The following release is published with permission from the World Mountain Running Association (WMRA) and features world cup action in Chongli, China. Feature photo courtesy Chiara Rossini/WMRA.
Chongli, China – July 5-6, 2025. For the first time in history, the World Mountain Running Association (WMRA) World Cup made its way to China, in collaboration with the Chinese Mountaineering Association, Chongli, Natural Oxigen Zone in China, Yunding and SANFO race with a spectacular uphill race held July 5 in the scenic mountain resort of Yunding, China, host of the 2022 Winter Olympics. Runners from all over the world faced fresh temperatures, cloudy skies, and mud-slicked forest trails, turning this debut into an unforgettable battle of strength, strategy, and endurance. On July 6, it was more action with the classic 21.9 km race featuring 1,417 m of ascent and matching descent.
Uphill men’s race in Chongli: Ehrle vs. Saoli in a photo finish
The men’s event saw a spectacular duel between Germany’s Lukas Ehrle and Kenya’s Michael Selelo Saoli. The two athletes exchanged the lead multiple times on the steep climbs and slippery turns of the Chongli forest trails and ski slopes, before Ehrle edged Saoli by just one second, taking the win in 00:35:13.
Italy’s Andrea Rostan rounded out the podium in 00:35:37, confirming his strong form this season.
Other standout performances came from:
• 4th: Andrea Elia (ITA) – 00:36:05
• 5th: Paul Machoka (KEN) – 00:36:06
• 6th: Alberto Vender (ITA) – 00:36:27
• 7th: Tiziano Moia (ITA) – 00:36:45
• 8th: Luvsansharav Natsagdorj (MGL) – 00:37:03
• 9th: Luca Merli (ITA) – 00:37:10
• 10th: Henri Aymonod (ITA) – 00:37:33
Uphill women’s race in Chongli: Valentine Rutto dominates from the gun
Kenya’s Valentine Jepkoech Rutto (KEN) delivered a commanding performance in the women’s race, taking the lead from the very first meters and never letting go. She crossed the finish line in 00:40:59, writing her name in the history books as the first-ever WMRA race winner on Chinese soil.
Close behind was Scout Adkin (GBR), the reigning 2024 World Cup champion, who kept the pressure on and secured second place with a time of 00:41:58. Fellow Kenyan Gloria Chebet completed the podium in 00:43:05.
The top ten showcased an impressive international field:
• 4th: Elle Twentyman (GBR) – 00:43:44
• 5th: Kirsty Skye Dickson (GBR) – 00:44:19
• 6th: Wang Shengli (CHN) – 00:46:30
• 7th: Eli Anne Dvergsdal (NOR) – 00:46:40
• 8th: Simone Troxler (SUI) – 00:47:27
• 9th: Maria Dimitra Theocharis (GRE) – 00:47:36
• 10th: Yang Yi (CHN) – 00:48:08
The course, winding through Chongli’s lush summer forests and Olympic-grade ski slopes, proved to be a masterclass in mountain running design—scenic yet savagely demanding. Runners faced relentless muddy ascents, slick wooden bridges, and technical single tracks, all while navigating the steep gradients that once tested the world’s best skiers during the 2022 Winter Games. It was a race that challenged both the legs and the mind, requiring not just strength but precision, rhythm, and courage on every slippery switchback.
This historic debut in China has not only delivered thrilling competition but also underscored the sport’s growing global reach. With elite athletes from across Europe, Africa, Asia, and Oceania battling it out on the trails, the WMRA World Cup has proven that mountain running belongs on the world stage, wherever the terrain dares runners to rise
Chongli classic race
Under brilliant sunshine and already warm temperatures at the 7 am start, elite athletes tackled a descent immediately—before facing a steep climb of 450 m. A fast descent to the 7 km checkpoint was followed by a sustained ascent back to 2,100 m for the race’s midpoint. Runners then remained on high ground before a heart-pounding 2 km drop into the valley finish.
Men’s race: Saoli holds on for the win
Kenya’s Michael Selelo Saoli and Germany’s Lukas Ehrle surged to the front on that opening incline, with Paul Machoka tagging close behind. By the 10 km mark, Saoli had asserted full control, leading Machoka and Ehrle by slim margins. Italian duo Andrea Rostan and Alberto Vender rounded out the top five in a fierce mid-race battle.
1. Michael Selelo Saoli (KEN) – 01:38:19
2. Paul Machoka (KEN) – 01:39:38
3. Lukas Ehrle (GER) – 01:40:17
4. Andrea Rostan (ITA) – 01:42:53
5. Alberto Vender (ITA) – 01:45:39
Saoli’s well-timed push on the final climbs and controlled descent secured him the first classic-distance victory in Chongli, while Machoka and Ehrle lit up the trails with a thrilling three-way tussle for the podium.
Women’s race: Rutto’s mid-race charge
In contrast to yesterday’s wire-to-wire victory, Valentine Jepkoech Rutto (KEN) let leaders Scout Adkin (GBR) and Gloria Chebet (KEN) dictate pace on the first uphill kilometre. But on the second, longer ascent, Rutto unleashed her trademark strength—surging away and never looking back.
1. Valentine Jepkoech Rutto (KEN) – 01:55:43
2. Scout Adkin (GBR) – 02:01:04
3. Gloria Chebet (KEN) – 02:04:52
4. Elle Twentyman (GBR) – 02:05:38
5. Simone Troxler (SUI) – 02:10:26
Rutto’s decisive move midway, combined with her smooth downhill technique, earned her a comfortable winning margin, while Adkin and Chebet held on for silver and bronze.
Full results can be found here.
Premier mountain running destination
Since 2017, when Sanfo Race partnered with the Chongli district government to expand summer outdoor sports in this former Winter Olympic town, trail running has exploded across China. The back-to-back World Cup stages in Chongli not only honored the area’s Olympic heritage but also cemented its status as the country’s premier mountain running destination.
The WMRA World Cup now heads to its 9th stop in Briancon, Franceon July 19-20 — but for Chongli, the summer of 2025 will be remembered as the moment China’s mountains truly claimed their place on the global mountain running map.
