In Italia nessuna tappa, due nuove gare in Asia con Cina e Giappone…
A double-first in AsiaAmong the big new additions to the 2024 calendar are, for the very first time, two races in Asia: Japan then China. “There are increasing numbers of Asian competitors and trail running is becoming more and more popular in Asia,” explains Grégory Vollet. “This is why we decided to integrate two Asian dates into our 2024 calendar. To ensure that the trip is cost-effective, these two races have been grouped together over two weeks, like the USA trip, meaning we can participate in two events in only one trip.” Therefore, the Kobe Trail in Japan will open the 2024 season on 20th and 21st April and the athletes will then head to Sichuan for the second race of the season to be held on 27th and 28th April. | |
Poland and a European tripOnce again with the intention of limiting intercontinental travel, this year, the GTWS calendar will include a race in Poland – the Tatra Sky Marathon – to enable athletes to compete in a European trip, like those for the USA and Asia. “This race will take place a week after Sierre-Zinal,” explains Greg Vollet. “Thanks to this additional race, each athlete, whether European, Asian or American, will only need to take one intercontinental flight in a bid to qualify for the final.” | |
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The programme’s legendary racesWhile the Golden Trail World Series will be adding four new races to its 2024 calendar (two in Asia, one in Poland, and a new race in the USA), the Series will of course be keeping its great legendary races: Zegama-Aizkorri is the third race of the season, followed by the Marathon du Mont-Blanc a month later in Chamonix. The long-standing Sierre-Zinal will be the 5th race of the season and be included in the European trip along with the Tatra Sky Marathon in Poland. | |
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Even more live streams!Bolstered by its televised success in 2023 (with over 6 million viewers tuning in to Eurosport for the Grand Final in Italy, and audiences matching other disciplines, such as the MTB World Cup), the Golden Trail World Series will once again be broadcast several times on Eurosport, but also on over 100 TV channels across the globe. “In total we will have 5 races broadcast on TV channels compared to 3 last year,” clarifies Grégory Vollet. “The aim is to give our athletes and our sport even more visibility!” | |
On to the Grand FinalWith 8 normal races on the programme, athletes will now have their four best results factored into the overall ranking before the final (compared to three last season). After these 8 races, the 30 top male and female athletes will then be invited to take part in the World Grand Final (whose destination will be revealed at a later date). “We increased the number of races this season to include Asia,” explains Grégory Vollet. “So, it was necessary to increase the number of races that count towards the overall ranking to avoid diluting the level too much during the year. However, by introducing these trips we are now giving all the athletes the opportunity to do two races in only one trip. So now, most of them will be able to compete in their two continual races in their efforts to reach the final.”
Once the standard season is over, athletes ranked outside the top 30 will still be able to take part in the Grand Final independently, like they did this year, to attempt to score additional points and reach the ELITES category (final top 30) to qualify for an invitation for the following season. | |
The GTWS 2024 programme
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