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The 2026 Sierre-Zinal, the 53rd edition of the race, starts on Saturday, August 8, with the women’s setting off at 10:30 a.m. Central European Summer Time (CEST) and the men starting 30 minutes later at 11 a.m. CEST.
It’s part of both the Mountain Running World Cup and the Golden Trail World Series (GTWS), and is again one of the most competitive mountain races in the world.
Sierre-Zinal is nicknamed “The Race of the Five 4,000s” for the five 4,000-meter Swiss peaks (Weisshorn, Zinalrothorn, Obergabelhorn, Matterhorn, and Dent Blanche) visible from the course. The iconic course runs 31 kilometers (19.3 miles) point-to-point between the villages of Sierre and Zinal through the Valais Alps. The route gains 2,200 meters and drops 1,100 meters. That’s 7,200 feet up and 3,600 feet down. Much of the drop comes in the race’s last 7k as it plunges 750 meters to the finish in Zinal.
The 2025 Sierre-Zinal men’s podium (left to right): 5. Paul Machoka, 3. Michael Selelo Saoli, 1. Philemon Kiriago, 2. Patrick Kipngeno, and 4. Adrien Briffod. Photo: WMRA/Marco Gulberti
Race winners will earn 2,000 Swiss Francs, or roughly $2,475. Prize money goes 10 deep, and there are time bonuses too that guarantee the winner at least 3,000 Swiss Francs ($3,713). A new men’s course record is worth an additional 4,000 Swiss Francs. Kilian Jornet holds the men’s course record, set in 2024 with a time of 2:25:34. Jornet was originally scheduled to race this year’s Sierre-Zinal, but is no longer on the entrants list. Jornet dropped from June’s Western States 100 with an injury.
The race will be shown live on several international channels and platforms, including Eurosport, TNT Sports, Max / HBO Max, discovery+, SSR, and Canal 9, and a replay will be shown on YouTube.
For the first time, iRunFar will be there to report firsthand on all the action as it unfolds. Stay tuned!
Read on to learn about the top men in this year’s event, and check out how everything unfolded last year in our 2025 Sierre-Zinal results article. You can also check out our 2026 Sierre-Zinal women’s preview.
We’ll also be updating this article through race day with any last-minute changes. You can also see the full 2026 entrants list.
Thanks to the World Mountain Running Association (WMRA) for supporting iRunFar’s 2026 Sierre-Zinal coverage.
Returning Top 10 MenEvery single one of last year’s top 10 is back.
Philemon Kiriago – 1st, 2:28:31
Kenya’s Philemon Kiriago is a two-time Sierre-Zinal winner, the defending champ, and the second-fastest ever on this course. He’s done no worse than second in three Sierre-Zinal starts. Last year, Kiriago scored a 37-second win over fellow Kenyan Patrick Kipngeno. In 2024, he was second, by a second, to Kilian Jornet during Jornet’s course record run. Kiriago won in 2023, again over second-place Kipngeno. In 2026, he has raced often and well. Most recently, Kiriago was third at the 2026 Broken Arrow Ascent, won the Broken Arrow 23k, and was second at the Quebec Mega Trail 30k, all in a two-week span. He won Switzerland’s Thyon-Dixence race again one week before Sierre-Zinal, too.
Philemon Kiriago was ecstatic at his win at the 2025 Sierre-Zinal. Photo: WMRA/Marco Gulberti
Patrick Kipngeno – 2nd, 2:29:08
Also from Kenya, Patrick Kipngeno is an uphill ace who has done well at Sierre-Zinal. He was second to Kiriago here in both 2023 and 2025, and third, again one spot behind Kiriago, in 2024. Kipngeno started 2026 a little late, coming back from injury, but won the Broken Arrow Ascent and was third at the Broken Arrow 23k. Despite regularly racing GTWS races, and at the same ones as Kiriago, Kipngeno was not present at June’s Quebec Mega Trail 30k race in Canada due to visa issues, but showed his fitness with a third-place run at Pitz Alpine Glacier Trail one week before Sierre-Zinal. He was over four minutes behind Elazzaoui there.
Patrick Kipngeno on his way to taking second at the 2025 Sierre-Zinal. Photo: WMRA/Marco Gulberti
Michael Selelo Saoli – 3rd, 2:29:14
Kenya swept the men’s podium last year, and Michael Selelo Saoli was the third man in that train, behind Kiriago and Kipngeno. After Sierre-Zinal last year, he was sixth at the World Mountain Running Championships (WMRC) Up and Down race. This year, he won the São Brás Cross Mountain Running World Cup race in Portugal, was fifth and first at the two Beijing Mountain Running World Cup races, and finished third at Ledro Sky Trentino. Most recently, Selelo Saoli was second at Pitz Alpine Glacier Trail, finishing behind Elazzaoui but ahead of Kipngeno.
Michael Selelo Saoli en route to third place at the 2025 Sierre-Zinal. Photo: WMRA/Marco Gulberti
Adrien Briffod – 4th, 2:32:06
Adrien Briffod is a 2024 Olympian in triathlon for Switzerland, and he led a big chunk of last year’s Sierre-Zinal. He lost places in the downhill but still finished fourth. A year earlier, in 2024, he was 40th. Briffod has raced trails more than ever in 2026. He was 22nd at the Zegama Marathon and fourth at the Marathon du Mont Blanc. He ran 14:27 and 29:38 for road 5k and 10k in 2025, too.
Paul Machoka – 5th, 2:33:00
Kenyan Paul Machoka was seventh and fifth at the July 2026 Vauban Vertical and Up and Down races. Before that, he was sixth at Ledro Sky Trentino and second and third at the two Beijing Mountain Running World Cup races. After Sierre-Zinal last year, Machoka was third at the WMRC Up and Down race. A week before this year’s Sierre-Zinal, Machoka was third at Thyon-Dixence, over a minute behind race winner Kiriago.
Paul Machoka was third at the 2025 WMRC Up and Down race. Photo: iRunFar/Eszter Horanyi
Martin Nilsson – 6th, 2:33:52
Sweden’s Martin Nilsson was just ninth and seventh at the Vauban Vertical and Up and Down races in July 2026, but was sixth at the European Athletics Off-Road Running Championships Up and Down race in June 2026. He was only seventh at Thyon-Dixence a week before Sierre-Zinal, too.
Martin Nilsson, the 2025 Hochkönig Skyrace men’s winner. Photo: Skyrunner World Series
Dominik Rolli – 7th, 2:34:07
From Switzerland, Dominik Rolli has raced Sierre-Zinal six times, going back to 2017. In addition to last year’s breakthrough seventh-place run, most recently, he was 10th in 2022 and 24th in 2024. In 2026, Rolli ran 29:07 at the road 10k race as part of the Zurich Marathon and then starred at the European Athletics Off-Road Running Championships. He was fifth and second at the Uphill and Up and Down races there. His last two outings haven’t gone as well. Rolli was 11th at the Marathon du Mont Blanc in June and then dropped at the Eiger 51k in July.
Andreu Blanes – 8th, 2:35:19
Spain’s Andreu Blanes won Sierre-Zinal in 2022 in 2:29. Last year’s eighth-place finish is his only other Sierre-Zinal result. He was only 54th at this year’s European Athletics Off-Road Running Championships Up and Down race, but was third at last year’s Trail World Championships Short Trail contest. A multi-disciplined runner, he ran 27:47 at the Valencia 10k in January 2026, too.
Andreu Blanes of Spain on his way to third place at the 2025 Trail World Championships Short Trail. Photo: iRunFar/Eszter Horanyi
Elhousine Elazzaoui – 9th, 2:35:58
After a fourth-place finish at the Quebec Mega Trail 30k, we wondered if Elhousine Elazzaoui was ok. Other runners had solved for his masterful late race kick. The Moroccan has been largely unbeatable in GTWS races not named Sierre-Zinal the last two years, and 2026 started the same way. He won the Zegama Marathon and Ledro Sky Trentino races on back-to-back weekends in May. Racing and the finish looked different at the Broken Arrow 23k and Quebec Mega Trail 30k in June, though. When it came time to sprint at Broken Arrow, there was contact between frontrunners Kiriago and Elazzaoui, and Elazzaoui ultimately jogged to the finish in second. Then two weeks later at Quebec, GTWS race cameras caught Elazzaoui mid-race in the river, stopping and throwing his arms up in visible frustration at the runners around him. He again jogged to that finish in fourth. Elazzaoui didn’t wait around at Pitz Alpine Glacier Trail and led over the top of the race’s big climb. He won by over two minutes. What will the race plan be at Sierre-Zinal?
Elhousine Elazzaoui on his way to taking second at the 2026 Broken Arrow 23k. Photo: iRunFar/Eszter Horanyi
Francesco Puppi – 10th, 2:37:49
This will be a step down in distance for Italy’s Francesco Puppi, particularly this year. Puppi just finished second at June’s Western States 100 in the race’s second-fastest finish ever. Though Puppi’s already been exceptional the last several years, it was a truly remarkable performance in his debut for the distance, and it happened after a series of early 2026 injuries. Though he’s unlikely to challenge for the win at Sierre-Zinal, another finish in the back half of the top 10 wouldn’t be a surprise either.
Francesco Puppi taking second at the 2026 Western States 100. Photo: iRunFar/Meghan Hicks
Top European ContendersThis group includes several definite top-10-or-better contenders and several runners looking to overcome recent off-form finishes.
Italy’s Daniel Pattis was second to Elazzaoui at the 2026 Zegama Marathon, and second at the 2026 European Athletics Off-Road Running Championships 52k too. He won the Lavaredo 50k and should challenge for the podium here. He was 11th, 20th, and 14th at Sierre-Zinal in 2024, 2023, and 2022.
Daniel Pattis finishes second at the 2026 Zegama Marathon. Photo: iRunFar/Meghan Hicks
Petter Engdahl started the year with a drop at the Tarawera 102k and a 2:23 finish at the Boston Marathon. He’s been great since. Also this year, the Swede has been second at the Transvulcania Ultramarathon, second and third at the European Athletics Off-Road Running Championships Uphill and Up and Down races, and first at the Monte Rosa Walserwaeg marathon. Engdahl has raced Sierre-Zinal once, finishing 18th in 2019.
Petter Engdahl on his way to finishing second at the 2026 Transvulcania Ultramarathon. Photo: iRunFar/Eszter Horanyi
Cesare Maestri
Italy’s Cesare Maestri was eighth at this year’s Broken Arrow Ascent and 23k, and fourth at the European Athletics Off-Road Running Championships Up and Down race. He was third at Sierre-Zinal in 2021.
Cesare Maestri (left) on his way to seventh in the 2022 WMRC Uphill race. Photo: iRunFar/Meghan Hicks
Sylvain Cachard
From France, Sylvain Cachard was seventh and fourth at Sierre-Zinal in 2024 and 2023. He’s had limited racing in 2026, but must now be healthy. He just won the 2026 Trail Des Passerelles Du Monteynard 27k in France in July.
Sylvain Cachard after winning the 2022 SkyRace des Matheysins. Photo: Skyrunner World Series
Alain Santamaría
On the high end, Spanish runner Alain Santamaría was fourth at last year’s Trail World Championships Short Trail and this year’s European Athletics Off-Road Running Championships 52k. On the low end, he was 18th at the 2026 Zegama Marathon and 22nd at the 2024 Sierre-Zinal, his only time at the race. Most recently, Santamaría was eighth at Pitz Alpine Glacier Trail.
Alain Santamaría was fourth at the 2025 Trail World Championships Short Trail. Photo: iRunFar/Eszter Horanyi
Daniel Osanz
Last year’s race must’ve been a bad day for Spain’s Daniel Osanz when he finished in 282nd. In 2024, he was 87th. In 2022 and 2021, he was seventh. His only race this year was a sixth-place finish at the Transvulcania Half Marathon.
Daniel Osanz, the 2022 Canfranc-Canfranc Vertical K men’s winner. Photo: Ruben Fueyo
Roberto Delorenzi
A year ago, Switzerland’s Roberto Delorenzi finished 53rd here. In 2024 and 2023, he was fifth. Delorenzi’s been a little off form this year, finishing 11th at the Zegama Marathon and 20th at the Marathon du Mont Blanc.
Roberto Delorenzi, the 2024 SkyMasters men’s champion. Photo: Antton Guaresti
Davide Magnini
Also from Italy, Davide Magnini was fifth and fourth at Sierre-Zinal in 2021 and 2020. He’s had some injury-challenged years since, however. Magnini was eighth at last year’s Trail World Championships Short Trail, but didn’t finish the June 2026 Marathon du Mont Blanc.
Davide Magnini, the 2025 Giir di Mont 32k men’s winner. Photo: WMRA/Marco Gulberti
The U.K.’s Robbie Simpson’s history with Sierre-Zinal goes back to 2012. He was second here four times: 2021, 2018, 2017, and 2016. Most recently, he was 13th in 2024.
Robbie Simpson crosses the line in second place at the 2021 Sierre-Zinal race. Photo: WMRA
More Top Kenyan RunnersKenya placed three runners inside the top 10 last year, and could do even better this year.
Samwel Kiprotich recently won the 2026 Quebec Mega Trail 30k, beating Kiriago, Elazzaoui, and several other Sierre-Zinal contenders. He dropped at Sierre-Zinal last year, but placed second and sixth at the 2025 GTWS Pitz Alpine Glacier Trail and Great Wall races.
Samwel Kiprotich, the 2026 Quebec Mega Trail 30k men’s winner. Photo: Québec Mega Trail
Richard Omaya Atuya struck out at Sierre-Zinal last year, dropping before the finish. He was 18th in 2024. He’s been better in 2026 at the Mountain Running World Cup with first- and third-place finishes at the Transvulcania Vertical Kilometer and Half Marathon, and first- and second-place finishes at the Vauban Vertical and Up and Down races.
Richard Omaya Atuya climbing to victory at the 2026 Transvulcania Vertical Kilometer. Photo: Transvulcania
Ephantus Njeri nearly matched Atuya at those Mountain Running World Cup races earlier this year. He was third in the Transvulcania Vertical Kilometer but dropped in the Half Marathon, and was sixth and first at the Vauban Vertical and Up and Down races. He was ninth at Pitz Alpine Glacier Trail this year.
Ephantus Njeri, the 2026 Vauban Mountain Trail Up and Down men’s winner. Photo: WMRA/Jonathan Wyatt
Kiprotich and Omaya Atuya didn’t finish Sierre-Zinal last year, but Timothy Kibett did, even if it was in 49th. He won the GTWS Pitz Alpine Glacier Trail race one week before Sierre-Zinal last year.
American ContendersAny of Taylor Stack, Christian Allen, Cam Smith, or Noah Williams could be this year’s top American.
The U.S.’s Taylor Stack made moves late to move into third place at the 2026 Zegama Marathon. Photo: iRunFar/Eszter Horanyi
Stack, Allen, and Williams were all at Sierre-Zinal last year. Stack finished in 12th in 2:38:37. Allen was 21st in 2:42:05. Williams was 27th in 2:45:10.
Christian Allen on his way to a win at the 2025 Broken Arrow Ascent. Photo: iRunFar/Eszter Horanyi
Stack, Smith, and Allen were at this year’s Broken Arrow 23k too, finishing fifth, seventh, and 10th. Williams was second at the Broken Arrow 46k.
Smith and Allen were both at this year’s Broken Arrow Ascent. Smith finished second, and Allen was fourth.
Cam Smith finishing in 11th at the 2025 WMRC Uphill race. Photo: iRunFar/Eszter Horanyi
Are all these Americans at about the same level, or is Taylor Stack at the top right now? He was third at this year’s Zegama Marathon against an international field and seventh at the Quebec Mega Trail 30k.
David Norris just won his seventh Mount Marathon Race and has never raced Sierre-Zinal before. His closest proxy for this kind of race and this level of competition might be a 36th-place finish at last year’s WMRC Up and Down race.
David Norris takes the win at the 2023 Mount Marathon Race. Photo: Mick Dees
Still More Fast Men to Watch Jacob Adkin (U.K.) – 1st 2026 European Athletics Off-Road Running Championships Uphill; 28th & 19th 2023 & 2019 Sierre-Zinal Martin Anthamatten (Switzerland) – 1st 2026 Monte Rosa Walserwaeg 80k; 44th 2025 Sierre-Zinal Henri Aymonod (Italy) – 4th 2026 Vauban Vertical; 17th 2025 Broken Arrow 23k Meikael Beaudoin-Rousseau (U.S.) – 7th 2026 Broken Arrow Ascent; 1st 2026 Mount Washington Road Race, Loon Mountain Race, & Whiteface Mountain Race VK Isacco Costa (Italy) – 7th 2026 European Athletics Off-Road Running Championships Up and Down; 10th 2025 WMRC Up and Down Maximilien Drion (Belgium) – 15th 2026 European Athletics Off-Road Running Championships Up and Down; 17th 2025 Sierre-Zinal Anthony Felber (France) – 22nd 2025 Sierre-Zinal; 18th 2023 Sierre-Zinal Álex García (Spain) – 14th 2025 Sierre-Zinal Gianluca Ghiano (Italy) – 2nd 2026 Val d’Aran 50k Joey Hadorn (Switzerland) – 37th and 16th 2025 & 2023 Sierre-Zinal, 6th 2026 Pitz Alpine Glacier Trail Damien Humbert (France) – 4th 2026 Transvulcania Ultramarathon Remi Leroux (Canada) – 23rd 2025 Sierre-Zinal Alexandre Ricard (Canada) – 3rd 2025 Défi des Couleurs Uphill & Up and Down Andrea Rostan (Italy) – 1st 2026 Lavaredo 20k Philani Sengce (South Africa) – 1st 2026 & 2025 Cape Town Trail Marathon Tom Spencer (U.K.) – 38th 2025 Sierre-Zinal
Henri Aymonod, the 2025 Transgrancanaria VK men’s winner. Photo: Transgrancanaria/Caros Díaz-Recio
Call for Comments Who’s it going to be? Can Elhousine Elazzaoui crack the Sierre-Zinal code, and get back to GTWS winning? Or does Philemon Kiriago put the race on course record watch?