Africa-Press – Kenya. The 2026 Golden Trail World Series calendar has been unveiled, with Kenyan mountain runners once again tipped to dominate the global circuit. The series will span three continents and eight countries between May and October, featuring three new venues and visits to two countries for the first time.
Organisers have also announced an increase in prize money for the new season. Kenya enjoyed a strong showing last year, with four runners finishing in the top 10 overall.
Two-time world mountain running champion Patrick Kipng’eno finished second with 953 points. Reigning world champion Philemon Kiriago placed third with 892 points, while Michael Saoli finished fifth with 785 points.
World bronze medallist Paul Machoka was 10th with 671 points. In the women’s standings, Joyce Njeru was the only Kenyan in the top 10, finishing fifth with 836 points.
Valentine Ruto placed 18th with 549 points. Ruto said she is already preparing for the season and will combine the circuit with other competitions. “The GTWS Series is well spaced.
I will start my season with the World Cup, then GTWS races. I trained in Kisii for two weeks. For now, I have been training in Ngong in readiness for the upcoming races,” she said.
Kiriago and Saoli have also set their sights on improving their performances from last season. The 2026 campaign will begin on May 17 at the Zegama-Aizkorri in Spain. The second race will be the Ledro Sky Trentino, a demanding and highly technical course that hosted the 2025 Grand Finale.
The series will then head to Canada for the first time on July 5 for the Quebec Mega Trail, before returning to Europe for the Salomon Pitz Alpine Glacier Trail on August 1.
The historic Sierre-Zinal, the only race to feature in every GTWS season, will be held on August 8. The Asian leg will start on September 20 at the Myoko Trail, followed by the Jinshanling Great Wall Trail Race on September 27.
The season will conclude in South Korea with the Muju Trail Grand Finale on October 24 for women and October 25 for men, bringing together the top 30 athletes in the overall rankings.
