One of the only major trail events that took place in 2020, Fjällmaraton returns on Saturday. Aug. 7 for the fifth stop in the inaugural season of the Spartan Trail World Championship.

The heart of the fjörds in Åre, Sweden will be the perfect setting to continue the battle for the final leaderboard, following the Lavaredo Ultra Trail in Italy and the Brisbane Trail Ultra in Australia.

The Kia Fjällmaraton (45k) will be the Trail Run Championship race, and the 100k will be the Trail Ultra Championship distance. Fjällmaraton is one of Scandinavia’s older trail running races, and once again it will host runners of all abilities, from orienteering experts to fast runners to mountain specialists. A race with pure soul in the land of the vikings, participants will have the opportunity to experience pure nature and wildlife during a long summer day in the mountains.

Who Will Be There?

The battle for the Trail Run leaderboard is heating up, and two of the main candidates, Spain’s Antonio Martinez and Finland’s Mårten Boström, will be tackling the distance in Åre. Only a few points separate Martinez, the current leader, and  Boström, who knows the course well. (He finished in second last year.) They will have competition, though, with Jesper Lundberg — who finished third in 2020 — and Swedish legend André Jonsson also competing.

The women’s race will feature one of the best runners in the world, Ida Nilsson, who has recovered from an injury and is primed for a longer distance after her win in the 27k last week. Fanny Borgström, Johanna Åström, and Henriette Albon will also be on hand, and each has a realistic shot of winning.

Though Fjällmaraton is not one of the most technical races in the World Championship, the 100k is still a challenge for both Elite and Age Group runners. Returning athletes Stefan Ehrin (fourth in 2020), Viktor Stenqvist (eighth in 2020), and Lena Trillelv on the women’s side are some additional names to keep an eye on. But as we saw last year, don't be surprised to see some new names in the thick of the race.

The Current Leaderboards: Who Is on Top?

After Fjällmaraton, there’s only one additional Crown Label race in the inaugural season: the Ultra Pirineu. For the current Trail Ultra Championship Elite Leaderboard, click here (men's) and here (women's). For the current Trail Run Championship Elite Leaderboard, click here (men's) and here (women's).

Up-to-the-Minute Race Coverage All Weekend Long

Make sure to follow the Spartan Trail World Championship Instagram page and Twitter account for race-day coverage and information, as well as Fjällmaraton’s official Instagram page, which will have extra coverage and exclusive images from the beautiful trails in Åre.

For more information on the Spartan Trail World Championship, click here.