The following release is published with permission from the World Mountain Running Association (WMRA) and features the upcoming U18 International Mountain Running Cup. The 19th edition brings 133 young athletes from 17 delegations to the coastal cliffs of Ciolo, which is located in the Lecce province of Italy. Athletes and coaches will arrive in advance of the competition starting Thursday, June 18, with the competition slated for Sunday, June 21. Featured image from the 2017 U18 International Mountain Running Cup in Ciolo.
The U18 International Mountain Running Cup returns with a field that reflects the growing depth and professionalization of youth mountain running. Since last year’s edition in Donovaly, Slovakia, the event has seen a noticeable rise in profile. Federation selection processes are more rigorous, age-group results are easier to track, and young athletes are arriving with established competitive profiles across mountain, fell, trail, cross-country, and track disciplines.
For the 19th edition, this deeper competitive context adds extra weight to the racing. The athletes arriving in Gagliano del Capo are not just participating in an international youth event; many are taking their first steps on a pathway toward senior international championships.
On June 21, the dramatic cliffs of Ciolo will once again serve as the ultimate proving ground for the next generation of mountain runners.
The competitors
The 2026 U18 International Mountain Running Cup will feature 133 registered athletes from 17 delegations, with 67 boys and 66 girls on the start list. Athletes will represent Bulgaria, England, France, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Malta, Mexico, Northern Ireland and Ulster, Poland, Scotland, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, the United States, and Wales. As the host nation, Italy will field two full teams, adding serious depth to an already stacked field.
The diversity of backgrounds is the Cup’s greatest strength. While some athletes arrive as specialized national mountain-running champions, others have qualified through cross-country, track, fell running, skyrunning, or orienteering. For many, this marks their debut in a national vest; for others, it is a return to an international stage where they have already proven they can compete.
The result is a highly unpredictable field. The fastest runners on paper will need to adapt to the technical terrain, while the mountain specialists will have to match the raw speed of the track and cross-country runners. Ciolo will not reward reputation alone.
The course
Gagliano del Capo, located in the Salento region, offers a setting unlike almost anything else in the sport. Held as part of the Trofeo Ciolo, the event is built around a distinct concept: bringing mountain running to the sea.
This is not an Alpine race defined by long forest climbs and high altitude. Ciolo is sharper, lower, more exposed, and sometimes technical. The course’s identity comes from its limestone cliffs, dry stone walls, Mediterranean scrub, rocky singletrack, and constant views of the Adriatic.
Featuring the famous Ciolo Bridge and the rugged Aspro trail, the coastal terrain makes it incredibly difficult for runners to find a comfortable rhythm. Success will require careful pacing, precise footwork, and tactical confidence.
The venue also holds a storied place in youth running history. Ciolo hosted the 2017 U18 Cup—an edition remembered for the first major international victory of Nadia Battocletti, who has since become an Olympic silver medalist and World Championship medal winner on the track.
With Italy remaining a spiritual home for mountain running thanks to its deep club culture and experienced organizers, bringing the U18 Cup back to Ciolo places these young athletes directly into that rich tradition.
Boys’ race – top contenders
The boys’ race features no single favorite. Italy and France look formidable, Spain brings proven mountain specialists, Switzerland has superb technical pedigree, and the United States arrives with cross-country speed that could break the race wide open if the pace is hot from the gun.
• Andrea Cappelli (ITA): Leads the Italian squad. A proven performer on the domestic U18 circuit, his endurance profile and climbing strength suit this rhythmic but punchy course.
• Maxence Bal (FRA): A major contender who balances strong mountain results with excellent track speed. That versatility will be vital on Ciolo’s runnable sections.
• Gaspard Petit (FRA): Brings a strong cross-country background, making him well-suited for tight, aggressive racing.
• Luca Gallerini (ITA): A leading name on the Italian youth circuit who will be well-prepared for the technical demands and the pressure of a home crowd.
• Lucas Gómez-Galarza (ESP): One of the most mountain-specific runners in the field. His background in vertical and classic mountain disciplines makes him dangerous if the race becomes tactical and broken.
• Tom Lamarque (FRA): Adds further depth to a potent French team and is comfortable maintaining a high, honest pace on rugged terrain.
• Juri Wyer (SUI): Brings valuable Swiss mountain experience to a course that demands early-career technical maturity.
• Jake Ireland (ENG): One of the strongest British names on paper, combining endurance track speed with past mountain racing experience.
• Jackson Ferguson & Carson Dobur (USA): Both bring elite American cross-country credentials. The big question is how quickly their flat speed translates to Ciolo’s steep climbs, rocky descents, and shifting surfaces.
Deeper Depth: Keep an eye on Billy Sutherland, Liam Folk, Gergő Mireider, Maho Pradeau, Ben Hodson, and Julen López. The central tactical question is simple: will the mountain purists break the field early, or will the fast track runners still be in contention on the final stretch to the finish?
Girls’ race – top contenders
While the girls’ field features a few more established head-to-head form lines from past championships, it remains too deep for easy predictions. France, Switzerland, Poland, Italy, England, Scotland, and the USA all field potential podium finishers.
• Manon Duprat (FRA): The clear pre-race favorite. As the reigning U18 Mountain Running Cup champion from last year’s event in Slovakia, she brings unmatched championship experience.
• Dorottya Jázmin Juhász (HUN): Last year’s runner-up behind Duprat, making her a proven podium threat rather than a wildcard.
• Keren Badoux (SUI): A top international performer at the U18 level who benefits from the characteristically sharp technical preparation of the Swiss system.
• Maja Charukiewicz (POL): Holds international top-10 experience and strong domestic form, a mix that should translate perfectly to this course.
• Anita Pelissero (ITA): The reigning Italian U18 mountain champion, she carries the advantage of domestic course familiarity and home-crowd motivation.
• Léa Leboeuf & Leona Turi (SUI): Both have shown superb, closely-matched form in recent Swiss selection races. Their packing ability could dictate the team standings.
• Clara McKee (ENG): Brings a classic English fell-running background, meaning she will be entirely at home if rough, technical sections decide the race.
• Karolina Machnio (POL): The Polish U18 champion who has the strength to handle an aggressive pace right from the start line.
• McKenna Groen (USA): The top American prospect, entering with elite cross-country fitness that will test the field if she adapts to the coastal rhythm.
Deeper Depth: A strong chasing pack includes Giulia Giorda, Louise Tisserand, Anna Laratore, Lauren Bissen, Nancy Corrie, Anna Meek, Isabel O’Reilly, Lou-Anne Gallio, Isla Pastor, and Heather Watson. In a field this competitive, a top-10 finish will be hard-earned.
Editor’s Note: Meet Team USA here.
A bridge to the senior ranks
Though the U18 International Mountain Running Cup is a youth development event, it holds a critical spot on the global calendar. For nearly all these athletes, it is their first taste of a true international championship environment: team travel, formal selection pressure, course reconnaissance, and tactical racing against unfamiliar international styles.
Whether these runners eventually transition into senior mountain running, trail racing, or stick to the track and cross-country, the Cup provides an invaluable education in resilience, terrain management, and racing judgment.
Ciolo is the perfect stage for that education—strikingly beautiful, relentlessly technical, and guaranteed to deliver an unforgettable race.
Event information
• Date: Sunday, June 21, 2026
• Location: Gagliano del Capo, Italy (Trofeo Ciolo)
• Coverage: Race-week updates, photography, and video highlights will be available via the World Mountain Running Association (WMRA) channels and official event media partner corsainmontagna.it
• Event website
