18th International U18 Mountain Running Cup Slovakia 2025. Photo © WMRA – Marco Gulberti

A first international step for the champions of tomorrow

The International U18 Mountain Running Cup has long been recognised as a key development platform for young mountain runners. For many athletes, it represents their first opportunity to wear the national team colours and compete against the best runners of their age from around the world.

Over the years, numerous athletes who first appeared at the U18 Cup have gone on to become World Cup winners, World Championship medallists and leading figures in mountain and trail running, making the competition a true gateway to the sport’s highest levels.

18th International U18 Mountain Running Cup Slovakia 2025. Photo © WMRA – Marco Gulberti

Building on recent successful editions

The 2026 event follows two strong recent editions that have helped reinforce the International U18 Mountain Running Cup as a key meeting point for the world’s most promising young mountain runners.

In Palencia, Spain, the competition brought together emerging athletes from a wide range of countries, highlighting the continued growth of youth mountain running and the increasing level of competition among national development programmes.

The following edition in Donovaly, Slovakia, offered another memorable chapter in the history of the event. Set in the spectacular Low Tatras mountains, the championship tested young athletes on a demanding mountain course and produced exciting racing across both categories. Athletes from numerous nations competed closely throughout the event, underlining how widely the sport is developing among the next generation of mountain runners.

The Donovaly races also showcased the diversity of talent emerging in mountain running, with strong performances across both the individual and team classifications. For many competitors, the event represented their first experience racing internationally in national colours — an opportunity that often marks the beginning of a pathway toward future success in senior mountain and trail running.

With each new edition, the International U18 Mountain Running Cup continues to strengthen the global mountain running community. It provides young athletes with the chance not only to compete at a high level, but also to meet peers from around the world, exchange experiences and build friendships that reflect the unique spirit of the sport.

Gagliano del Capo: a spectacular Mediterranean setting

The 2026 International U18 Mountain Running Cup will take place in Gagliano del Capo, a small town in the province of Lecce in southern Italy, located at the southern end of the Salento peninsula. Surrounded by rolling hills that descend towards the Adriatic Sea, the area offers a striking mix of Mediterranean landscapes, limestone cliffs and coastal scenery, providing a unique backdrop for international mountain running.

Part of the surrounding territory lies within the Otranto–Santa Maria di Leuca and Tricase Coast and Forest Regional Natural Park, a protected area known for its rugged coastline, caves and rich biodiversity, making it one of the most distinctive natural environments in the region.

The championship races will be staged in the spectacular Ciolo area, where athletes will compete on a 4.6 km loop course featuring 191 metres of ascent and descent. The route combines a variety of surfaces — including mountain paths, dirt roads, grassy sections and short stretches of asphalt — creating a dynamic course that reflects the diverse terrain of mountain running. Both start and finish will be located in the same area, offering spectators an excellent view of the action as the world’s best young mountain runners battle for the titles.

Tito Tiberti, WMRA Secretary and Race Director of the event, added:
“Bringing young runners from all over the world in the WMRA International U18 Mountain Running Cup means moving athletics from the track to the trail for a while: hosting girls and boys running in environmentally stunning scenarios means investing in their athletics journey and supporting them developing both the values of sport and their love for mountains. In Gagliano del Capo everything is going to be unique and inspirational: true mountain trails on cliffs at the seaside, our young future champions fairly competing, either younger competitors or master athletes gathered at Trofeo Ciolo showing strength, ability and passion.”

Race programme

The 19th International U18 Mountain Running Cup will take place across a full competition weekend in Gagliano del Capo, bringing together young athletes and national teams from around the world.

Friday 19 June 2026
Arrival of the delegations, transfer to Gagliano del Capo, hotel accommodation and accreditation
09:30 – 11:30 Training at the competition venue / on the course
17:30 – 18:30 Training at the competition venue / on the course

Saturday 20 June 2026
Arrival of delegations, transfer to Gagliano del Capo, hotel accommodation and accreditation
09:30 – 11:30 Course inspection
16:30 Technical Meeting
18:00 Opening Ceremony
20:00 Welcome Dinner

Sunday 21 June 2026
08:30 Mass Race (Trofeo Ciolo)
10:00 National U16 Trophy races
11:00 U18 Girls race
11:30 U18 Boys race
12:15 Medal Ceremonies
20:00 Closing Ceremony and Party

Monday 22 June 2026
Departure of the delegations

Event website: https://atleticacapodileuca.it/19-international-u18mountain-running-cup/