World Trail Majors: The Global Circuit Connecting Iconic Ultra Trail Races
From Transgrancanaria and MIUT to Mount Fuji 100 and Ultra Trail Cape-Town – Interview with Sergio Fernandez
Trail running has become one of the fastest-growing endurance sports in the world. From Europe to Asia and North America, thousands of runners now travel across continents to experience legendary races such as Transgrancanaria, Mount Fuji 100 or Madeira Island Ultra Trail.
But behind many of these iconic races lies a shared initiative: World Trail Majors, a global trail running circuit bringing together some of the most respected ultra-trail events across multiple continents.
Unlike commercial race series, World Trail Majors is a non-profit association of races, designed to protect the values of trail running while promoting the sport worldwide.
In this interview with TrailRunAdvisor, Sergio Fernandez from World Trail Majors explains how the circuit works, why it connects some of the most famous ultra-trail races in the world, and how it supports both elite athletes and passionate amateur runners.
Q1: World Trail Majors brings together some of the most iconic ultra trail races around the world. What is the mission of the circuit, and what makes it different from other international trail running series?
World Trail Majors is an association of races that together form a non-profit circuit. Our goal is to ensure that trail running continues to grow while remaining faithful to its original values.
Today, trail running is attracting more attention from large corporations and international organisations. While this can help the sport grow, it also risks standardising races and reducing the diversity that makes trail running unique.
Our mission is therefore to promote diversity, protect the independence of race organisers, and support a sustainable and inclusive vision of trail running.
Each race in the circuit keeps its identity, its traditions, and its connection with the local community.
Q2: The circuit includes races in Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas. How do you balance elite competition with cultural and environmental diversity?
Trail running looks different depending on where you are in the world. The culture of trail running in the United States is not the same as in Europe or Asia, and that diversity is something we want to protect.
The races in our circuit represent regions where trail running is deeply rooted. Each event reflects the landscape, the people, and the traditions of its territory.
Our aim is to offer runners the possibility to discover the world through trail running, from coastal cliffs and volcanic islands to alpine mountains and remote wilderness.
Q3: World Trail Majors offers rankings and prize money. How does the circuit motivate both elite runners and passionate amateurs?
In trail running there are two main types of participants.
Elite runners compete for victory, rankings, and prize money. For them, the circuit provides travel support, race invitations, accommodation, and an end-of-season prize purse of €82,500, in addition to the prize money offered by individual races.
But the majority of runners are not professional athletes. They participate because they love the sport and want to experience extraordinary adventures on legendary trails.
For them, the circuit offers the chance to run in some of the most iconic races in the world, often in breathtaking environments.
Q4: Trail running is known for its strong community spirit. How does World Trail Majors contribute to building a global community?
The key is to respect the local trail running culture of each race.
Every event is organised by people who live in the region and know the terrain, the community, and the challenges of the environment.
Our role is not to impose a standardised format but to connect these communities together, allowing them to share knowledge while preserving their identity.
Trail running is not just about racing. It is about respecting nature, protecting trails, and celebrating the diversity of outdoor cultures around the world.
Q5: What advantages do races gain by joining World Trail Majors?
International visibility is one benefit, of course. Being part of the circuit helps races reach a global audience of trail runners.
But collaboration between organisers is just as important. Race directors share ideas, experiences, and solutions to improve safety, logistics, and the runner experience.
We also maintain minimum quality standards, although the races that join the circuit usually already meet these standards.
In a rapidly evolving trail running landscape, the circuit offers organisers stability, collaboration, and long-term vision.
Q6: What are the priorities for the circuit in the coming years?
Our main priority is sustainable growth.
Some trail running circuits have expanded very quickly and later faced difficulties. We want to avoid that by growing carefully and ensuring that every new race fits the philosophy of the circuit.
Because decisions are made collectively by race directors, we take time to evaluate each step.
Sometimes it may seem that nothing is happening from the outside, but internally there are many discussions about how to strengthen the circuit while preserving its values.
What encourages us the most is the enthusiasm of runners and organisers around the world.
At the end of the day, amateur runners are the heart of the sport, and they are the people we work for.
A Calendar Featuring Some of the World’s Most Famous Trail Races
The World Trail Majors circuit includes legendary events across multiple continents, offering runners the opportunity to experience very different landscapes, cultures, and trail running traditions.
Among the most well-known races in the global trail scene are events such as:
- Transgrancanaria – one of the most famous ultra trail races in the Canary Islands
- Madeira Island Ultra Trail – a spectacular mountain race across the island of Madeira
These races highlight the incredible diversity of the sport, from volcanic landscapes in Gran Canaria to steep mountain ridges in Madeira or alpine valleys in Switzerland.
Why World Trail Majors Matters for the Future of Trail Running
By connecting iconic races such as Transgrancanaria, Mount Fuji 100, MIUT and other legendary ultra-trail events, World Trail Majors offers a vision of trail running that values:
- independence of race organisers
- respect for local communities
- environmental responsibility
- global collaboration
For runners looking to explore the world through trail running, the circuit represents a gateway to some of the most spectacular races on the planet.