The Golden Trail World Series (GTWS) enter a decisive stage of the season with a demanding three-race Asian block that will take the world's best trail runners to Japan, China and South Korea, the latter hosting the Grand Finale that will bring the 2026 season to a close in October.

The first stop in this crucial stretch will be Myoko Trail, the sixth race of the season, taking place in Japan on 20 September. Featuring 24.7 kilometres and 2,020 metres of elevation gain, the course winds through one of the country's most iconic mountain regions, an area deeply rooted in mountain culture and outdoor sports.

The absence of the current overall series leaders, Elhousine Elazzaoui (NNormal) and Madalina Florea (Scott), creates a wealth of opportunities for athletes looking not only to claim victory in Myoko, but also to make a move in the GTWS standings ahead of the circuit's final stretch.

In the men's race, much of the attention will be focused on the Kenyan trio from Run2Gether On Trail: Philemon Kiriago, Michael Saoli and Patrick Kipngeno, three athletes who have consistently featured among the front-runners throughout the season. Meanwhile, the women's race is guaranteed to produce a new GTWS winner. Ruth Gitonga (Run2Gether On Trail), currently third in the overall standings and one of the breakout stars of the year, will start as one of the leading contenders alongside Barbora Bukovjan (Salomon) and Marie Nivet (Nike ACG).

MYOKO TRAIL: JAPAN'S NEW MOUNTAIN CHALLENGE

The Golden Trail World Series return to Japan for the third consecutive year, this time with a brand-new venue. Myoko Trailreplaces Kobe Trail, which featured on the calendar in 2024 and 2025, bringing the competition to Niigata Prefecture in north-central Japan, just 45 minutes from Nagano, the renowned mountain city that hosted the 1998 Winter Olympic Games.

Nestled in the heart of one of Japan's most iconic mountain regions, Myoko will provide a spectacular new backdrop for a course that is as spectacular as it is demanding, featuring two climbs and two descents linked together in a layout that delivers almost uninterrupted intensity from start to finish.

The Myoko Mountain Range is part of Japan's "100 Famous Mountains", a selection created in 1964 by writer and mountaineer Kyuya Fukada, who chose one hundred peaks based on their beauty, historical significance, elevation and uniqueness. The publication of the book that gave the list its name, combined with the rise of hiking and mountaineering in Japan from the 1980s onwards, transformed these mountains into pilgrimage destinations for generations of outdoor enthusiasts. More than six decades later, Myoko will host a world-class challenge, welcoming the world's best trail runners as they attempt to conquer its slopes in pursuit of a victory that could prove decisive in the GTWS title race.

The race will start at Suginohara Ski Resort, where athletes will tackle a demanding first climb into the mountain range. After reaching the upper slopes near the summit, competitors will embark on a long and technical descent offering spectacular views of the surrounding landscape, including Lake Nojiri. This section will also host the downhill segment, a 1.4 km descent averaging -18.3%, where bonus points for the overall standings will be awarded to the five fastest athletes.

Back at the start area, runners will pass through the finish line and fan zone before beginning the next phase of the course. The short four-kilometre section linking the first descent to the second climb will feature the sprint segment, a one-kilometre stretch with an average gradient of 2.6%.

From there, the course climbs once again into the mountains for a second ascent. It is here that athletes will contest the uphill segment, a one-kilometre climb averaging 17.7%, rewarding the strongest climbers before the final descent to the finish.

With two climbs and two descents linked together with almost no opportunity for recovery, Myoko Trail embodies one of the defining characteristics of the Golden Trail World Series: intense, explosive racing from start to finish. Spectators will also be able to experience the action up close thanks to the two passages through the start-finish area, as well as the gondola system that provides access to the surroundings of the first summit and some of the most decisive sections of the course.

A GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY IN THE TITLE RACE

The absence of the overall series leaders, Elhousine Elazzaoui (NNormal) and Madalina Florea (Scott), throws the battle for both race victories and the Golden Trail World Series lead wide open. With two consecutive races remaining before the Grand Finale, every point could prove decisive.

In the men's race, much of the spotlight will fall on the Kenyan trio from Run2Gether On Trail: Philemon Kiriago, Michael Saoli and Patrick Kipngeno, three athletes who have shown they can contend for victory on any terrain.

Kiriago arrives at Myoko Trail in outstanding form after claiming his third victory at Sierre-Zinal (Switzerland). Another win in Japan would place him in a strong position to challenge for the overall lead. In fact, even without taking victory, the Kenyan could significantly reduce the gap to Elazzaoui, or even overtake him, depending on the number of points he is able to collect in the segments.

Michael Saoli, currently third in the overall standings, is also one to watch. The Kenyan has already secured three podium finishes this season, including second place at Salomon Pitz Alpine Glacier Trail and third-place finishes at Ledro Sky Trentino and Sierre-Zinal. That consistency has kept him firmly in contention for the series title.

Also in the mix is Patrick Kipngeno, who has a special connection with Japan. It was here that he claimed his first GTWS victory in 2024, before returning to win the opening race of the 2025 season, making Japan one of his most successful hunting grounds.