We set the scene for this weekend's big weekend of mountain running

After 13 gruelling stages across three continents and four months of high-octane competition, the World Cup reaches its dramatic finale this weekend. And where better to crown this year’s champions than the iconic slopes of Smarna Gora - a venue rich in mountain running history and prestige?

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 August 23, with one last lung-busting classic uphill race. Then, all eyes turn to Smarna Gora on Sunday 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 and the 2017 European Off-Road Championships. This very route is set to host the European Off-Road Running Championships in June 2026, so it will not only be a testing route for the World Cup competitors, but it will also provide a dress rehearsal for some of the athletes targeting the championship next year. It’s an 8.5km course 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 began in 1979 and it is an absolute ‘must-do’ in the race calendar. In 2020 it was voted the greatest mountain race of all time by the public, in a poll by WMRA. 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.

Both races showcase the best of Slovenian running and culture. Velika Planina is a race of alpine scenery, forests and meadows and it offers panoramic views of the Kamnik-Savinja Alps. It is also home to one of Europe’s few remaining high-mountain shepherd’s villages, with oval huts with spruce shingles. They bring their cattle down to graze on the plateau in what is a centuries-old tradition.

Smarna Gora Race takes place on a famous hill in the area which boasts a Baroque church dating back to 1711. The church bells, a hallmark of Slovenian tradition known as “pritrkovanje,” will ring out on Sunday, welcoming the runners. And as they take on this stunning, and, in places, technical route, they will enjoy views of the Kamnik and Julian Alps.

There is a particularly strong community spirit around this event, with a long history of local people maintaining its traditions, while also embracing innovations in the sport.

Top fields are assembled in both the men’s and women’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.

Women's race

Scout Adkin (HOKA EU) leads the women’s field at the moment, incredibly finishing either first or second at all but one race she has run in this year’s World Cup. Unfortunately she is not able to race this weekend due to an injury she sustained at last weekend's British uphill trial race for next month’s World Championships. Her closest rival, Valentine Jepkoech Rutto (Atletica Saluzzo), will run both races, and she has proven herself to be as adept at different types of race as Adkin, if not quite as consistent.

Gloria Chebet (Run2Gether), 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. It will be really exciting to see how Nelie Clement (Gap Hautes Alpes Athletisme) fares, after that breakthrough performance at Vauban, where she won the classic up and downhill race and finished third at the classic uphill race. Aged just 22 she has definitely been one of the rising stars of this year’s World Cup.

Andrea Mayr (Hoolirun) 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 (England Athletics) is currently lying in eighth place in the World Cup standings, just behind Mayr, and will also race both events. Kirsty Dickson (Carnethy Hill Running Club) 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 (On Running) 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 (Brooks), another formidable competitor, will also toe the line at Smarna Gora.

Legendary locals, Lucija Krkoc (ŠD Nanos) and Nuša Mali (AD Kronos), 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 (Brooks) and Kyla Christopher-Moody, who will be interesting to watch.

Men's race

Paul Machoka (Atletica Saluzzo) 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 (Run2Gether), who, like Machoka, will run both races. Michael Selelo Saoli and Richard Omaya Atuya (both Run2Gether), who we’ve seen in some epic duels with each other and with Machoka this year, are currently 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 (Run2Gether), who we haven’t seen as much in the World Cup this year, but he had an extremely strong run to take second in Sierre Zinal two weeks ago. Equally, Run2Gether team mate Josphat Kiprotich could also be a danger. Lengen Lolkurraru (PegaKenya) is also back, after coming second here in 2022 and it will be interesting to see what he can produce on his return.

The European challengers for the men include Andrea Rostan (La Sportiva/Atletica Saluzzo), Andrea Elia (Topo Athletics) and Henri Aymonod (The North Face), all of whom are running both races. Alberto Vender (New Balance) will take part in just the Smarna Gora Race, having achieved sixth place last year. Jacob Adkin (New Balance) is continuing his return to top competition, as we saw at Vauban, and could do well be one to watch this weekend.

Local former winner Timotej Bečan (tekači) 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 American runners are making the journey to race in Slovenia, including Andy Wacker and Jeret Gillingham.