The following article is published with permission from the World Mountain Running Association (WMRA) and features results from the fourth and fifth stages in the World Cup held at Transvulcania.
The fourth stage of the 2026 WMRA Mountain Running World Cup kicked off on Thursday evening, May 7, as competitors gathered on the island of La Palma, Spain, for the Uphill race at Transvulcania, the latest installment of the competition on one of the sport’s most demanding but most beautiful circuits.
La Palma, widely regarded as the steepest island in the world, provided an uncompromising backdrop for the competition. A high-calibre elite field took to the start line in the Port of Tazacorte for a 7.3-kilometre course demanding 1,200 metres of vertical ascent.
The opening kilometres offered a steep start as athletes wound their way along zig zags overlooking the sea, through verdant terrain along the GR131 long-distance hiking trail in the warm evening sunshine. Then there was some brief respite in the form of a gentle road section. However, the course’s character shifted markedly as the field progressed beyond the El Time Viewpoint at 513 metres and the Hungarian House at 624 metres. Beyond those landmarks, the route became considerably more hostile – rocky underfoot and unrelentingly steep – while descending cloud cover brought cooler temperatures and added a further dimension of difficulty to proceedings.
None of the athletes had it easy as they battled their way to the finish line at the forest lookout tower.
Nail-biting uphill race
With a women’s field including Joyce Muthoni Njeru (KEN Atletica Saluzzo), Ruth Mwihaki Gitonga (KEN Run2gether On Trail), Philaries Jeruto Kisang (KEN Run2gether On Trail) and Camilla Magliano (ITA Kailas Fuga), and a men’s start line boasting Philemon Ombogo Kiriago (KEN Run2gether On Trail), Richard Omaya Atuya (KEN Run2gether On Trail) and Martin Nilsson (SWE), we knew this was going to be a highly competitive race. But with such a deep field, and some athletes new to the World Cup this year, we also knew that we’d probably see some surprises.
They all set off at a furious pace to take advantage of the brief stretch of flat road before the climb began. The elite field started at one minute intervals in a time trial format, adding to the drama at the finish line, where conditions continued to deteriorate as the race went on.
The two runners who set an early mark were Kirsty Skye Dickson (GBR Carnethy Hill Runners) with 55.37 and Tyler McCandless (USA) with 50.09. But they had a nail-biting wait to see if they could hang on to their positions.
Kiriago and Atuya have had so many close battles in World Cup uphill races, and this was no different. Kiriago set off last, and the chase was on. Ephantus Mwangi Njeri (KEN Run2gether On Trail) took a chunk off McCandless’s lead, finishing in 47.39 but then Atuya reached the summit in a new record time of 45.01. Only Kiriago and Nilsson could beat him but Kiriago fell short for once, making do with second place in 47.33 and Nilsson ended up in fifth place in 48.46. Anthony Felber (FRA Brooks) took a strong fourth place in 48.20. Tyler McCandless (USA) finished in sixth place.
In the women’s race it looked as though Skye Dickson could hang on as Gitonga, one of the major threats and our winner from Sāo Brás Cross, reached the finish line in 58.00. But we still had the dual threat of Njeru and Kisang out on the course. Njeru showed the form we saw in the last stage of the World Cup in Changping and took the win in 55.02, a new record. Skye Dickson maintained a strong second place, Gitonga kept third, Benedetta Broggi (ITA La Recastello – Fuga Mountain Club) was fourth in 58.30 and Moana Lilly Kehres (ESP CD Hilera) was fifth in 58.35. Kisang did not finish.
Downhill drama decides long distance titles
Following an exhilarating Uphill race on Thursday evening, in which both the women’s and men’s course records fell to Joyce Muthoni Njeru (KEN, Atletica Saluzzo) and Richard Omaya Atuya (KEN, Run2gether On Trail) respectively, the second instalment of the 2026 WMRA Mountain Running World Cup double header at Transvulcania concluded on Saturday, May 9, with the Long Distance event.
The race marked the first long-distance contest of the 2026 World Cup season, contested over a 25-kilometre course featuring 2,100 metres of ascent. Setting out from the island’s iconic Faro de Fuencaliente lighthouse, the route traversed the celebrated Ruta de los Volcanes before concluding at Refugio de El Pilar.
Competitors faced a formidable opening 17 kilometres of sustained climbing, gaining 1,800 metres of elevation to the high point at Las Deseadas, before a testing eight-kilometre descent brought them to the finish line at El Pilar, situated at 1,445 metres above sea level. The course profile rewarded those with the endurance to hold strong on the extended uphill sections, though the prolonged descent to the finish equally offered opportunities for the more accomplished downhill runners to make their mark.
How the race unfolded
Race day started cold and misty but soon started to warm up. It was no surprise to see the Kenyan Run2gether On Trail trio of Richard Omaya Atuya, Philemon Ombogo Kiriago and Ephantus Mwangi Njeri striking out from the start in the men’s race. They arrived at the Canarios aid station at 7.5 kilometres just 15 seconds apart. By this point the runners had climbed 700 metres in just 35 minutes. Behind the leading trio Anthony Felber (FRA Brooks) led the chase, 2.30 minutes behind, with Linus Hultegard (SWE Craft) and Tyler McCandless (USA).
It also remained very close in the early stages in the women’s race, with one of this year’s World Cup breakout stars, Ruth Mwihaki Gitonga (KEN Run2gether On Trail) taking an early lead. But initially she couldn’t shake Kirsty Skye Dickson (GBR Carnethy Hill Runners), who took a brilliant second place in the Uphill race on Thursday, and Joyce Muthoni Njeri (KEN NNormal), winner of the Uphill, as all three passed through the Canarios timing point within 40 seconds. Benedetta Broggi (ITA La Recastello – FUGA) led the chase 1.45 behind, with local Moana Lilly Kehres Kehres (ESP CD Hilera), Sara Willhoit (GBR Rab Scarpa) and Lara Hamilton (AUS Carrerasdemontana).
The next timing point was at the highest point of the course at Las Deseadas at 1873 metres. Would it still be as close in both races here, or would that long climb have created more gaps? For the men it was Atuya who reached the summit first and it became clear that he had indeed managed to open quite a gap on Kiriago and Njeri. Kiriago reached the summit 2.24 behind him, alongside Njeri. Behind them there was a smaller gap of 1.30 to Felber and Hultergard, with a trio of Spanish runners – Guillermo Ramos Munoz (Gaikar Kirolak), Daniel Osanz Laborda (Adidas) and Alvaro Escuela Perdomo (Club Arista/Volbe Trail Team) behind them.
The climb to the summit also proved decisive in the women’s race, with Gitonga arriving three minutes before Njeru, who had now overtaken Skye Dickson and opened a gap of a minute on her. Gitonga was starting to look like she couldn’t be caught and it also looked like the podium was decided as Broggi, in fourth, was almost six minutes behind them, and Kehres Kehres and Willhoit still chasing a minute and two minutes behind, respectively. It was all going to come down to the descent.
Unfortunately in the men’s race Njeri fell and sustained an injury on a small uphill after the beginning of the descent. He was helped by runners from the marathon and had to retire.
The finale of both races delivered high drama. In the men’s race Kiriago showed his dominance on the downhill, running a perfect final section, overtaking teammate Atuya and opening the smallest of gaps. Felber also overtook Atuya and pushed Kiriago all the way to the finish at El Pilar. But Kiriago couldn’t be beaten and he won in 2.07.43, a new course record, with Felber second in 2.07.47. There was a photo finish worthy of a track race between Atuya and Hultegard for third, with the runners being awarded equal third place.
Gitonga showed similar level of dominance on the descent in the women’s race and also demonstrated what a rising star she is on the circuit, winning in 2.22.50, another new course record. Njeru maintained second place and didn’t manage to claw back time on Gitonga, finishing in 2.25.39. Skye Dickson held strong in third, finishing in 2.33.21. Kehres Kehres was two minutes behind in fourth, with Broggi another 1.30 behind in fifth. The same top five as for the Uphill race, but in a different order.
Top women
1. Ruth Mwihaki Gitonga (KEN Run2gether On Trail) – 2.22.50 (course record)
2. Joyce Muthoni Njeru (KEN NNormal) – 2.25.39
3. Kirsty Skye Dickson (GBR Carnethy Hill Runners) – 2.33.21
4. Moana Lilly Kehres Kehres (ESP C.D Hilera)
5. Benedetta Broggi (ITA La Recastello – Fuga)
Top men
1. Philemon Ombogo Kiriago (KEN Run2gether On Trail) – 2.07.43 (course record)
2. Anthony Felber (FRA Brooks) – 2.07.47
3. Richard Omaya Atuya (KEN Run2gether On Trail) – 2.08.15
3 Linus Hultegard (SWE Craft) – 2.08.15
4. Guillermo Ramos Munoz (ESP Gaikar Kirolak) – 2.10.28
11. Tyler McCandless (USA) – 2:18:45
The first three stages in the 2026 WMRA World Cup
SÃO BRÁS CROSS in Portugal hosted the first stage in the World Cup on April 19. Review the race recap here. After the opener in Europe, the World Cup headed to China. Stage two results from April 25, can be found here, while stage three results from April 26, are posted here.
Next up in the WMRA World Cup
There’s now a break for the World Cup until we switch continents again heading this time to USA for Broken Arrow with the uphill race on tap Saturday, June 20, and the 23K race on Sunday, June 22.
About the WMRA
Formed in 1984, 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 to deliver the World Mountain and Trail Running Championships, with the last event held in CanfrancPirineos Spain in 2025. The WMRA also maintains the Mountain Running World Ranking, a system of points allocated to athletes based on the results in designated races.
