{{Short description|International running races}} {{Infobox recurring event | name = Golden Trail Series | native_name = | native_name_lang = | logo = | image = | caption = | status = Active | genre = Trail racing | date = | begins = | ends = | frequency = Annual | venue = | location = Various | coordinates = | country = Worldwide | years_active = 2018–present | first = | founder_name = | last = | prev = | next = | participants = | attendance = | area = | budget = | activity = | patron = | organised = | filing = | people = | member = | sponsor = Salomon Group | website = {{URL|https://www.goldentrailseries.com/}} | current = | footnotes = }}
The '''Golden Trail Series''' is a points-based series of international trail races featuring a changing lineup of top races each year.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Granger |first=Stephen |date=2018-12-21 |title=Depth of quality on Golden Trail World Series sets it apart |url=https://iol.co.za/sport/2018-12-21-depth-of-quality-on-golden-trail-world-series-sets-it-apart/ |access-date=2025-07-16 |website=IOL |language=en}}</ref> 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 (sub-marathon) 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.<ref>[https://spnafricanews.com/golden-trail-series-2021-season-preview/ Sports Network Africa: Golden Trail Series 2021 Season preview.]</ref> Notable male competitors include Stian Angermund, Francesco Puppi, Remi Bonnet, and Frédéric Tranchand, with Maude Mathys and Blandine L'Hirondel among the notable women.<ref>[https://www.trailrunningmag.co.uk/articles/news/top-runners-ready-for-gtws-final/ Trail Running: Top runners ready for GTWS final.]</ref> Salomon supports the Golden Trail Series.
Competitions and athlete interviews are covered on Golden Trail TV and web series include ''Chasing Dreams''<ref>[https://www.widermag.com/news-chasing-dreams-nouvelle-serie-tv-golden-trails-series Wider Trail Outdoor: "Chasing Dreams": la nouvelle série TV des Golden Trails Series!]</ref> which are presented by running journalist David Hellard.<ref>{{Citation |title=A New Season – Chasing Dreams Ep. 01 | date=16 December 2021 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2Wl6ZiSnJY |language=en |access-date=2022-09-06}}</ref>
==Race Format== The series consists of eight main races around the globe each season.<ref>{{Cite web |title=World Series – Golden Trail World Series – GTWS |url=https://goldentrailseries.com/serie/world-series/ |access-date=2025-07-16 |website=goldentrailseries.com}}</ref> Runners accumulate points based on their finishing positions, with points awarded down to the 60th place finisher.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Turner |first=Katherine |date=2024-10-24 |title=The Golden Trail World Series Promised to Revolutionize Trail Running. Is it? |url=https://run.outsideonline.com/trail/trail-racing/golden-trail-world-series-finals/ |access-date=2025-07-16 |website=Run |language=en-US}}</ref> 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.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=About – Golden Trail World Series – GTWS |url=https://goldentrailseries.com/about/ |access-date=2025-07-16 |website=goldentrailseries.com}}</ref>
The series concludes with a Grand Final that consists of a prologue time trial (with partial points reward) and a final race (with full points reward). Participation in the Grand Final is mandatory to be included in the final standings.<ref name=":0" /> Overall series winners are determined by the highest points total from their best three regular races plus the Grand Final.<ref name=":0" />
==Races== Races are categorised into the Golden Trail World Series (GTWS), started in 2018,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.trailrun.es/actualidad/golden-trail-series-world-series-cuatro-anos-mostrandonos-trail-como-espectadores_257157_102.html|title=Golden Trail World Series, cuatro años mostrándonos el trail como espectadores|lang=es|website=TrailRun}}</ref> and the Golden Trail National Series (GTNS), started in 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.goldentrailseries.com/about.htm|title=About | Golden Trail Series|website=www.goldentrailseries.com}}</ref> The former includes several of the world's most competitive trail races.<ref>[https://trailrunner.com/trail-news/catching-up-with-gtws-grand-final-champion-francesco-puppi/ American Trail Running Association: Catching Up with GTWS Grand Final Champion Francesco Puppi.]</ref>
The Golden Trail Championship (GTC) 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.<ref>[https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3108201/golden-trail-series-winners-maude-mathys-and-bart South China Morning Post: Golden Trail Series winners Maude Mathys and Bart Przedwojewski on top after four-day stage race of mud and fog.]</ref> The success of the GTC format meant that it was proposed as a replacement for the series final in alternating years.<ref>[https://runningmagazine.ca/trail-running/golden-trail-world-series-sets-2021-calendar-announces-bi-yearly-championship/ Trail Running: Golden Trail World Series sets 2021 calendar, announces bi-yearly championship.]</ref>
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.<ref>{{Cite web |last=VanDragt |first=Braden |date=2024-09-23 |title=The Demystifying Series: What is the Golden Trail World Series? |url=https://news.ultrasignup.com/the-demystifying-series-what-is-the-golden-trail-world-series/ |access-date=2025-07-16 |website=UltraSignupNews}}</ref>
===Past Golden Trail World Series Courses=== *Kobe Trail (Kobe, {{flag|Japan}}) *Great Wall Trail Race (Chengde, {{flag|China}}) *Il Golfo Dell Isola (Noli, {{flag|Italy}}) *Broken Arrow Skyrace (Olympic Valley, California, {{flag|USA}}) *Tepec Trail (Huasca de Ocampo, {{Flag|Mexico}}) *[https://www.pitztal.com/en/salomon-pitz-alpine-glacier-trail.html Pitzt Alpine Glacier Trail] (Pitztal, {{flag|Austria}}) *[https://www.ledrosky.it/en Ledro Sky Trentino] (Trentino, {{flag|Italy}}) *The Madeira Ocean Trails (Madeira, {{flag|Portugal}}) *Flagstaff Sky Peaks (Flagstaff, Arizona, {{flag|USA}}) *Stranda Fjord Trail Race (Stranda, {{flag|Norway}}) *Zegama-Aizkorri (Zegama, {{flag|Spain}}) *Pikes Peak Ascent (Pikes Peak, {{flag|USA}}) *Sierre-Zinal (Valais, {{flag|Switzerland}}) *Marathon du Mont Blanc (Mont Blanc, {{flag|France}})
====Winners==== World Series winners since 2018:<ref>[https://www.runnersworld.co.za/news/records-fall-at-the-2018-otter-african-trail-race%e2%80%a8/ Runner's World: Records Fall At The 2018 Otter African Trail Race.]</ref><ref>[https://trailrunningspain.com/2019/10/25/victories-for-kilian-jornet-and-judith-wyder-in-golden-trail-world-series-final-at-annapurna-trail-marathon/ Trail Running Spain: Victories for Kilian Jornet and Judith Wyder in Golden Trail World Series Final at Annapurna Trail Marathon.]</ref><ref>[https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3108201/golden-trail-series-winners-maude-mathys-and-bart South China Morning Post: Golden Trail Series winners Maude Mathys and Bart Przedwojewski on top after four-day stage race of mud and fog.]</ref><ref>[https://www.irunfar.com/this-week-in-running-october-18-2021 iRunFar: This Week In Running: October 18, 2021.]</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Bolt|first=Richard|title=Maude Mathys and Stian Angermund Win 2021 Golden Trail World Series|website=ATRA|date=2021-10-17|url=https://trailrunner.com/trail-news/maude-mathys-and-stian-angermund-win-2021-golden-trail-world-series/|access-date=2022-07-27}}</ref><ref>[https://www.goldentrailseries.com/posts/madeira-oceanamptrails-remi-bonnet-and-nienke-brinkman-win-the-golden-trail-world-series-2022-41.htm Golden Trail Series: Madeira Ocean&Trails: Rémi Bonnet and Nienke Brinkman win the Golden Trail World Series 2022!]</ref><ref>[https://www.goldentrailseries.com/posts/golden-trail-series-grand-final-a-second-victory-for-elhousine-elazzaoui-and-a-second-title-for-remi-bonnet-80.htm Golden Trail Series – Grand Final: A second victory for Elhousine Elazzaoui and a second title for Rémi Bonnet]</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Pollmann |first=Tayte |date=2024-10-21 |title=Golden Trail World Series Men’s Final Results |url=https://trailrunner.com/trail-news/golden-trail-world-series-mens-final-results/ |access-date=2025-07-16 |website=ATRA |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Pollmann |first=Tayte |date=2024-10-20 |title=Golden Trail Series Women’s Final Results |url=https://trailrunner.com/trail-news/golden-trail-series-womens-final-results/ |access-date=2025-07-16 |website=ATRA |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>[https://goldentrailseries.com/serie/world-series/world-series-overall-ranking Golden Trail Series Overall Ranking]</ref>
{| class="wikitable" width=50% style="font-size:100%; text-align:center;" |- !Year!!Men!!Women |- |2018 |align=left|{{flagicon|NOR}} Stian Angermund |align=left|{{flagicon|NZ}} Ruth Croft |- |2019 |align=left|{{flagicon|ESP}} Kilian Jornet |align=left|{{flagicon|SUI}} Judith Wyder |- |2020 |align=left|{{flagicon|POL}} Bartłomiej Przedwojewski |align=left|{{flagicon|SUI}} Maude Mathys |- |2021 |align=left|{{flagicon|NOR}} Stian Angermund |align=left|{{flagicon|SUI}} Maude Mathys |- |2022 |align=left|{{flagicon|SUI}} Rémi Bonnet |align=left|{{flagicon|HOL}} Nienke Brinkman |- |2023 |align=left|{{flagicon|SUI}} Rémi Bonnet |align=left|{{flagicon|USA}} Sophia Laukli |- |2024 |align=left|{{flagicon|MAR}} Elhousine Elazzaoui |align=left|{{flagicon|KEN}} Joyce Njeru |- |2025 |align=left|{{flagicon|MAR}} Elhousine Elazzaoui |align=left|{{flagicon|ROM}} Monica Mădălina Florea |}
===Golden Trail National Series=== Races are predominantly held in Europe, although some races are also held in North America and Asia. {{col-begin}} {{col-break}} ;{{flag|France}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.goldentrailseries.com/series/gtns-fr-bel.htm|title=GTNS FRA | Golden Trail Series|website=www.goldentrailseries.com}}</ref> *Ergysport Trail du Ventoux *Trail de Guerledan *Mont Blanc Marathon<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.montblancmarathon.net|title=Accueil|work=Montblancmarathon.net|lang=fr|access-date=2015-05-19}}</ref> *Skyrhune
;{{flag|United States}} *Broken Arrow Skyrace *Pikes Peak Ascent *Flagstaff Sky Peaks
;{{flag|Canada}} *Quebec Mega Trail 50k *Whistler Alpine Meadows
;{{flag|Italy}} *Dolomiti Beer Trail *Bettelmatt Sky Race *DoloMyths Run Sky Race *Transpelmo {{col-break}} ;{{flag|Spain}} *L'Olla de Núria *Salomon Mitja Pirineu
;{{flag|Portugal}} *Louzantrail
;{{flag|United Kingdom}} *Trail Marathon Wales *The Serpent Trail *Scafell Pike Trail Marathon *Ring of Steall
;{{flag|Mexico}} *Desafío en las Nubes *Trail de la Mixteca Oaxaqueña *Pachoa Trail
;{{flag|Slovenia}} *UTVV Slovenia *Kočevsko Outdoor Festival {{col-break}} ;{{flag|Croatia}} *Risnjak Trail *Učka Trail
;{{flag|Germany}} *Chiemgau Trail Run *Zugspitz Ultratrail: Garmisch-Partenkirchen Trail *Rennsteig-Herbstlauf
;{{flag|Switzerland}} *Zermatt Marathon<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.zermatt.ch/en/Events/Top-Events/Gornergrat-Zermatt-Marathon-the-King-s-Way-through-the-Mountains|title=Gornergrat Zermatt Marathon: the King's Way through the Mountains|publisher=zermatt.ch|access-date=9 March 2020}}</ref> *Sierre-Zinal<ref>{{cite web|url=http://runthealps.com/sierre-zinal-how-to-do-it/|title=Sierre-Zinal: How to do it|date=10 September 2014 |publisher=runthealps.com|accessdate=20 October 2017}}</ref>
;{{flag|Austria}} *Pitz Alpine Glacier Trail *Mayrhofen Ultraks
;{{flag|Czech Republic}} *Salomon Ještěd Skyrace, at Ještěd *Salomon Valašský hrb *Salomon Jesenický maraton {{col-break}} ;{{flag|Slovakia}} *Salomon Dragon Trails
;{{flag|Poland}} *Golden Mountains Trails *Tatra SkyMarathon
;{{flag|Denmark}} *Hammer Trail
;{{flag|Finland}} *Bodom Trail
;{{flag|Sweden}} *Fjällmaraton 27k<ref>{{cite web |url=http://fjallmaraton.se/en/fjallmaraton/races|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150515042903/http://fjallmaraton.se/en/fjallmaraton/races|publisher=Fjällmaraton|title=Races|language=sv|date=|archivedate=2015-05-15}}</ref>
;{{flag|Japan}} *Mount Yuzawa Outstanding *Central Alps Skyline Japan *The 4100D Mountain Trail in Nozawa Onsen *Otari Trail Open in Tsugaike *Hakura Classic International {{col-end}}
==See also== *Skyrunner World Series *Vertical Kilometer World Circuit *UTMB World Series
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *[https://goldentrailseries.com/ Official Site] *{{Facebook|goldentrailseries}} *{{Instagram|goldentrailseries}} *{{YouTube|c=UC8szqVDJF60HueoqJrD50qw}}
Category:Golden Trail Series Category:Trail running competitions Category:Skyrunning competitions Category:World cups Category:Annual sport of athletics series Category:Ultramarathons