Press release from the World Mountain Running Association.
Organizers for the 2023 World Mountain and Trail Running Championships have already begun to welcome athletes and media from all around the world to Innsbruck. It will be a packed 10 day program with the first mountain running race, the uphill, slated for Wednesday, June 6. Prior to the first championship race, there will be a press conference, the World Mountain Running Association Congress meeting, opening ceremonies, and more!
Approximately 1500 athletes from 70 countries will be descending on Innsbruck and Stubai in the coming days to contest the four races which make up the World Mountain and Trail Running Championships. Runners have traveled from USA, Australia, Mexico, China and South Africa, among many other countries, making this a truly global event.
Innsbruck and Stubai will provide the perfect backdrop to the mountain running, with their long history in Alpine sport and huge experience of organizing major events.
The races
The Uphill Mountain Race
Kicking off the whole event on Wednesday, June 6, is the uphill race.
Statistics: 7.1km long, +1020 elevation, 81% trail/9% gravel/10% tarmac.
Start time: 1pm CET
Uphill mountain race map.
The uphill race starts in Neustift in Stubai and after a circuit of the village it heads onto narrow forest trails. The runners will pass the famous Autenalm at the 4km/1665m point before the course shortens momentarily, but the last km has 200m of ascent up to the finish at the Elferhutte.
Classic Mountain Race
The classic mountain race will provide the finale to the championships on Saturday, June 10.
Statistics: 7.5k long, +374m elevation, 53% trail/8% gravel/39% tarmac. Junior athletes (U20) run the loop once; seniors run the loop twice (total of 15km for seniors).
Start time: 10am CET
Classic mountain race map.
The classic race starts and finishes in Innsbruck and it should be a fast and furious course. The route takes the runners across the Inn on the Europaratsallee and to the trails on the Nordkette, climbing steeply up to Gramartboden. After heading through the forest it then begins its descent back to the city, via the old town.
Information on the courses, including course profiles.
Mountain Running Race Favorites
As we know, anything can happen at a World Championships, but here are top 10 lists of athletes to highlight based on results from the last WMTRC and the European Offroad championships.
Women to watch in the uphill mountain running.
Top 10 women uphill mountain running
1. Allie McLaughlin (USA) – Defending Champion from WMTRC 2022 uphill
2. Andrea Mayr (Aut) – 2nd place WMTRC 2022 uphill
3. Madalina Monica Florea (ROU) – 4th WMTRC 2022 uphill
4. Elisa Sortini (ITA) – 7th WMTRC 2022 uphill
5. Christel Dewalle (FRA) – 8th WMTRC 2022 uphill
6. Tereza Hrochova (CZE) – 9th WMTRC 2022 uphill
7. Grayson Murphy (USA) – 1st WMRA World Mountain Running Championships 2019
8. Judith Wyder (SUI) – 13th WMTRC 2022 uphill
9. Holly Page (GBR) – 8th WMTRC 2022 uphill
10. Domenika Mayer (GER) – 6th place European Offroad Championships 2022
Top 10 men uphill mountain running
1. Patrick Kipngeno (KEN) – Defending Champion WMTRC 2022 uphill
2. Ombago Kiriago Philemon (KEN) – 2nd WMTRC 2022 uphill
3. Alejandro Garcia (ESP) – 3rd WMTRC 2022 uphill
4. Daniel Osanz (ESP) – 3rd place European Offroad Championships 2022 uphill
5. Eliud Cherop (UGA) – 5th WMTRC 2022 up and down
6. Cesare Maestri (ITA) – 7th WMTRC 2022 uphill
7. Joseph Gray (USA) – 6th WMTRC 2022 uphill
8. Zak Hanna (IRL) – 5th WMTRC 2022 uphill
9. Miguel Corbera (ESP) – 4th place European Offroad Championships 2022 uphill
10. Dominik Rolli (SUI) – 2nd place European Offroad Championships 2022 uphill
Men to watch in the uphill mountain running.
Top 10 women classic mountain running
1. Allie McLaughlin (USA) – 3rd WMTRC 2022 classic
2. Rebecca Cheptegei (UGA) – 2nd WMTRC 2022 classic
3. Scout Adkin (GBR) – 5th WMTRC 2022 classic
4. Flavia Stutz (SUI) – 9th place European Offroad Championships 2022
5. Susanna Saapunki (FIN) – 5th place European Offroad Championships 2022
6. Rebecca Cheptegei (UGA) – 2nd WMTRC 2022 classic
7. Sara Bottarelli (ITA) – 4th place European Offroad Championships 2022
8. Madalina Monica Florea (ROU) – 4th place WMTRC 2022 classic
9. Judith Wyder (SUI) – 6th WMTRC 2022 classic
10. Hanna Grober (GER) – 7th place WMTRC 2022 classic
Top 10 men classic mountain running
1. Patrick Kipngeno (KEN) – Defending Champion WMTRC 2022 classic
2. Andreu Blanes (ESP) – 6th WMTRC 2022 classic
3. Ombogo Kiriago Philemon (KEN) – 2nd WMTRC 2022 uphill
4. Cesare Maestri (ITA) – 9th WMTRC 2022 classic
5. Alberto Vender (ITA) – 7th WMTRC 2022 classic
6. Alejandro Garcia (ESP) – 3rd WMTRC 2022 uphill
7. Miguel Corbera (ESP) – 4th place European Offroad Championships 22 uphill
8. Eliud Cherop (UGA) – 5th WMTRC 2022 classic
9. Dominik Rolli (SUI) – 3rd place European Offroad Championships 22 up and down
10. Marek Chrascina (CZE) – 11th WMTRC 2022 classic
The full list of participants for all events. The Team USA roster.
