After 13 gruelling stages across three continents and four months of high-octane competition, the WMRA World Cup reaches its dramatic finale at Smarna Gora this weekend.

Slovenia takes centre stage for this ultimate showdown, hosting a blockbuster of a mountain running weekend that promises edge-of-the-seat racing. The action kicks off at Velika Planina in Kamnik on Saturday (23) with one last lung-busting classic uphill race. Then, all eyes turn to Smarna Gora on Sunday (24) for the grand finale – a classic up-and-downhill race to decide the World Cup’s ultimate victors.

Velika Planina follows a course used in the 2010 World Mountain Running Championships – an 8.5km route with 1280m of ascent, starting at Stahovica and finishing at Gradišče.

The following day the World Cup heads 20km away to Ljubljana, the scene of many World Cup competitions over the years, and a race with a deep mountain running history. Smarna Gora might not take place in the high mountains, like some of the other World Cup races, but it packs a punch into its 10km with 705m of ascent and 350m of descent.

Top fields are assembled in both the women’s and men’s races. Five out of the top 10 women in the World Cup rankings will be on the start line of both races, and nine out of the top 10 men will be in action over the weekend.

Current World Cup leader Scout Adkin will not race due to an injury she picked up at the British uphill trial race for next month’s World Championships. Her closest rival, Valentine Jepkoech Rutto, will contest both races, and she has proven herself to be as adept at different types of races as Adkin, if not quite as consistent. 

Gloria Chebet, another consistent performer, is currently in fifth place in the World Cup standings, but good results here could see her jump up in the absence of Joyce Muthoni Njeru and Philaries Jeruto Kisang. Nelie Clement is back in action after her breakthrough performance at Vauban, where she won the classic up and downhill race and finished third at the classic uphill race. 

Andrea Mayr has continued to prove that she is still performing at the top level this season and she will no doubt be one of the athletes to set the pace. Elle Twentyman is currently lying in eighth place in the World Cup standings, just behind Mayr, and will also race both events. Kirsty Dickson comes to the race straight off winning the British uphill trial for the World Championships, so could be one to watch, particularly in the classic uphill race. 

Susanna Saapunki will run will run Smarna Gora Race, off the back of her recent top 10 finish at Sierre Zinal. She has a strong record at Smarna Gora, having done the double here, winning the Race and the Record in 2023 and finishing fourth in the Race last year. Alice Gaggi, another formidable competitor, will also toe the line at Smarna Gora.

Legendary locals Lucija Krkoc and Nuša Mali also have strong track records here and will be expected to feature highly. There will also be a strong, young contingent from the USA, including Courtney Coppinger and Kyla Christopher-Moody.

Paul Machoka leads the men’s World Cup and has taken part in all of the races apart from Broken Arrow, achieving incredibly consistent results. But he could be caught by Philemon Ombogo Kiriago who, like Machoka, will run both races. Michael Selelo Saoli and Richard Omaya Atuya are currently respectively third and fourth in the World Cup and still have a podium place to battle for. These three athletes made up the Smarna Gora Race podium last year.

But the main threat to them may come in the form of Patrick Kipngeno, who took second place in Sierre Zinal two weeks ago, while Josphat Kiprotich could also be a danger. Lengen Lolkurraru also returns, after finishing second here in 2022.

The European challengers for the men include Andrea Rostan, Andrea Elia and Henri Aymonod, who are all running both races. Alberto Vender will take part in just Smarna Gora Race, having achieved sixth place last year. Jacob Adkin is continuing his return to top competition and could also be one to watch this weekend.

Local former winner Timotej Bečan will know how to race this better than most, and his teammates Luka Kovačič and Klemen Španring have had good success at the Smarna Gora Record. As with the women’s race, a strong team of US runners are making the journey to race in Slovenia, including Andy Wacker and Jeret Gillingham.

Kirsty Reade (WMRA) for World Athletics