Sierre-Zinal is also known as the race of five 4000s (La Course des Cinq 4000), as the route takes competitors in sight of five peaks of over four thousand meters: Weisshorn, Zinalrothorn, Obergabelhorn, Matterhorn, and Dent Blanche.
It’s 31km long and with 2,200m of elevation gain, Sierre-Zinal is widely considered one of the world’s most coveted ultrarunning titles.
The first Sierre-Zinal took place in 1974 and over the years it has seen some prestigious winners, including Kilian Jornet (a record 10 times, with a new course record in 2024) and Maude Mathys (four times).
In addition to its individual status, the race is both a stop on the Golden Trail World Series and a Gold Label Race for the WMRA Mountain Running World Cup.
Here’s everything you need to know, including two incredible start lists…
The main elite events get under way at 11:00am on Saturday 9 August.
Live tracking for the race is available HERE.
The race will be broadcast live on Eurosport and Discovery+ in Europe, HBO Max in Europe and USA, TNT Sports in United Kingdom, Servus TV in Austria, LN24 in Belgium and Flotrack in USA.
And there’s the full YouTube embed below.
Sierre-Zinal
start list
The full start lists for both the men’s and women’s races are here – and they are incredible.
There’s no Kilian Jornet this year but there are 15 men from last year‘s top 20 and seven of last year’s top 10 women.
We reported earlier this week that the Courtney Dauwalter vs Katie Schide showddown won’t take place at UTMB this year but there’s a big consolation prize in seeing the latter here this week.
Kenyan Joyline Chepngeno defends her title after an astonishing international debut here last year. Since then she’s banked a year of experience including a win at Marathon du Mont Blanc.
And completing the quartet is four-time Swiss winner Maude Mathys.
Former Sierre-Zinal podium placers returning this year include Patrick Kipngeno, second in 2022 and 2023 and third in 2024, Joyce Muthoni Njeru, second in 2023, Philaries Kisang, third in 2023, and Madalina Florea, a memorable third last year.
And many eyes will be on Elhousine Elazzaoui, who has won so many big races but not Sierre-Zinal.
Notable runners
Route
In the heart of the Valais Alps, the 31km course tests the mettle of some of the world’s greatest trail runners.
Beginning in Sierre, runners face a steady climb in the early stages of the race as thy pass through Beauregard and Ponchette before reaching Chandolin – a climb of 1,420m to the mid-point of the race.
A further, shallower climb takes competitors through Tignousa and Hotel Weisshorn before the course peaks at Nava, which has an altitude of 2,424m.
That comes 85% of the way through the course, with the remaining 15% of the course taking athletes on a steep descent down to Zinal.
These final salvos take them to Barneuza, from which there is a final frantic 535m of descent to the finish line in Zinal.
Previous winners and course records
Kilian Jornet has dominated Sierre-Zinal in recent years, with a record 10 wins since 2009. He set a course record of 2:25:34 last year in what was a quite remarkable finish as he won by two seconds after a sprint finish against Philemon Kiriago.
Maude Mathys has the women’s record with a time of 2:46:03, set when she won the 2021 race.
Men’s winners
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- 2009 Kilian Jornet (Spain)
- 2010 Kilian Jornet (Spain)
- 2011 Marco De Gasperi (Italy)
- 2012 Marco De Gasperi (Italy)
- 2013 Marc Lauenstein (Switzerland)
- 2014 Kilian Jornet (Spain)
- 2015 Kilian Jornet (Spain)
- 2016 Petro Mamu (Eritrea)
- 2017 Kilian Jornet (Spain)
- 2018 Kilian Jornet (Spain)
- 2019 Kilian Jornet (Spain)
- 2020 Kilian Jornet (Spain)
- 2021 Kilian Jornet (Spain)
- 2022 Andreu Blanes Reig (Spain)
- 2023 Philemon Kiriago (Kenya)
- 2024 Kilian Jornet (Spain)
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- 2009 Anna Pichrtova (Czech Republic)
- 2010 Megan Lund (USA)
- 2011 Oiha Kortazar Aranzeta (Spain)
- 2012 Aline Camboulives (France)
- 2013 Italy Elisa Desco (Italy)
- 2014 Stevie Kremer (USA)
- 2015 Lucy Wambui Murigi (Kenya)
- 2016 Michelle Maier (Germany)
- 2017 Lucy Wambui Murigi (Kenya)
- 2018 Lucy Wambui Murigi (Kenya)
- 2019 Maude Mathys (Switzerland)
- 2020 Maude Mathys (Switzerland)
- 2021 Maude Mathys (Switzerland)
- 2022 Maude Mathys (Switzerland)Â NOTE: Esther Chesang (Kenya) was stripped of her title
- 2023 Sophia Luakli (USA)
- 2024 Joyline Chepngeno (KEN)
Past winners
Tab 2 content.
![Joyline Chepngeno Sierre Zinal 2024 [Photo copyright: Golden Trail World Series]](https://run247.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Joyline-Chepngeno-Sierre-Zinal-2024-912x720.jpg)
