In just over one month’s time, the next generation of international mountain running talent will arrive on the southern edge of Italy, where limestone cliffs plunge towards the Adriatic Sea and narrow technical trails cut through Mediterranean vegetation. The 2026 U18 International Mountain Running Cup returns to the iconic Trofeo Ciolo in Gagliano del Capo, bringing one of the world’s most important international mountain running events for young athletes back to one of the sport’s most distinctive venues.

Nine years after its first appearance in Ciolo in 2017, the event returns to a course and an organisation that have become deeply connected to the international identity of mountain running. That edition remains particularly memorable for another reason: it marked the first major international victory of Nadia Battocletti, who would later become Olympic silver medallist at Paris 2024 and a World Championships medallist on the global stage.

Now, in 2026, another generation arrives in Salento hoping to begin its own international journey.

The fourth stage of the 2026 WMRA Mountain Running World Cup kicked off on Thursday evening as competitors gathered on the island of La Palma for the Uphill race at Transvulcania, the latest instalment of the competition on one of the sport's most demanding but most beautiful circuits.

La Palma, widely regarded as the steepest island in the world, provided an uncompromising backdrop for the competition. A high-calibre elite field took to the start line in the Port of Tazacorte for a 7.3-kilometre course demanding 1,200 metres of vertical ascent.

Following an impressive double header in Beijing Changping, the 2026 WMRA Mountain Running World Cup now turns its attention to Europe, with the competition's next chapter set to unfold on the island of La Palma in the Canary Islands. The venue is Transvulcania - set against a backdrop of volcanic ridgelines and ancient lava fields. Making its World Cup debut this year, the event will host two races: an uphill race and the first long distance contest of the 2026 season. La Palma is said to be the steepest island in the world, making it a perfect host for mountain running events.

The 2026 WMRA Mountain Running World Cup produced another memorable day of racing in Beijing Changping, where the season’s third event took athletes to the historic Silver Pagoda Forest for the Classic Up & Down, World Cup category powered by Turismo Centro de Portugal

Surrounded by ancient Buddhist pagodas, forest trails and steep mountain slopes, the venue offered a completely different challenge from the previous day’s race on the Great Wall. The Silver Pagoda Forest, also known as Yinshan Pagoda Forest, is one of northern China’s most important Buddhist heritage sites. Its pagodas were built across several dynasties, with many dating from the Jin Dynasty (1115–1234) and later additions from the Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties, making parts of the site more than 800 years old.

Supported by the Beijing Changping District Government, the event once again welcomed runners from across the world to compete in a place where sport, history and nature met in rare fashion.

Castro Daire, Central Portugal — 19 April 2026

The 2026 Mountain Running World Cup season got underway in spectacular fashion, with São Brás Cross in Central Portugal providing a worthy and atmospheric curtain-raiser. This year's World Cup competition is the most ambitious yet, spanning four continents and ten countries across 16 races - a global showcase that balances beloved calendar staples such as Sierre-Zinal and the Grossglockner Mountain Run with fresh venues designed to showcase exciting new venues and landscapes.