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WORLD MOUNTAIN RUNNING ASSOCIATION

CHONGLI’S CLASSIC UP & DOWN COURSE
DELIVERS THRILLS UNDER SUMMER SUN

After yesterday’s muddy uphill showdown, the World Mountain Running Association (WMRA) World Cup returned to Chongli Mountain and Trailrunnng Festival at Yunding Ski Resort today for a classic 21.9 km race featuring 1,417 m of ascent and matching descent.

Under brilliant sunshine and already warm temperatures at the 7 am start, elite athletes tackled a descent immediately—before facing a steep climb of 450 m. A fast descent to the 7 km checkpoint was followed by a sustained ascent back to 2,100 m for the race’s midpoint. Runners then remained on high ground before a heart-pounding 2 km drop into the valley finish.

MEN’S RACE: SAOLI HOLDS ON FOR WIN

Kenya’s Michael Selelo Saoli and Germany’s Lukas Ehrle surged to the front on that opening incline, with Paul Machoka tagging close behind. By the 10 km mark, Saoli had asserted full control, leading Machoka and Ehrle by slim margins. Italian duo Andrea Rostan and Alberto Vender rounded out the top five in a fierce mid-race battle.

  1. Saoli Michael Selelo (KEN) – 01:38:19
  2. Machoka Paul (KEN) – 01:39:38
  3. Ehrle Lukas (GER) – 01:40:17
  4. Rostan Andrea (ITA) – 01:42:53
  5. Vender Alberto (ITA) – 01:45:39

Saoli’s well-timed push on the final climbs and controlled descent secured him the first classic-distance victory in Chongli, while Machoka and Ehrle lit up the trails with a thrilling three-way tussle for the podium.

WOMEN’S RACE: RUTTO’S MID-RACE CHARGE

In contrast to yesterday’s wire-to-wire victory, Valentine Jepkoech Rutto (KEN) let leaders Scout Adkin (GBR) and Gloria Chebet (KEN) dictate pace on the first uphill kilometre. But on the second, longer ascent, Rutto unleashed her trademark strength—surging away and never looking back.

  1. Jepkoech Rutto Valentine (KEN) – 01:55:43
  2. Adkin Scout Alexandra (GBR) – 02:01:04
  3. Chebet Gloria (KEN) – 02:04:52
  4. Twentyman Elle (GBR) – 02:05:38
  5. Troxler Simone (SUI) – 02:10:26

Rutto’s decisive move midway, combined with her smooth downhill technique, earned her a comfortable winning margin, while Adkin and Chebet held on for silver and bronze.

Full results:


Since 2017, when Sanfo Race partnered with the Chongli district government to expand summer outdoor sports in this former Winter Olympic town, trail running has exploded across China. The back-to-back World Cup stages in Chongli not only honored the area’s Olympic heritage but also cemented its status as the country’s premier mountain running destination.

The WMRA World Cup now heads to its 9th stop—but for Chongli, the summer of 2025 will be remembered as the moment China’s mountains truly claimed their place on the global mountain running map.