This is a preview of the race – click on the names to read about brilliant wins for Kenyan pair Joyce Muthoni Njeru and Patrick Kipngeno.
After the GTWS season started in fantastic style weekend with the Kobe Trail on what was its first visit to Asia, the athletes have made the relatively short journey to China.
Just a week after Maude Mathys and Patrick Kipngeno took the wins on the technical trails around Kobe, altitude is the big challenge in the Sigunianghan Valley for the second of eight races.
The distance is 22 kilometres, with over 1,500 metres of elevation gain and some sections over 4,000 metres above sea level.
At the end of the series the top 30 men and women in the overall standings are invited to the Grand Final, which this year will be held in the Swiss region of Ascona-Locarno.
How to watch live
Despite the challenging conditions there is a livestream to watch this weekend, which is embedded below.
The action started at 12:00 local time which is 05:00BST in the UK, 06:00 in CET and 00:00 Eastern Standard.
And you can track the runners via this link.
Four Sisters Mountain Trail
start list
Check out our analysis section for the leading contenders this week.
Notable runners
Route
Starting at 3,300 metres above sea level, this is a very challenging 22km race with 1,530 metres of climbing.
And it’s a tough opening too with a continuous 7km climb, with a high point of over 4,000 metres.
Check out the 3D map below for full details.
Analysis
Maude Mathys (CHE – Asics) had told us beforehand that she didn’t think she could contend for the win last week in Japan after a long absence through injury.
But she defied those expectations in superb style with a clear-cut victory on the technical trails and has to be one of the big favourites to follow up.
Joyce Muthoni Njeru (KEN – Atletica Saluzzo) had been in charge for the first half of the race in Japan and will potentially be more at ease on this weekend’s course.
Others to watch are Sara Alonso (ESP – Asics), who was runner-up to Mathys in Japan, Miao Yao (CHN – Salomon), who will want to shine in her own country on a course that perfectly suits her racing skills while Malen Osa (ESP – Salomon) should also do well in conditions that are less extreme.
And there’s a significant addition to the women’s field in two-time World Mountain Running Champion Grayson Murphy (USA – Saucony).
On the men’s side Patrick Kipngeno (KEN – Run2gether ON AG) should be even stronger on this course as he bids to repeat last week’s victory.
Also likely to be better suited is Elhousine Elazzaoui (MAR – Nnormal) but has he fully recovered from his fall in Japan? And that’s a question which also applies to Philemon Kiriago (KEN – Run2gether ON AG).
Joey Hadorn (CHE – Salomon) took everyone by surprise in Japan by leading for a lot of the race before losing out to Kipngeno and will be looking to go one better.
And watch out for the likes of Roberto Delorenzi (CHE – Brooks), Alex Garcia (ESP – Brooks), Miquel Corbera (ESP – Brooks), Ruy Ueda (JAP – Team Ruy) and Huohua Zhang (CHN – Salomon).
Course record times
Men’s Record: 2:24:10 Zi Juwei in 2023
Women’s Record: 3:02:33 Li Ying in 2023
Past winners
Tab 2 content.
