anticipation for this leg of the series.
The Montée du Nid d’Aigle, introduced to the World Cup circuit in 2021, remains a steadfast fixture. This visually stunning 20km, 1850m+ Classic from Saint Gervais to Refuge du Nid d’Aigle presents athletes with a breathtaking backdrop of the Glacier du Bionnassay. July 20 promises to be an eagerly awaited date in the summer lineup!
On the trails in France at La Montee du Nid D’Aigle. Photo: Marco Gulberti
As July draws to a close, an old favorite rejoins the World Cup circuit with a visit to Giir di Mont for the tour of the 12 pastures above Premana in Italy. This grueling 32km race, alternating challenging ascents with equally demanding descents, is set to captivate spectators where the atmosphere at the top of the mountain is something special.
Four events in August and September
August 10 marks the Sierre-Zinal race, renowned for its challenging trails through the Swiss mountains. The Race of the Five 4000s draws top-tier talent every year, with Philemon Kiriago clinching the title of “King of the Mountain” in 2023.
The onset of September sees the World Cup landing in Casto, Italy, the hometown of Valsir, for the Vertical and Trofeo Nasego events. This tiny town in the Brescia prealps is poised to witness a showdown among the sport’s elite, vying for recognition on the esteemed Nasego honor roll.
Sky Gran Canaria enters for the second consecutive year hosting another Golden label race, and this year the longest of the entire season with its 44km 3,344m+, 2453m- on the 22 September.
Final World Cup events in October
Merely a 10 days later, the focus shifts to Slovenia for the Classic distance event at Smarna Gora, a race previously acclaimed as the “Best Mountain Race in the World,” featuring a 10km course.
Wrapping up the season, the final race takes place in Chiavena, Italy, continuing the tradition that commenced in 1986 as the inaugural officially recognized vertical kilometre.
This penultimate race will ultimately determine the final podium positions after the preceding 12 races of the 2024 Valsir Mountain Running World Cup, leaving the Val Bregaglia Trail on the subsequent day to conclude the World Cup points tally and where the World Cup hero’s will be presented with their prizes.
Valsir Mountain Running World Cup Champions 2023. Photo: Marco Gulberti
Follow all the action on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and get involved using #valsirwmra #wmra #wmraworldcup #valsirworldcup24
About the WMRA
Formed in 1984, in 2024 will celebrate its 40th Anniversary, the World Mountain Running Association is the global governing body for mountain running and has the goal of promoting mountain running for all ages and abilities.
As well as the World Cup, the WMRA organizes Masters, U18 and area championships and in partnership with the World Athletics, ITRA and IAU have delivered the World Mountain and Trail Running Championships. The WMRA also maintains the Mountain Running World Ranking, a system of points allocated to athletes based on the results in designated races.
