The following release is published with permission from World Mountain Running Association (WMRA) and features the Valsir Mountain Running World Cup and the upcoming kickoff race at Broken Arrow in Palisades Tahoe, CA. Featured photo from the Broken Arrow Skyrace.
With just 5 days until the 2024 Valsir Mountain Running World Cup kicks off, anticipation is at an all-time high. Shoes are being laced and hearts are racing with excitement.
The World Cup, celebrating its 25th anniversary alongside the World Mountain Running Association’s 40th year, is open to anyone eager to run in stunning and iconic mountain locations. Kicking off in the USA on June 21, over 6,000 athletes will compete in the 12-race series, beginning with the Broken Arrow race in June and culminating with the Val Bregaglia Trail in Italy in October.
The opening weekend promises a thrilling start with two Gold Label races in just three days. On Friday, June 21, the Uphill race will challenge competitors with its snow-laden “stairs to heaven” at Palisades Tahoe, followed by the Classic 23km on Sunday, June 23.
Among the pre-registered athletes is two-time Uphill World Champion and 2022 Valsir World Cup Champion Patrick Kipngeno (Run2gether), and 2023 World Cup winner Philemon Kiriago (Run2gether), along with some top contenders from the US in the men’s field. In the women’s field, notable names include last year’s Palisades winner Anna Gibson (Brooks) and two-time World Mountain Running Champion Grayson Murphy (Saucony), and 2022 World Mountain Running Uphill Champion Allie McLaughlin (Hoka). This lineup promises an exhilarating start to the series!
Counting down the kilometers to the finish at La Montee du Nid d’Aigle. Photo: Nancy Hobbs
July: a month of high-octane racing at the World Cup
July brings a packed schedule, with races nearly every weekend. The month begins with the Grossglockner Mountain Run in Austria on July 7, where athletes will ascend 13.3 km and 1,300m+ from Heiligenblut to Kaiser-Franz-Josefs-Höhe, against the breathtaking backdrop of the Grossglockner glacier.
On July 14, the action moves to Castro-Daire, Portugal, for the Montemuro Vertical Run. This race will challenge athletes with a 9km climb to the summit of Fragas do Inferno (1,317m) in the Serra de Montemuro. Among the competitors are 2023 winner Scout Adkin (HOKA), Charlotte Cotton (A.D. Marathon), and Canadian runner Rémi Leroux (Merrel) who finished second to Gray at the Mount Washington Road Race on June 15.
The Montée du Nid d’Aigle, a classic race from Saint Gervais to Refuge du Nid d’Aigle, takes place on July 20. This visually stunning 20km race, with an elevation gain of 1850m, offers views of Mont Blanc and the Glacier du Bionnassay, weather permitting. July concludes with the return of Giir di Mont, a grueling 32km race above Premana, Italy, featuring challenging ascents and descents. The race’s unique atmosphere and stunning mountain views make it a fan favorite.
Enjoy the celebration that is Sierre Zinal. Photo: Marco Gulberti
August and beyond: World Cup excitement continues
August 10 brings the iconic Sierre-Zinal race, renowned for its demanding Swiss trails. Elite athletes like Sophia Laukli (Salomon), Monica Madalina Florea (Salomon), Philemon Kiriago (Run2gether), Patrick Kipngeno (Run2gether), and Kilian Jornet (Nnormal) will vie for the prestigious title of “Queen and King of the Mountain.”
September sees the World Cup in Casto, Italy, the hometown of Valsir, for the Vertical and Trofeo Nasego events. The local tifosi will create a vibrant atmosphere, cheering on athletes like Andrea Mayr (AUT), Henri Aymonod (The North Face), and American Liam Meirow (Nike) as they tackle the Corna di Savallo (1.436m) or pass by the Rifugio Nasego.
October brings the series to Slovenia for the Classic distance event at Šmarna Gora, with its 10km course featuring 710m+/350m- through the Sava River valley, culminating at the historic Puščavnica in zvonček svetega Antona chapel overlooking Ljubljana.
The season culminates in Italy with the final race in Chiavenna, continuing the tradition of the vertical kilometer and the Val Bregaglia Trail, which will determine the overall World Cup champions and celebrate the WMRA’s 40th anniversary with a grand party, bringing together athletes, family, and friends from the global mountain running community such as World Athletics, ITRA, European Athletics and many more!
WMRA and its commitment to clean sport
Since its inception, the WMRA has adhered to strict anti-doping regulations, complying with World Athletics protocols. The 2024 series will feature WADA-accredited anti-doping measures in every race, continuing the tradition of rigorous testing implemented since 2007. In 2023 alone, 70 tests were conducted in the 18 races of the Valsir Mountain Running World Cup series, with more than 72 planned for this season and its 12 races, all of them by independent and accredited local entities, always recognized by the respective athletics local federation and the WADA.
Follow along on Facebook and Instagram and get involved using #wearemountainrunning #valsirworldcup #wmra24 #wmra40years
Editor’s Note: Enjoy more articles about the Valsir Mountain Running World Cup here.
