The WMRA World Cup sequence continued in La Palma with the uphill race and extra to come back this weekend.
The fourth stage of the 2026 WMRA Mountain Operating World Cup kicked off on Thursday night as opponents gathered on the island of La Palma for the Uphill race at Transvulcania, the newest instalment of the competitors on one of many sport’s most demanding however most lovely circuits.
La Palma, extensively thought to be the steepest island on this planet, offered an uncompromising backdrop for the competitors. A high-calibre elite discipline took to the beginning line within the Port of Tazacorte for a 7.3-kilometre course demanding 1,200 metres of vertical ascent.
The opening kilometres supplied a steep begin as athletes wound their approach alongside zig zags overlooking the ocean, by way of verdant terrain alongside the GR131 long-distance climbing path within the heat night sunshine. Then there was some temporary respite within the type of a delicate street part. Nevertheless, the course’s character shifted markedly as the sector progressed past the El Time Viewpoint at 513 metres and the Hungarian Home at 624 metres. Past these landmarks, the route grew to become significantly extra hostile – rocky underfoot and unrelentingly steep – whereas descending cloud cowl introduced cooler temperatures and added an extra dimension of issue to proceedings.
Not one of the athletes had it straightforward as they battled their solution to the end line on the forest lookout tower.
NAIL-BITING UPHILL RACE
With a ladies’s discipline together with Joyce Muthoni Njeru (KEN Atletica Saluzzo), Ruth Mwihaki Gitonga (KEN Run2gether On Path), Philaries Jeruto Kisang (KEN Run2gether On Path) and Camilla Magliano (ITA Kailas Fuga), and a males’s begin line boasting Philemon Ombogo Kiriago (KEN Run2gether On Path), Richard Omaya Atuya (KEN Run2gether On Path) and Martin Nilsson (SWE), we knew this was going to be a extremely aggressive race. However with such a deep discipline, and a few athletes new to the World Cup this yr, we additionally knew that we’d in all probability see some surprises.
All of them set off at a livid tempo to make the most of the temporary stretch of flat street earlier than the climb started. The elite discipline began at one minute intervals in a time trial format, including to the drama on the end line, the place circumstances continued to deteriorate because the race went on.
The 2 runners who set an early mark have been Kirsty Skye Dickson (GBR Carnethy Hill Runners) with 55:37 and Tyler McCandless (USA) with 50:09. However they’d a nail-biting wait to see if they may hold on to their positions.
Kiriago and Atuya have had so many shut battles in World Cup uphill races, and this was no completely different. Kiriago set off final, and the chase was on. Ephantus Mwangi Njeri (KEN Run2gether On Path) took a piece off McCandless’s lead, ending in 47.39 however then Atuya reached the summit in a brand new document time of 45:01. Solely Kiriago and Nilsson may beat him however Kiriago fell quick for as soon as, making do with second place in 47:33 and Nilsson ended up in fifth place in 48:46. Anthony Felber (FRA Brooks) took a powerful fourth place in 48:20.
Within the ladies’s race it seemed as if Skye Dickson may hold on as Gitonga, one of many main threats and our winner from Sāo Brás Cross, reached the end line in 58:00. However we nonetheless had the twin menace of Njeru and Kisang out on the course. Njeru confirmed the shape we noticed within the final stage of the World Cup in Changping and took the win in 55:02, a brand new document. Skye Dickson maintained a powerful second place, Gitonga stored third, Benedetta Broggi (ITA La Recastello – Fuga Mountain Membership) was fourth in 58:30 and Moana Lilly Kehres (ESP CD Hilera) was fifth in 58:35. Kisang didn’t end.
LONG DISTANCE RACE
On Saturday it’s the primary long-distance race of the 2026 World Cup season, once more from Transvulcania. The 25-kilometre course units off at 7:30am from the island’s iconic Faro de Fuencaliente lighthouse and the end line is at Refugio de El Pilar.
Keep tuned to WMRA channels for reside protection and updates.
