The calendar for the 2022 World Mountain Running Association (WMRA) World Cup has been confirmed, with the action set to get under way on June 19.
Over the course of five months, 12 ‘Gold Label’ races will held at nine locations across six countries.
Like last season, each race falls into one of three categories; Short Uphill, Classic Mountain and Long Mountain.
As well as the overall World Cup standings, calculated from an athlete’s best six results, there will also be a classification for each category, calculated from an athlete’s best three results in that category.
Gold Label races
The 2022 World Cup begins on June 19 with a first ever visit to Portugal for Montemuro Vertical Run, a race making its first appearance on the circuit in only its second edition.
An established classic follows on July 10 with the 23rd edition of Großglockner Berglauf in Austria, before La Montée du Nid d’Aigle in France returns for a second year on July 16 after making its debut in 2021.
Next, there is a double-header at Giir di Mont in Italy – the Short Uphill race on July 30 is a new addition, before the Classic Mountain event on July 31.
The immensely popular Sierre-Zinal in Switzerland is on August 13, before two further double-headers the following month.
Vertical Nasego and Trofeo Nasego in Italy are on September 3 and 4 respectively, before Short Uphill and Classic Mountain races at Canfranc-Canfranc in Spain on September 9 and 11.
The World Cup is concluded with Zumaia Flysch Trail in Spain on October 2 – the only coastal race on this season’s calendar – and Chiavenna Lagunc in Italy on October 8, which will offer bonus points to keep the excitement coming until the final kilometre.
Full calendar:
Sunday 19 June – Montemuro Vertical Run (POR), Classic Mountain
Sunday 10 July – Großglockner Berglauf (AUS), Classic Mountain
Saturday 16 July – La Montée du Nid d’Aigle (FRA), Classic Mountain
Saturday 30 July – Giir di Mont (ITA), Short Uphill
Sunday 31 July – Giir di Mont (ITA), Classic Mountain
Saturday 13 August – Sierre-Zinal (CHE), Long Mountain
Saturday 3 September – Vertical Nasego (ITA), Short Uphill
Sunday 4 September – Trofeo Nasego (ITA), Classic Mountain
Friday 9 September – Canfranc-Canfranc (ESP), Short Uphill
Sunday 11 September – Canfranc-Canfranc (ESP), Classic Mountain
Sunday 2 October – Zumaia Flysch Trail (ESP), Classic Mountain
Saturday 8 October – Chiavenna-Lagunc (ITA), Short Uphill
Silver Label races
In addition, there will be a further five ‘Silver Label’ races in five different countries, giving athletes further opportunities to earn World Cup points.
Sunday 22 May – Seven Sisters Skyline (IRE), Long Mountain
Saturday 2 July – One Hundred Douro-Paiva (POR), Long Mountain
Sunday 7 August – Krkonossky Half Marathon (CZE), Classic Mountain
Thursday 25 August – Andes Race (PER), Long Mountain
Saturday 1 October – Smarna Gora (SLO), Classic Mountain
2021 winners
| Men | Women | |
|---|---|---|
| Short Uphill | Henri Aymonod (ITA) | Andrea Mayr (AUT) |
| Classic Mountain | Geoffrey Gikuni Ndungu (KEN) | Joyce Muthoni Njeru (KEN) |
| Long Mountain | Raúl Criado Sánchez (ESP) | Charlotte Morgan (GBR) |
| Overall | Henri Aymonod (ITA) | Joyce Muthoni Njeru (KEN) |
