The elites of mountain and trail races motivated by the world championships

Racing information Runners

The greatest males and girls from round the world will compete in the very first version of the Combined Mountain Running and Trail Running World Championships
The quantity of “prize money” testifies to the progress and recognition of trail and mountain working.

From November 11 to 14, 2021, the first Mountain and Trail Running World Championships will happen in Chiang Mai, Thailand, to find out the girls’s and males’s world champions – READ HERE.

$ 66,000 in prize cash in 2021

” The beauty of running is that it can be done by anyone, anywhere. Mountain and trail running are a perfect example. At World Athletics, we are delighted to support this important milestone for mountain and trail running enthusiasts to set up combined World Championships.

This event, which will bring together runners from all continents in a spirit of benevolence and competition, is an important step in the growth and recognition of this exciting discipline.“Said the president of World Athletics, Sebastian coe, a four-time Olympic medalist in his personal working profession, together with gold medals in the 1,500-meter at the 1980 and 1984 Olympics.

Another first, the introduction of “prize money” for the prime 5 males and girls in every occasion, reveals the progress and recognition of mountain working and trail working. The International Trail Running Association (ITRA) famous regular annual progress of round 12% in trail working and predicts a progress spike after the pandemic.

“A childhood dream that cannot be bought” : Nicolas Martin

The reigning Women’s World Champion Blandine L’Hirondel, retains motivation intact and might be one of the candidates for the double:

“I can’t imagine a sporting year without the Worlds, I entered the trail world through this door and the France team and the world championships will remain my main objective in 2021. Wearing the jersey remains a big motivation, For me that represents the high level and this objective for the month of November is also spiced up by the fact of going to Thailand, a country that I do not know ”.

Nicolas martin, Vice-World Champion 2016 and 5^th in 2019 nonetheless has shining eyes: “Representing my country has always been a childhood dream. It’s universal in all sports, you can’t buy it! Taking part in the worlds has often been a priority in my career choices. I had my first selection in 2013 and I regret that a decade later, it is still necessary to make choices for the athletes. That the worlds have not become the unmissable event for all elite athletes.
This year, it will still be necessary to make an arbitration between world trail running and GTWS for example. We know in advance that the level will be diluted on these 2 events. I believe that our sport loses credibility with this lack of readability. Will we all come together one day to create a readable calendar with protected dates like in cycling for example? With world events every 2 years, it seems possible to me to find a date that will allow the best athletes to meet on this event while leaving space for the historic races of our sport.
If I am called to represent my country, I will do my best to defend the colors of France ”.

The world champion of Skyrunning and triple world champion of Trail, Luis Alberto Hernando, provides: ” I am looking forward to the ideae of the World Championships in November, which will bring together the best trail and mountain runners in the world. I would like this to be ‘the race of the year’ and, like all World Championships in other sports, to be the race that all runners want to participate in.. “

Ragna Debates, 2018 Trail World Champion and Skyrunning European Champion provides: “ I can not wait to take part in the World Championships this 12 months. My victory in 2018 at the Penyagolosa Trails (Spain) is the most treasured achievement of my working profession. I anticipate the greatest athletes in the world to take part in the numerous races being at their greatest! I hope to search out myself amongst them to combat for the victory!“.

” The opportunities to compete against the best are limited. These world championships are a rare chance to run side-by-side to determine the defending champions” , commented Hayden hawks, an elite American athlete, in the prime 5 of the ITRA World Ranking The multi-day World Championships will function quick and lengthy trail runs, one vertical kilometer and basic mountain races, open to seniors in addition to juniors.

” The trail community and the mountain racing community are very united and share the same fundamental values ​​throughout the world: integrity, humility, fair play, respect and solidarity.” , Express Bob crowley, president of International Trail Running Association (ITRA). ” The reality that everybody comes collectively as one world neighborhood in Thailand in November could be very telling. The greatest athletes in the world accompanied by tens of 1000’s of runners and households from all continents; a comeback celebrated by all ”.

Located 700 km north of Bangkok, on the banks of the Ping River, Chiang Mai is a perfect setting to host the inauguration of the World Championships, because of its mountainous surroundings, its rising fame for sporting occasions of mass in the open air and its massive capability to accommodate the many members, supporters and households anticipated.

The elite Spanish runner, Pau Capell added : ” Starting a single world championship with different distances is the best way to showcase the most competitive runners. If all goes well there will be an impact in terms of media and federations, which ultimately is what we are looking for as elite athletes. He pursues : ” I hope to compete in Thailand, the place I’ve by no means been and what higher expertise than to finish a 12 months with the world championships? “

Rachel Drake, excessive stage athlete in mountain working and candidate for the American Olympic marathon, (IP ITRA 779) mentioned : ” The opportunity to bring the mountain and trail running world championships together and reconnect with the global trail running community is what we have all been waiting for, especially after the pandemic. I can’t wait for this to happen! “

In addition to attracting the greatest trail and mountain runners, runners of all ranges can have the alternative to compete on the similar programs. Exhibitions, seminars, coaching, movie premieres and extra will delight members and spectators. The collaboration of World Athletics (WA), of the World Mountain Running Association (WMRA), the International Trail Running Association (ITRA) and the International Association of Ultrarunning (IAU) gives athletes, manufacturers, athletic associations, media and followers of the sport a must-see occasion in the world calendar of this rising sport.

By Fred Bousseau with the collaboration of ITRA – © Fred Bousseau