Latvia Joins the Prestigious UTMB® World Series Trail Running Series

Text: Stirnubuks.lv

This week in Chamonix (France), the world’s most prestigious trail running event – the UTMB Mont-Blanc Festival – kicks off with 8 races, more than 10,000 runners from 120 countries, and an audience of over 100,000 spectators. During the festival, a long-term partnership agreement will be officially signed between UTMB organizers and the team behind Latvia’s trail running series “Stirnu buks.” Starting next season, they will organize one of the UTMB World Series races — Gauja Trail by UTMB®, to be held for the first time on August 1–2, 2026, in Gauja National Park.

Trail Running’s Global Rise

Trail and mountain running have experienced remarkable growth over the past five years. The discipline has been officially recognized by World Athletics, with more than 25,000 trail races held worldwide annually. Over the last seven years, participation has increased tenfold. For the first time in 2023, the number of trail race participants globally surpassed that of traditional city marathons, according to UTMB estimates. Meanwhile, serious discussions are underway about including trail and mountain running in the 2032 Canber Summer Olympic Games.

By joining the UTMB World Series, Gauja Trail by UTMB® will offer Latvian and Baltic runners a direct path to qualify for the legendary UTMB final in Chamonix – the 170 km loop around Mont Blanc with over 10,000 meters of elevation gain.

Participants in the Gauja Trail by UTMB® will be able to choose from four distances: 85 km, 50 km, 25 km, and 10 km. The two longer races will serve as official qualification for the world’s trail running mecca in the French Alps.

Putting Latvia on the World Trail Running Map

“We are honored that the trails of Gauja National Park have been recognized as part of the UTMB World Series,” said race director Rimants Liepiņš. “This is not only a turning point for trail running in Latvia, but also a unique opportunity to showcase the natural beauty of our country to the global trail running community. It is also recognition for the Stirnu buks team, who over the last 10 years have built the largest trail running series in the Baltics.”

Guntars Logins, initiator and head of the event in Latvia, added:
“Latvia, with its 90,000-hectare Gauja National Park, is the perfect addition to the UTMB circuit. Known for its pristine forests, river valleys, caves, and medieval castles, the park attracts both athletes and nature lovers, and stands as a model of natural and cultural heritage preservation.”

Social and Environmental Responsibility

The event will also feature several social and environmental initiatives, including:

*** youth races and free registration for participants under 18,
*** facilitated participation for members of local communities,
*** a ban on plastic cups at aid stations,
*** and other activities to be announced closer to the race.

Registration will open on September 9, 2025. For the first 48 hours, entries will be reserved exclusively for runners with a valid UTMB Index. After that, registration will open to all active lifestyle and sports enthusiasts.

About UTMB® World Series

The UTMB World Series is a global network of trail running events serving as a qualification platform for the annual UTMB final in Chamonix. Gauja Trail by UTMB® will become an official qualifying race, meaning its participants can earn the necessary points and secure their place on the road to the pinnacle of trail running.

UTMB Mont-Blanc is the world’s premier trail running festival, held since 2003 in Chamonix, France. It has become the annual highlight of the sport and the foundation of the UTMB World Series. In 2025, the series is set to include over 50 events across 28 countries with 165,000 participants.

About Stirnu buks

Stirnu buks is the most extensive trail running series in Northern Europe, bringing together thousands of runners across Latvia since 2014. Each stage is held in the country’s most scenic natural areas, offering distances suitable for everyone, from beginners to elite athletes.

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Latvian athletes have already proven themselves on the UTMB® World Series stage with podium finishes

Andris Ronimoiss – KAT100 by UTMB, KAT100 Miles (174 km, 9,990 m+), 2nd place, 2023 (22:16:38)
Agate Armane – Julian Alps Trail Run by UTMB, Lake Bled 80k (79 km, 3,500 m+), 1st place, 2024 (8:28:50)
Linda Boldāne –Tenerife Bluetrail by UTMB, Ultra (108 km, 5,740 m+), 2nd place, 2025 (15:58:15)
Anete Švilpe – mozart 100 by UTMB®, Mozart Ultra (93 km, 4,540 m+), 3rd place, 2025 (10:40:44)

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