Golden Trail Series


The Golden Trail Series is a points-based series of international trail races featuring a changing lineup of top races each year. The series was created to grow the sport of trail running by creating a series of high-profile, high-spectacle, high-paying races; and to showcase the speed and excitement of shorter-distance trail racing, as opposed to the relative slowness of ultramarathons.

Overview

The series plays an important part in the racing schedules of many of the world's best trail runners. Notable male competitors include Stian Angermund, Francesco Puppi, Remi Bonnet, and Frédéric Tranchand, with Maude Mathys and Blandine L'Hirondel among the notable women. Salomon supports the Golden Trail Series.
Competitions and athlete interviews are covered on Golden Trail TV and web series include Chasing Dreams which are presented by running journalist David Hellard.

Race Format

The series consists of eight main races around the globe each season. Runners accumulate points based on their finishing positions, with points awarded down to the 60th place finisher. Each athlete’s best three performances from the regular-season races count toward their series ranking. After all eight races, the top 30 male and female athletes in the standings qualify for the Grand Final.
The series concludes with a Grand Final that consists of a prologue time trial and a final race. Participation in the Grand Final is mandatory to be included in the final standings. Overall series winners are determined by the highest points total from their best three regular races plus the Grand Final.

Races

Races are categorised into the Golden Trail World Series, started in 2018, and the Golden Trail National Series, started in 2019. The former includes several of the world's most competitive trail races.
The Golden Trail Championship was created in 2020 to replace the planned World Series which was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It took places in the Azores in the form of a four-day stage race. The success of the GTC format meant that it was proposed as a replacement for the series final in alternating years.
The specific races in the series are not always the same each year. While some iconic races appear often, new races are introduced and some rotated out annually. The location of the Grand Final also varies from year to year.

Past Golden Trail World Series Courses

  • Kobe Trail
  • Great Wall Trail Race
  • Il Golfo Dell Isola
  • Broken Arrow Skyrace
  • Tepec Trail
  • The Madeira Ocean Trails
  • Flagstaff Sky Peaks
  • Stranda Fjord Trail Race
  • Zegama-Aizkorri
  • Pikes Peak Ascent
  • Sierre-Zinal
  • Marathon du Mont Blanc

    Winners

World Series winners since 2018:
Races are predominantly held in Europe, although some races are also held in North America and Asia.
  • Ergysport Trail du Ventoux
  • Trail de Guerledan
  • Mont Blanc Marathon
  • Skyrhune
  • Broken Arrow Skyrace
  • Pikes Peak Ascent
  • Flagstaff Sky Peaks
  • Quebec Mega Trail 50k
  • Whistler Alpine Meadows
  • Dolomiti Beer Trail
  • Bettelmatt Sky Race
  • DoloMyths Run Sky Race
  • Transpelmo
  • L'Olla de Núria
  • Salomon Mitja Pirineu
  • Louzantrail
  • Trail Marathon Wales
  • The Serpent Trail
  • Scafell Pike Trail Marathon
  • Ring of Steall
  • Desafío en las Nubes
  • Trail de la Mixteca Oaxaqueña
  • Pachoa Trail
  • UTVV Slovenia
  • Kočevsko Outdoor Festival
  • Risnjak Trail
  • Učka Trail
  • Chiemgau Trail Run
  • Zugspitz Ultratrail: Garmisch-Partenkirchen Trail
  • Rennsteig-Herbstlauf
  • Zermatt Marathon
  • Sierre-Zinal
  • Pitz Alpine Glacier Trail
  • Mayrhofen Ultraks
  • Salomon Ještěd Skyrace, at Ještěd
  • Salomon Valašský hrb
  • Salomon Jesenický maraton
  • Salomon Dragon Trails
  • Golden Mountains Trails
  • Tatra SkyMarathon
  • Hammer Trail
  • Bodom Trail
  • Fjällmaraton 27k
  • Mount Yuzawa Outstanding
  • Central Alps Skyline Japan
  • The 4100D Mountain Trail in Nozawa Onsen
  • Otari Trail Open in Tsugaike
  • Hakura Classic International