Round 3600 runners anticipated on the sixteenth version of a mountain operating occasion that options forests, volcanoes and rocky descents.
Following a powerful double header in Beijing Changping, the 2026 WMRA Mountain Operating World Cup now turns its consideration to Europe, with the competitors’s subsequent chapter set to unfold on the island of La Palma within the Canary Islands.
The venue is Transvulcania – set towards a backdrop of volcanic ridgelines and historical lava fields. Making its World Cup debut this yr, the occasion will host two races: an uphill race and the primary lengthy distance contest of the 2026 season. La Palma is alleged to be the steepest island on the earth, making it an ideal host for mountain operating occasions.
These races will represent the fourth and fifth levels of the World Cup, following the season opener at Sāo Brás Cross and the current double header in China. With the season’s early levels now full, the competitors is getting into a crucial part.
The standings are starting to take form. Numerous athletes have already established themselves close to the highest of the rankings, whereas others are solely now launching their campaigns – bringing contemporary ambition to a subject that’s rising extra aggressive with each stage.
TWO RACES, TWO TESTS
The double header will get underway on Thursday Could 7, with the uphill race scheduled for 5pm native time. Athletes will depart from the Port of Tazacorte and face an unrelenting problem – 1164 metres of climbing throughout 7.3 kilometres, with the end line ready on the Forest Tower at El Time.
The route traces the GR 131 lengthy distance mountaineering path by two early landmarks: the El Time Viewpoint at 513 metres and the Hungarian Home at 624 metres. From there, opponents briefly depart the principle path to absorb the Viewpoint of Piedra del Guanche at 750 metres, earlier than rejoining the GR 131 for the ultimate push to the forest lookout tower. Those that attain the summit shall be rewarded with sweeping views throughout the north-east of the island and the Aridane Valley.
Saturday Could 9 brings the primary long-distance race of the 2026 World Cup season. The 25-kilometre course units off at 7:30am from the island’s iconic Faro de Fuencaliente lighthouse, following the celebrated Ruta de los Volcanes earlier than concluding at Refugio de El Pilar.
The course is a race of two very distinct halves. The opening 17 kilometres current a sustained and demanding climb of 1800 metres, all the way in which to Las Deseadas — a check of endurance, persistence and energy. What follows is an eight-kilometre descent that can reward the daring and punish the reckless, with athletes in a position to make up vital floor on the way in which to the end line.
WOMEN’S FIELD
The ladies’s competitors features a stellar line-up of athletes, together with a dominant Kenyan contingent, all able to making the rostrum. Acquainted face of the World Cup, Joyce Muthoni Njeru (KEN Atletica Saluzzo) involves La Palma straight off a win final weekend within the traditional up and down race in China and can compete in each races. Ruth Mwihaki Gitonga (KEN Run2gether On Path) exploded onto the World Cup circuit with a win at Sāo Brás Cross and appears set to an actual contender on this yr’s competitors. Philaries Jeruto Kisang (KEN Run2gether On Path) begins her 2026 World Cup marketing campaign at Transvulcania and, as she confirmed on the 2023 World Championships and thru the 2024 and 2025 World Cups, she will be able to by no means be underestimated.
Camilla Magliano (ITA Kailas Fuga) leads the ladies’s World Cup rankings after three robust performances and shall be seeking to capitalise on her lead right here. Ingrid Mutter (ROM), Sara Willhoit (GBR), Lara Hamilton (AUS Path Group), Kirsty Skye Dickson (GBR Carnethy Hill Runners) and Silvia Lara (SPA Cimsalp) all participate in each races, with Martina Falchetti (ITA Sport Membership Merano) competing within the uphill race.
Jedidah Chepkemoi (KEN Run2gether On Path) is one other debutante for this yr’s World Cup, and with some current wins in half marathon highway races, it is going to be fascinating to see how she fares on the paths.
MEN’S FIELD
The lads’s races additionally boast robust fields of Kenyan athletes. Philemon Ombogo Kiriago (KEN Run2gether On Path) is our defending World Cup champion and he begins his defence right here. He’s equally at house on uphill and lengthy distance races, so Transvulcania must be supreme for him. Richard Omaya Atuya (KEN Run2gether On Path) was a really shut fourth place final yr, with 4 victories within the uphill races, and this may even be his 2026 debut within the World Cup. Ephantus Mwangi Njeri (KEN Run2gether On Path) additionally had some robust ends in the World Cup final yr and will shock folks right here.
Different males to look at embrace Martin Nilsson (SWE), who’s tipped as an athlete to look at in 2026 by his ITRA Efficiency Index development, Anthony Felber (FRA Brooks), who has achieved some nice outcomes notably on the longer distance, Tyler McCandless (USA) and a robust contingent of Spanish runners together with Manuel Anguita, Álvaro Escuela, Daniel Osanz (simply within the lengthy distance race) and Arezki Habibi.
Round 3600 runners are anticipated throughout all the races at Transvulcania, for this sixteenth version of the occasion. This small, however extremely different island has every thing for runners – forests, volcanoes, ridges and rocky descents.
Keep tuned to WMRA channels for reside protection and updates because the winners of the primary race are determined.
