Alongside the sporting development of the circuit, the World Mountain Running Association has maintained a strong commitment to fair and clean competition. Already 100 anti-doping tests have been carried out across the World Cup season, reinforcing the importance of integrity, athlete protection and fair sport as the competition continues to grow internationally.

What a fitting place Quebec is to conclude this year’s competition. It’s a new country for the World Cup and it’s currently in peak, spectacular fall season. It will host a double header with our final uphill race on Saturday 10th October and then the final classic up and down race on Sunday 11th. These races will decide not only the uphill and classic categories of the World Cup but also, of course, the ultimate winners of the 2026 competition.

CURRENT WORLD CUP STANDINGS

The overall World Cup battles add another layer of intrigue to the Finals. Nine of the top ten women in the World Cup are on the start list for Defi Des Couleurs. While the top two places seem set, with Ruth Gitonga (KEN) on 384 points and Joyce Muthoni Njeru (KEN) with 310 points practically unreachable due to their dominance of this year’s racing, the competition for third place is very much on. Four women - Kirsty Skye Dickson (GBR), Benedetta Broggi (ITA), Miriam Chepkirui (KEN) and Arianna Dentis (ITA) - are separated by just 41 points. With two races over the weekend and so many of the main protagonists taking part, the women’s World Cup looks very exciting. 

In the men’s competition seven of the top ten in the overall classification are on the start list. As in the women’s competition, the dominance of Philemon Kiriago (KEN) with 304 points and Richard Atuya (KEN), just 14 points behind, gives them a big buffer in the top two positions, but as Atuya is not starting he cannot overhaul Kiriago, but he could be overtaken by both Michael Saoli (KEN) and Patrick Kipngeno (KEN), who are both on the start list. So while the winner looks extremely likely to be Kiriago, the other two places on the overall podium are there to play for. 

However, the final outcome could be significantly influenced by travel issues affecting the Run2gether On Trail athletes (Gitonga, Kiriago, Saoli, Kipngeno, Njeri and Kariuki). At the time of publication, several of them have not yet secured the visas required to travel, meaning their participation in the final races remains uncertain. Should they be unable to compete, the shape of the overall standings could change considerably in the decisive stages of the season.

DEFI DES COULEURS

Now in its 13th edition, Defi des Couleurs is a well-established event in Canada, taking place in Mont-Sainte-Anne, Québec. Amongst their full event programme are two races that make their debut in the World Cup this year: the MSA Vertical and the MSA Classic Up and Down.

The Vertical race of 5km with 800m of ascent starts in front of the magnificent Jean Larose Falls, before heading to the base of the Mont-Sainte-Anne resort. From there the runners begin their climb - a 3.2 km ascent with breathtaking views all around. Runners will be fully immersed in the vibrant autumn colours on the south side of Mont-Sainte-Anne and from the finish at the summit they will be able to admire the full landscape, stretching from the Château Frontenac to the Île d'Orléans, all framed by the St. Lawrence River.  

The classic race of approximately 11km with 800m of ascent starts at the base of Mont-Sainte-Anne, and the runners will tackle three climbs and descents. Your first ascent will take them halfway up the mountain via "La Pichard"- a steady, runnable climb that serves as a warm-up. Next, they will climb via "Le Corridor," a wide, mostly flat trail that cuts across the mountain, before descending to "L’Escarpée," where a grueling singletrack climb through the woods will be the day's main challenge. Runners will emerge onto "La Crête" (The Ridge), the most iconic section of Mont-Sainte-Anne which will reward them with a panoramic view. 

They then follow a singletrack leading to "L’Anore," which leads the runners on a gradual descent to the bottom of the North Face - a wilder, less-traveled area of ​​the mountain. From there, they will see the day's final climb, "La Paradeuse," known for its steep, direct route. And once at the summit, the runners will descend via "La Pichard" to the finish line.

THE WOMEN’S FIELD

Ruth Mwihaki Gitonga (KEN) is leading the women’s World Cup, with wins in every classic race she has started (Sāo Brás Cross, Grossglockner and Vauban). She may be beatable in uphill races, but still tends to podium. Joyce Muthoni Njeru (KEN) is currently lying second in the women’s competition and has had another impressive year with podium finishes at every race she has started apart from Vertical and Trofeo Nasego, where she narrowly missed the top spots. Her consistency, not just this year but every year, is really noteworthy. 

Kirsty Skye Dickson (GBR) has been a rising star of this year’s World Cup, with podiums in Transvulcania (both races), Vauban and Vertical Nasego. And she is strong across all three formats, so we can expect to see her challenging here. 

Nina Engelhard (GER), 2025 Uphill World Champion, missed much of this year’s World Cup with injury but when she did enter the competition it was with a bang! She won Vertical Nasego and was a close second to Gitonga at Trofeo Nasego. She could certainly be a candidate to win both races this weekend and although she won’t have the points to compete in the overall World Cup, she has the potential to affect the competition in terms of the big points.

Benedetta Broggi (ITA) is another runner who has had a very consistent World Cup, narrowly missing podiums but making top tens in all, and this persistence has paid off in the form of lying fourth in the women’s competition.  Similarly Gloria Chebet (KEN) has had another strong and consistent year with podiums at Grossglockner and Vauban. She has the potential to improve on her current seventh position in the overall standings. Arianna Dentis (ITA) has gained in confidence as the World Cup has progressed this year, culminating in a win at Rollercoaster 21 in Poland. 

Miriam Chepkirui (KEN) is one of the youngest women in the World Cup and is currently in fifth place overall. She has been remarkably consistent, making podiums at Vauban and Trofeo Nasego and will be one to watch here and for many more World Cups to come. Another young runner, Nelie Clement (FRA) was third in Sao Bras and strong runs in the USA at Broken Arrow and is one to watch. 

Canadian Elisa Morin could definitely be in the mix here. She was the national champion in both the uphill and up and down in 2025, she finished in the top ten in the World Championships and she has a string of impressive race performances. Fellow Canadian Valerie Arsenault will also be one to watch. 

Others to watch include Christel Dewalle (FRA, who is always a danger in uphill races as a vertical specialist and Nadia Izquierdo Salazar (MEX), the 2024 national champion in the 10,000m who took 3rd in the Mexican Uphill Championship in 2025 and also had a good run at Trofeo Vanoni that year.

THE MEN’S FIELD

The reigning men’s World Cup champion, Philemon Ombogo Kiriago (KEN), looks set to defend his title, with wins at Transvulcania, Broken Arrow, Sierre Zinal and Trofeo Nasego. But how hungry will he be to compete here, knowing that it’s in the bag, especially in the face of such tough competition? 

Michael Selelo Saoli (KEN) sits in third in the men’s World Cup standings with another consistent season. With second placed Richard Atuya not racing here it’s possible that Saoli could overtake him, if he placed on the podium both days. Patrick Kipngeno (KEN) is currently lying in fourth place overall,, but mainly owing to the fact that he hasn’t raced as much in the competition. He is unbeaten in uphill races this year, winning at Broken Arrow and Vertical Nasego. Can he extend this streak to include the uphill race here? 

Ephantus Mwangi Njeri (KEN) has had another strong World Cup with a win at Vauban and podiums at Grossglockner and Transvulcania. He has the potential to improve on his seventh position overall here. Elijah Kamau Karuiki (KEN) is just behind Njeri in the competition, with podiums at Grossglockner and Vauban (two), plus a strong showing at Nasego. Positions five to ten are close in the men’s competition and without Atuya and Paul Machoka (KEN) this final race could make a big difference. Andrew Douglas (GBR) is also in the mix here, having started the season with a bang as runner-up in Sao Bras and achieving strong results in Beijing Changping Yanshou Trail Challenge and Rollercoaster 21. 

Brayan Rodriguez (MEX) has had a successful first full World Cup year, with strong results at Broken Arrow and Vauban, including a second place in the uphill race. Cameron Smith (USA), who took second place at Broken Arrow Ascent, will race here, as will Remi Leroux (CAN), who we haven’t seen in World Cup but has the local advantage and has good recent form. 

Other men to watch include Italians Luca Merli, Tiziano Moia and Andrea Elia, Americans Mason Coppi and Meikael Beaudoin Rousseau, as well as Canadian Alexandre Ricard and young Brit Edward Hobbs who had a great first World Cup race at Vertical Nasego to finish seventh, taking some big scalps in the process.

THE FINAL COUNTDOWN

After crowning the long distance champions in Poland - Kiriago and Gitonga - the uphill category will be decided on Saturday and the classic category on Sunday. Then on Sunday the World Cup champions of 2026 will be announced. 

As preparations continue for the Finals, the participation of the Run2gether athletes cannot yet be confirmed due to ongoing visa difficulties. At the time of publication, the situation remains unresolved and their presence at the Finals will depend on the outcome of the visa process.

©Defi des Couleurs

IN MOUNTAIN RUNNING WE TRUST

About the WMRA:

Formed in 1984, the World Mountain Running Association is the global governing body for mountain running and has the goal of promoting mountain running for all ages and abilities.

As well as the World Cup, the WMRA organizes Masters, U18 and area championships and in partnership with the World Athletics, ITRA and IAU to deliver the World Mountain and Trail Running Championships, with the last event held in CanfrancPirineos Spain in 2025. The WMRA also maintains the Mountain Running World Ranking, a system of points allocated to athletes based on the results in designated races.