The fifth stop of the Golden Trail World Series moves the action from Austria to Switzerland for the 53rd edition of Sierre-Zinal, a legendary race featuring 31 kilometres and 2,200 metres of elevation gain.

Defending champions Philemon Kiriago and Caroline Kimutai return to protect their crowns against Elhousine Elazzaoui and Madalina Florea, the reigning series champions and recent winners of the Salomon Pitz Alpine Glacier Trail, held just one week ago.

The iconic Swiss race, which brings together more than 6,800 runners from 86 nationalities, will be broadcast live across Warner Bros. Discovery platforms (HBO Max, Eurosport and TNT Sports), as well as through an extensive network of international broadcasters.

One month to go until the 2026 Golden Trail World Series (GTWS) gets underway. On May 17, the circuit lifts the curtain in one of the most iconic races in global trail running: Zegama-Aizkorri (Spain). Celebrating its 25th anniversary, the season opener sets the tone for what is shaping up to be one of the most competitive seasons in GTWS history, bringing together a field of athletes that includes former GTWS champions, GTWS race winners, world champions, international circuits title-holders, Olympians, and winners of the sport’s most prestigious events.

Throughout the season, more than 25 nationalities will be represented across the seven races that form the road to the Muju Trail Grand Finale in South Korea (October 24–25). Pre-registration figures underline the extraordinary level of competition, with the average ITRA score reaching 932 points for the men’s Top 10, while the women’s Top 10 averages 801 points.