Britain’s Sarah Wilhoit and Andrew Douglas enjoy top 10 finishes at the WMRA Mountain World Cup in China.
The 2026 WMRA Mountain Running World Cup took a spectacular turn on Saturday (April 25) when the circuit landed in Beijing’s Changping district. Athletes did not only compete against each other. they were taking on the true titan of world history, the Great Wall of China.
This second stage of the season saw the pack climb the Juyongguan section, most of these stone fortifications date back to the Ming Dynasty, meaning the runners were grafting steps that have stood for over 600 years.
History, culture and elite sport came together in remarkable fashion as stone steps, steep inclines and mountain views created an environment unlike any other on the World Cup calendar.
Supported by the Beijing Changping County Government, the event welcomed international athletes to compete in a venue of immense cultural significance, highlighting both the global reach of mountain running and the region’s unique heritage.
CHANGPING BEIJING KILLED
The Changping Uphill was a decent short, sharp bump in the race. It was a 3.5km individual time trial that didn’t mess around, cramming in a staggering 509 meters of elevation gain along with 157 meters of technical descent.
There was nowhere to hide when the athletes set off at 10-second intervals. You couldn’t get stuck behind the pace or rely on tactical games; it was just you, the clock, and that relentless gradient. It was the ultimate test of raw climbing strength and composure; a true “cave of pain” scenario where even a momentary lapse in concentration meant throwing away precious seconds.
Men’s race. Costa dominates as the Italians collect the podium
The men’s field started at 09:30 local time, with runners crossing the starting line every 10 seconds.
It was a stellar day for Italy led by Issaco Costa ITA who clocked 22:31 to take first place. Kenya’s Paul Machoka KEN made a big move to finish second in 22:59, while veteran Alex Baldacchini’s ITA proved it still has legs, returning to the World Cup podium with an excellent third place (23:24).
Half the pack was decent writing. Italy’s Luca Merli ITA missed out on the podium by a whisker, finishing fourth, just ahead of Kenya’s Michael Selelo Saoli KEN, who incredibly finished in exactly the same second. Britain’s Andrew Douglas GBR wasn’t far off the pace either, finishing just over a second behind in sixth place.
The top 10 was a masterclass in international mountain running, with just 15 seconds separating 4th from 7th.
Women’s race. Mathis in a league of his own
Switzerland’s Maude Mathys SUI put on an absolute masterclass in the top run, storming the Great Wall to win in 26:13. He looked untouchable on the steep stuff, leaving a high quality field in his wake.
Kenya’s Joyce Moutoni Njeru KEN secured second place in 26:51, while Courtney Barnes Coppinger of the USA rounded out the podium, digging deep in 28:18.
It was a brilliant day for the British too, with Sarah Ann Wilhoit GBR finishing a hard-earned fifth (28:44) and Eden Indigo Bliss Odea GBR finishing seventh (29:32) after a tight battle with Camilla Amaya Noe USA representing America.
Classic up and down
The action does not stop here. Tomorrow, the World Cup Tour remains right where it is for the Classic Up & Down, the third race of the 2026 season and a very different beast to today’s short, sharp sprint.
Athletes will be looking at approximately 18km of punishing terrain, including a whopping 1200m of ascent. They’ll trade the frenetic pace of a time trial for a test of pure endurance, navigating rugged, technical trails that loop around the Great Wall and surrounding peaks.
