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The World Trail Majors are part of trail history. It is an association made up of emblematic races which wrote the first pages of this sport which today has millions of followers. For 2024, the World Trail Majors are presented by Tourism Gran Canaria. These ten races came together because of their philosophy of environmental protection, historical heritage and natural beauty. They are the dream of professional and amateur runners looking for an incomparable ultra trail experience.
These races invite us to connect with nature in a respectful and conscious way, promoting the conservation of ecosystems and taking care of the local economy.
We advocate diversity which consists of understanding the unique character of each race, escaping uniformity and welcoming individuality as something enriching that values trail running as a sporting, cultural and social activity.
Hong Kong 100 Ultra Marathon, a 100 kilometer race which, despite its name, never touches urban ground. Yet the megacity of 7.4 million inhabitants is omnipresent. The route largely runs along the Sai Kung Peninsula and overlooks the islands of the China Sea which are part of the UNESCO geoparks.
Despite its small size, Hong Kong has spectacular natural areas that have made this race, born in 2011, one of the most important ultra-distance races in Asia. Every year in January, the continent’s best runners can compete against athletes from around the world and demonstrate the potential of trail running in the region.
The Black Canyon Ultras brings together two races of 60 and 100 km which take place over two consecutive days. Made up of singletrack trails, 4×4 trails and an old stagecoach road.
The Black Canyon Ultras follows a route used since the days of Native American travelers and traders, which traverses a spectacular swath of the Sonoran Desert. The landscape includes saguaro forests, rugged canyons, and views of the Bradshaw Mountains to the west. The first edition took place in 2014
The North Face Transgrancanaria has it all: beach and mountains, forest and desert, picturesque towns and villages, cold at night and hot in the morning. The queen race consists of 126 km where runners will experience a journey that is both mentally and physically challenging, making this ultra unforgettable. First organized in 2003, the Transgrancanaria was the first ultra race in Spain. Every year in February, thousands of runners make a pilgrimage to the island of Gran Canaria, 1000 km from Europe and barely 100 km from Africa, attracted by unique landscapes, including the photogenic Roque Nublo . A spectacular island where you go from lush pine forest to desert in just a few minutes.
A dream. This is the best definition of the Mt.Fuji 100, whose 100-mile (160 km) race crosses the foothills of Japan’s highest mountain. It also offers the opportunity to discover an ancient culture. The base of Mt.Fuji 100 is in the small town of Fujiyoshida (pop. 54,000), in Yamanashi province. Located about a hundred kilometers from Tokyo, it is well connected to the Japanese capital, whether by public or private transport. The race takes place at the end of April, with temperatures ranging from 0 to 22 degrees Celsius.
The Madeira Island Ultra Trail (also known as the MIUT) is all about nature. Several races over different distances allow each runner to choose the one that best suits their tastes or training. The main event is the ultra trail of 115 km and 7,100 m of altitude difference which, every year in April, crosses the Portuguese island from west to south through incredible landscapes. The intense vegetation, with laurel forests classified as UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the cliffs and the views of the Atlantic make this race magical.
The Swiss Canyon Trail was created in 1994 under the name of Trail de l’Absinthe and crosses the Swiss Val-de-Travers valley, the cradle of watchmaking. There are five race distances (111K, 81K, 51K, 31K, 16K), the biggest being the Ultra 111K through the mountains and lush forests of the valley.
With an elevation gain of 5,350m, technical and demanding terrain, the Swiss Canyon Trail is a benchmark race in Europe. It is renowned for its organizational experience, its legendary welcome and its history, notably as the site of the Swiss mountain running championships.
Pure elevation race, a myriad of varied climbs and descents in a heavenly environment, in short, the best of the Jura massif!
The South Downs Way 100 is a 100-mile linear run that follows the historic South Downs Way National Trail through rolling terrain, past ancient Roman forts and through picturesque villages in southern England.
Some trails can be muddy and the chalk in some sections can be slippery, making them technical in places, particularly on exposed ridgelines.
The race ends almost on the Channel coast at Eastbourne, after multiple short climbs and descents typical of the country’s terrain. It’s a great way to experience trail running in the UK.
Made up of wild and spectacular routes, from the banks of the majestic St. Lawrence River in Charlevoix to Mont-Sainte-Anne. Bringing together eight distances for all levels, it is the largest ultra trail race in Canada.
The Grand Raid des Pyrénées is one of the most legendary and demanding races on the world ultra-trail circuit. Despite the ever-increasing number of people registered for its races, the “GRP” – as insiders call it – wishes to remain an event on a human scale, friendly and warm.
This gathering of 6,700 runners puts the Pyrenees chain in the spotlight and more particularly, the superb massif, still preserved and wild, of the central Pyrenees, through sumptuous high and medium mountain courses, a heritage site. world heritage site – the Gavarnie cirque, and other remarkable sites and viewpoints, the Pic du Midi de Bigorre, the Pyrenees lakes. The GRP is recognized by the French press as being one of the most beautiful trails in France.
Running in the far south of the African continent in a unique place that combines the urban side of a cosmopolitan city and the solitary nature that runs along the Atlantic coast: this is the RMB Ultra-Trail Cape Town. The race attracts more than two thousand runners from 47 countries each year in November.
