From 6 to 10 October 2027, Cape Town will welcome the world's best mountain and trail runners for the 2027 World Mountain and Trail Running Championships (WMTRC), a landmark event that will place Africa at the centre of the global off-road running community.

“With one year to go until the 4^th World Mountain and Trail Running Championship, it is clear that the excitement around the event continues to grow. Member Federations are planning their trials and athletes and their coaches their training for what will be stunning and competitive races set against the backdrop of Table Mountain. As event partners we have been impressed by the professionalism of the Local Organising Committee and we continue to work closely with them to deliver a successful event in October 2027”, say Sarah Rowell, Nadeem Khan and Janet Ng respective Presidents of the World Mountain Running Association, the International Association of Ultrarunners and the International Trail Running Association.

The 2026 WMRA World Cup will reach its decisive conclusion in Quebec, Canada, this weekend at Defi des Couleurs, completing its journey of 16 races across 10 countries, spanning four continents. From established mountain running destinations to new venues and communities, this year's World Cup has continued to expand its international reach while bringing together athletes from across the globe. And what a journey it’s been, providing thrilling finish line dramas like Anna Gibson (USA) overtaking Joyce Muthoni Njeru (KEN) in the last metres of Broken Arrow Ascent and a photo finish between Richard Omaya Atuya and Linus Hultegard at Transvulcania. The season has also provided a platform for a new generation of mountain running talent to emerge, with athletes such as Brayan Rodríguez (MEX), Arianna Dentis (ITA) and Ruth Gitonga (KEN) establishing themselves among the standout names of the year.

Εδώ και αρκετό καιρό, μέσα από τη συνεργασία μας με κορυφαίες παγκόσμιες διοργανώσεις, πρωταθλήματα και διεθνείς σειρές αγώνων ορεινού τρεξίματος, σας μεταφέρουμε με λεπτομέρεια τις σημαντικότερες εξελίξεις που διαμορφώνουν το άθλημα σε παγκόσμιο επίπεδο. GTWS, Skyrunning, WMRA, UTMB World Series και World Trail Majors. Διαφορετικές φιλοσοφίες, διαφορετικές αγωνιστικές προσεγγίσεις, διαφορετικά βουνά και σε μεγάλο βαθμό διαφορετικό κοινό.

Όλα αυτά συνθέτουν ένα εξαιρετικά ενδιαφέρον και πολυσύνθετο τοπίο, που γεννά ένα εύλογο ερώτημα, το οποίο θα μας απασχολήσει στα πλαίσια αυτού του editorial: Μήπως το ορεινό τρέξιμο δεν είναι πλέον απλά ένα άθλημα, αλλά έχει εξελιχθεί σε ένα ολόκληρο παγκόσμιο οικοσύστημα;

After an exciting Vertical Nasego the previous day, won by Nina Engelhard and Patrick Kipngeno, attention turned to the 25th edition of Trofeo Nasego. With many of the same athletes lining up for both races, there was little doubt that Stage 13 of this year’s World Cup would be fiercely contested.

Trofeo Nasego has steadily grown in stature over the years, becoming a regular fixture on the international mountain running calendar and playing host to both Italian Championships and World Cup races. This year’s field reflected that status, bringing together reigning and former World and European champions, World Cup winners and leaders, alongside a new generation of athletes looking to make their mark.

All eyes were on Casto as the field gathered, on another hot day, for one of the most established races on the mountain-running circuit.

Saturday, 5^th September 2026. Casto, Italy hosted the opening leg of a demanding double-header this weekend, with Vertical Nasego serving as stage 12 of the WMRA World Cup before stage 13 follows on tomorrow at Trofeo Nasego. Conditions matched the intensity of the racing, with temperatures climbing into the 30s and testing athletes across both fields.

Vertical Nasego ranks among Italy's most demanding uphill-only races, and its reputation is well earned. The 4.2km course starts gently enough, but gradient increases sharply in the closing stages - nearly half of the route's 1,000 metres of elevation gain comes in the final kilometre alone. The terrain grows steep enough that competitors are forced to use their hands for parts of the last section.