Author: Tomo Sarf

The official clock counting the countdown was erected today by the organizing committee and its partners. From June 6 to 10, Innsbruck and Stubai, the two hosting regions, will turn into a mountain- and trail running Mecca, and welcome more than 1,400 participants.

We have 111 days to go until the World Championships, reason enough to unveil the official countdown clock that has been erected in Innsbruck’s Maria-Theresien-Straße. “Tyrol is ready for this major event and we are looking forward to hosting these prestigious World Championships. I am certain that the images that are going to be broadcast all over the world will once again highlight the qualities Tyrol has to offer. We are expecting to welcome around 60 nations, from New Zealand to Hong Kong and Kenya, to Argentina and Chile and many more,” says Anton Mattle, governor of Tyrol.

The clock will remain a part of the cityscape. “It will draw the attention of visitors of one of Austria’s most frequented streets, Maria-Theresien-Straße, to the fact that the World Mountain and Trail Running Championships will be held in Innsbruck and Stubai in June. I think it is important to incorporate the local population, to make them aware that these WC will be held on their home turf, and let them simmer with excitement,” says Georg Dornauer, deputy governor and in charge of sports-related topics.

Georg Willi, Mayor of Innsbruck, is looking forward to the event: “As a sports destination, Innsbruck offers all the perfect conditions for these World Championships. We do not need to build any artificial facilities – much better, we can use our spectacular natural setting. The fact that more than 1,200 athletes have already confirmed their participation just goes to show that the event will be a real highlight, with the countdown clock in the heart of Innsbruck drumming up the local population’s interest for trail running.”

Elisabeth Mayr, municipal council in charge of sports for the city of Innsbruck, is certain that the region is the perfect choice for hosting the World Championships. “The World Mountain and Trail Running Championships blend perfectly into the range of major sports events and are a natural fit for Innsbruck as a sports destination. You just need to take a look at the routes leading up to the Nordkette or the Elfer as well as along the peaks of the Kalkkögel to realize that the region is made for such an event.”

Alexander Pittl, head of the 2023 WMTRC’s organizing committee, is certain that the two host regions will profit from the event in the long run: “You will be hard pressed to find better conditions for trail and mountain running than the ones we have here, offering a first-hand experience to both athletes and fans – be it along the routes, at the Expo or any of the other fringe events .”

“The combination of alpine and urban flair is one of the main factors contributing to truly special World Championships. With its proximity to alpine terrain, Innsbruck is ideally suited to turn the 2023 WMTRC into a unique experience for athletes, sports enthusiasts and visitors alike,” stresses Peter Paul Mölk, chairman of the Innsbruck Tourist Board.

The World Championships are highly anticipated not only in Innsbruck, but also in Stubai: “We are advertising the Stubai region as the number-one hiking destination in the Alps. The World Mountain and Trail Running Championships give us the opportunity to demonstrate our competence in this area,” says Adrian Siller, chairman of the Stubai Tirol Tourism Board.

Another person to highlight the perfect fit of the WC and Tyrol is Rosanna Buchauer, a German athlete living in Tyrol and working for the regional tourism marketing agency, Tirol Werbung: “In 111 days, we will have the opportunity to present Tyrol in all its diversity and to shine a light on our alpine landscape. Mountain sports and major sports events are part of our DNA, and it fills me with joy to think that the WC will allow us to demonstrate our relevant competence once again.”

Heike Kiesling, CEO at Innsbruck Marketing, regards the World Mountain and Trail Running Championships as the perfect translation of an alpine-urban zest for life as well as Innsbruck’s identity. The countdown clock serves as reminder for the unique event, drawing the attention of local residents and visitors alike: “Thanks to a varied fringe program, the WC with its alpine and athletic flair will also serve as a stimulus and an asset for the city, and in 111 days, residents, athletes and visitors will be able to see the action unfolding.”

Further information regarding the 2023 WMTRC can be found on the official website as well as on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.

The World Mountain and Trail Running Championships 2023 will be hosted in Innsbruck-Stubai from June 6 to 10 with an expected number of around 1,400 participants from 60 nations. The Innsbruck Alpine Trailrun Festival (IATF) will be held in the lead-up to the event, from June 1 to 4.

Photos: WMTRC 2023 / Oss

As of February 6^th, 58 nations have confirmed their participation in the WTRC, to be staged in early June, much to the delight of the Georg Dornauer, person in charge of sports-related topics in the Tyrolean government, and Alexander Pittl, head of the organizing committee.

The World Mountain and Trail Running Championships (WMTRC), which are set to take place in Innsbruck and Stubai from June 6 to 10, are causing a global stir. Four months prior to the title races, 58 national associations have already signed up, equalling more than 1,200 athletes and an additional 200 coaching staff to be expected in Tyrol.

So far, with a total of 61 members, Italy is likely to send the biggest delegation. Austria’s southern neighbor is planning on exploiting the full potential of 48 athletes for the ten contests. Other nations with large contingents are Argentina (58), Spain (55), France (51) and the US (50).

“It is great to see that the name ‘Tyrol’ is known the world over and bears a weight,” says Georg Dornauer, deputy governor of Tyrol, and at the same time person in charge of sports-related topics. “Anyone coming to Tyrol knows that they can expect an event of the highest level and comfort.

Personally, I am looking forward to the WC – the event will allow Tyrol to prove its extensive competence in terms of sports, events and the hotel industry. And the local population will be able to enjoy the world’s best athletes competing in a running discipline that keeps gaining in importance.”

Alexander Pittl, head of the organizational committee adds: “We based our plans and strategy on the expectation of welcoming around 60 nations, and we will likely reach and surpass this number. I am even more delighted about the fact that we will indeed be welcoming the entire world – we are expecting teams from New Zealand, Australia and Hong Kong as well as from South Africa, Kenya, Uganda, Argentina, Chile and Mexico – let alone the European nations, where almost every country from Iceland to the Ukraine to Malta is represented.”

The final number of participants will only be definite in early May. Until then, the organizing committee and the international associations – World Athletics (WA), International Trail Running Association (ITRA), World Mountain Running Association (WMRA) and International Association of Ultrarunners (IAU) – are hoping to accept the applications of many more national associations.

Photos: WMTRC 2021 Chiang Mai and WMTRC 2023/Roast Media

The World Mountain Running Association is seeking a new Media Manager for its web and social media operations.

The Media Manager role encompasses all areas of the WMRA’s activities, including the Valsir World Cup, World Mountain and Trail Running Champs, World Master’s Championships and the International Under 18 Mountain Running Cup.

The full job description can be found here.

Interested candidates should send an application and CV can be sent to WMRA President Tomo Šarf: [email protected]. These should be submitted no later than 20th February.

The event, the 16th edition, will take place on 26-27th of May in Annecy, France as part of the Maxi-Race.

National federations have received their invitations to this year’s 16th edition of the International Under 18 Mountain Running Cup.

Incorporated into the Maxi-Race program, this year’s event features a 4.6km single loop course through forests and meadows at the Semnoz mountain resort, while the opening and closing ceremonies will take place on the lakefront in Annecy itself.

Further details of the course, as well as the event timetable and information on transport and accommodation, can be found on the event website.

The Team Manual can be viewed here and the regulations here.

The 2022 edition of the IU18MRC saw athletes from 11 countries racing in the hills around Saluzzo, Italy. There was individual gold for Alyssa Sauro of USA and Maciej Lachowsky of Poland, while England and Italy claimed girls and boys team gold. Find the full story here.

Photos – Marco Gulberti.

The Preliminary Entry Form must be submitted by 31st January.

Prelimary Entry Forms for the 2nd World Mountain and Trail Running Championship in Innsbruck-Stubai, detailing the size of the delegation that each federation intends to send to the championship, must be submitted no later than Tuesday 31st January. 

The form can be downloaded here.

Federations will then have until 28th April to submit their Final Entry Forms.

The full General Information Sheet for the Championship can be found on the event website, here.

We look forward to welcoming you all to the Alps!

 Photo: Roast Media/WMTRC

Contract signed in Monaco sees continued collaboration on World Master Mountain Running Championship.

Representatives of the World Mountain Running Association and World Masters Athletics met in Monaco this week to sign a contract extending their co-operation in the organisation of the World Masters Mountain Running Championships until 2026.

The first WMRA championship for Masters athletes took place in Kitzbuhel, Austria in 1998, with the 2006 championship in Sauze D’Oulx, Italy the first arranged under the partnership with WMA.

The most recent WMMRC, the 21^st edition, was held in Clonmel, Ireland in September, with 677 athletes representing 25 countries racing over a net uphill course in 9 age categories from 35 to 79 years old.

Ireland Shines at World Masters Mountain Running Championships

This year’s championship will take place on the island of Madeira on 16^th and 17^th of September. It is a year of firsts; not only will this be the W.M.M.R.C.’s first trip to Portugal, it will also be the first time that it incorporates 2 races, the traditional uphill race of 9km and 800m+, and a new Long Distance race covering 32.4km and 1,160m+.

Looking further ahead, in 2024 the World Masters Mountain Running Championship will take place for the first time on Spanish soil, with the town of Canfranc in the Aragon Pyrenees hosting the 23^rd edition.

The WMRA invites applications from races wishing to be Associate Member events in 2023.

What does becoming an Associate Member race provide?

• Featured on the WMRA World Ranking Website (Upcoming events).
• Listed on the main events calendar on the WMRA website.
• Link from WMRA calendar page to the Race homepage.
• News items uploaded on the WMRA page before and after the race event (where information is provided to the WMRA by the race organiser).
• 2 to 6 social media articles about your race on the WMRA channels (where information is provided to the WMRA by the race organiser) + post sharing.
• Use of WMRA Associate member logo and Mountain Running World Ranking logo.

Application forms can be found here.

Photo: Trofeo Vanoni, WMRA Associate Member Race 2022

The Sierre-Zinal committee is informed today of the provisional suspension of 2022 winner Esther Chesang. 

From the Sierre-Zinal Committee.

The provisional suspension dates from May 11th, 2022 while the information is officially published by the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya at the start of 2023!

As a reminder, Esther Chesang, winner of Sierre-Zinal 2022, was tested by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) on arrival at Sierre-Zinal, August 13th, 2022, and her negative result was confirmed by the Athletics Integrity Unit in October 2022.

The final Women’s ranking for the 2022 edition is therefore suspended, pending the conclusions of the ongoing disciplinary proceedings.

As a reminder, Sierre-Zinal has been fighting for several years against all forms of doping by systematically mandating anti-doping controls (WADA) for the Runners category. As part of the Golden Trail World Series, Sierre-Zinal also applies the Quartz program aimed at preserving the health of athletes.

The Sierre-Zinal committee also wishes to point out the lack of transparency on the part of Kenya’s anti-doping agency. For the sake of the fight against doping, they deplores the delay in communication from the Kenyan agency, which they describes as unfair and intolerable.

Sierre-Zinal is the heart before the clock

This is why the race management is committed to a clean race, out of respect for the thousands of participants who have made Sierre-Zinal, for 49 years, a world reference race.

Sierre-Zinal will continue to be the event that brings together all levels of athletes by defending the deep values ??of sport: fairness, surpassing oneself, discipline and respect.

Receive our best sports greetings.

Photo by Marco Gulberti.

Preparations for the 2023 World Mountain and Trail Running Championships are in Full Swing.

With the turn of the year, the World Mountain and Trail Running Championships in Innsbruck-Stubai (WMTRC) come closer and closer. Preparations are in full swing, as it can be seen from the recently relaunched website.

At the beginning of June 2023, Innsbruck-Stubai will become the centre of trail running and mountain running. “Preparations for the World Championships have been in full swing for months and the turn of the year marked the start of a very intensive but also exciting phase in the run-up to this major event”, emphasises Alexander Pittl, CEO of the Local Organizing Committee.

Relaunch of the WMTRC 2023 Website

The goals for the World Championships in Tyrol are ambitious. Accordingly, the official website has been revised and now presents itself in a new design. Athletes as well as sports enthusiasts will find all important information about this major sports event of 2023. The website provides an insight into the preliminary programme of the World Championships, presents the partner regions Tyrol, Innsbruck and Stubai and shows the four planned courses of the World Championships events. Maps, route profiles and important information on length, altitude and trail conditions are available.

“On challenging and World Championships-worthy routes in the Kalkkögeln, at the foot of the Elfer peak with a view of the Stubai Glacier and on the Nordkette, the athletes will fight for medals. The symbiosis of urban charm and nature experience in combination with a sustainable sport event rise the anticipation for the World Championships,” says Pittl.

IATF as a prelude to the World Championships

The WMTRC 2023 Innsbruck-Stubai are the highlight and conclusion of a ten-day mountain and sports festival, which will be launched on 1 June with the 8th Innsbruck Alpine Trailrun Festival (IATF). Within just a few years, the IATF has become the largest trail running event in Austria and the third largest in the DACH Region. 5,000 athletes and just as many accompanying persons from over 60 nations are expected in the run-up to the World Championships and, depending on the routes, can already compete on the World Championships trails. An attractive, top-class supporting programme and a great expo will also encourage sports enthusiasts to stay and watch the World Championships.

Further information on the WMTRC Innsbruck-Stubai 2023:
www.innsbruck-stubai2023.com
www.innsbruck-alpine.at

Photos: Roast Media/WMTRC

From the WMRA to mountain runners everywhere!

See you in the mountains!