Sierre Zinal the race of the five 4000s 2026

If you were told that in 1970, a mathematician named Jean-Claude Pont was going to revolutionize a discipline, and find a formula that could be reapplied by all his international peers 👨‍🔬… Would you for a moment have thought of Sierre-Zinal and its race of the five 4000s? 🏔️ And yet, this is not a fairy tale but reality. Let us explain 📖

In 1974, a little-Swiss 🥛, a little fellow from Switzerland named Jean-Claude Pont 🇨🇭, then a mathematician and high mountain guide, realized that his country was sorely lacking in iconic mountain races. So, instead of brushing this thought aside 💭, as most of us would have done, he decided to create his own event. A unique course, mixing men and women, in a short trail format with a highly compressed elevation gain: Sierre-Zinal, the race of the five 4000s was born 👼.

By analyzing the name, one can quickly infer what it's about. A 31 km route linking Sierre to Zinal, identical over the years, with a first section that is extremely steep 📈. A challenge for the elite of the discipline, destined to become an industry benchmark 🏆. As a purely indicative measure, runners have already consumed more than 1,200 mD+ by the time they reach km 8, at Ponchette, which means an average permanent slope of 15% in the first quarter of the route. Enough to result in stratospheric statistics 🔥. But the more astute among us will have also noted the epithet " the race of the five 4000s ". So 5 x 4,000 = 20,000 mD+?! 🤯 In less than 40 km, that seems colossal... Fortunately, these 4,000 mD+ correspond to the peaks visible from the Valais trails. Participants are not required to conquer them 😮‍💨. The summits encountered along the way are already quite sufficient: Ponchette, Chandolin, Tignousa, the Hotel Weisshorn, and the Alpage de Nava follow each other at a frantic pace with a constantly changing altitude 🐏. In total, 2,133 mD+ are programmed. It is only from km 21 that competitors can finally find a flat playground, or even a descent for the last kilometers 🌱.

As for reputation, the little race organized by our Swiss friend Switzerland has grown remarkably and attracts the best athletes from around the world every year in the month of August 🌍. Whether for the scenery, the prestige, or the dazzling sunshine of the season, everyone rushes there in search of a bib 🎽. Because yes, the bibs are open to the general public (though first place is not easily given 😅), but reservation is by lottery 🎫. Just like some World Majors or ultra-trail monuments, such as the Diagonale des Fous or the UTMB, demand is so high that organizers have to let fate play its role ✅. But you never know unless you try, so keep an eye on the deadlines to not miss your chance. Who knows, you might find yourself at the starting line next to the race's multi-record holder Mr. Kilian Jornet 🏃. The Spaniard has won the race not once, not twice, not three times … but 10 times, all between 2009 and 2024. Quite the feat! 💥

So in the month of August, if you happen to be visiting our Swiss friends for some hiking or fine chocolate 🍫, consider detouring to the canton of Valais. There you will see the best athletes in the world battling it out on rocky trails 🪨, and if you're lucky, you might even witness a new world record being set? 😳