Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.
The WMRA Mountain Running World Cup takes place this weekend in Beijing Changping, China, with two races set near the Great Wall and through the Yanshan mountain trails. Saturday features a 3.5km uphill time trial at Juyongguan Great Wall, with over 500 metres of ascent. Athletes will start individually at 10-second intervals, testing both their climbing ability and race strategy.
On Sunday, competitors will tackle the classic 18km up & down race, featuring 1284 metres of ascent and descent. The course starts and finishes at Haizi Bridge and passes through the Silver Mountain Pagoda Forest, combining technical trails with faster sections.
Among the men, Kenyan runner Selelo Saoli leads the field after his victory in the season opener in Portugal. British athlete Andrew Douglas, runner-up in that race, will also compete. Other notable entrants include Paul Machoka, internationally ranked, and China's Zhang Sheng.
The women's field features Kenya’s Joyce Muthoni Njeru, known for her consistency. Other leading contenders are Maude Mathys, Camilla Magliano, Alice Gaggi, Courtney Coppinger, and Sara Wilhoit. Chinese and Asian athletes aim to leverage home support for strong results.
The races will be available to watch for free on World Athletics+, though some geo-restrictions may apply.
According to WMRA and World Athletics, the events will challenge athletes’ climbing strength, technical trail skills, and race tactics over the two distinct courses.