2020 was an unprecedented year for trail runners and trail racing due to the Covid-19 pandemic. To save the 2020 season the Golden Trail World Series had to adapt and create a new format, the Golden Trail Championship. Now, 2021 will see the return of the Golden Trail World Series with its 6 iconic races, and the Grand Final in Patagonia!

The 2021 Golden Trail World Series schedule

Now in its 3^rd year, and in response to the athletes’ questionnaire concerning the 2020 GTC, and the 2019 GTWS, and to help satisfy all the actors involved in the sport, the GTS organizers have taken the decision to organise the GTWS and the GTC on alternate years. In so doing, this frees up the GTC year for competitors to explore their own choice of races during that year and get together for one single meet at the end of the season.  

Taking its inspiration from the Grand Slam tennis circuit, the Golden Trail World Series was founded upon 6 iconic races, for their specific differences, countries, and extreme technical challenges and it's already known as the world’s most competitive trail running circuit. 

These iconic qualifying races are: 

• Zegama, known as “The Basque Fever”, in Spain’s Basque Country
• Marathon du Mont Blanc, known as “The Roller Coaster”, in Chamonix, France
• Dolomyths Run, known as “The Couloir Of Hell”, in Italy
• Sierre-Zinal, known as “The Fast and Furious”, in the Swiss Alps
• Pikes Peak, known as “The Impossible Record”, in Colorado, USA
• Ring of Steall known as “The Scottish Vertigo”, in the Scottish Highlands, UK. 

After the last race of the series, an overall ranking will define the top 11 men and women. These top 11 men and women will be invited to participate in the Grand Final.

The Grand Final, on November 6^th, 2021, travels to the far reaches of South America: Villa La Angostura, Neuquén, Patagonia, Argentina, for the K42 Adventure Marathon; a race that began in 2003 with a mere 345 runners, and now gathers 2000 runners.

An exciting end in store for the 2021 Golden Trail World Series!

This 3^rd edition will no doubt attract an even greater number of elite athletes due to 2020’s lack of racing possibilities, and different types of elite racers from different sporting backgrounds, as well as rising stars from new international teams! This edition will definitely be riveting!

 

Prize money

In 2021, a few changes have been made:

• At the Grand Final, the Golden Trail World Champions will receive €10,000, 2^nd to 5^th positions will receive €6,000, the 6^th to 10^th positions still receive €3,000 and 11^th position will receive €1,000.
• The points from the final are doubled and here anything can happen in the final ranking where the last could suddenly be the first
• Now, the top 11, and no longer the top 10, will be invited on the dream trip to the Grand Final in Patagonia.

Runners must take part in at least 3 out of 6 qualifying races and reach the top 11 to be invited to the Grand Final. If a runner didn’t reach the top 11 but participated in 3 of the 6 qualifying races, he/she can still go to the Grand Final at his/her own expense and still have the chance to win the race and prize money! 

The Golden Trail World Series final ranking will be determined by the runners’ 3 best results during the season, plus their result at the Grand Final.   

 

*The 2021 GTWS will of course go ahead as planned assuming that sanitary health conditions are safe, and that we may all travel abroad.

 

About the Golden Trail World Series

The Golden Trail World Series stands out in the modern sports world respecting unique values like parity, equity, transparency and honesty. The races have been chosen to highlight the most iconic events in this sport today. The Series aims to promote professional trail runners as the world-class athletes that they are, to showcase and protect the awe-inspiring nature and environments where we play and compete, and to acknowledge the amazing, passionate fans as an essential ingredient in the sport. Each of the six races in the Series has been specifically selected because of the scenery, challenges, history and atmosphere that they offer to both the runners and the public. These are the races that every runner wants to experience and some of the first written on any runner’s bucket list. 

Website: www.goldentrailseries.com
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E-mail: [email protected]