Author: Tomo Sarf

It might be a new race for some of our usual Mountain Running community but the PizTriVERTIKAL in Italy has been with us for quite a few years.  It’s one of Italy’s most important uphill race events and so Mountain Running is really excited to bring a new style of race into the 2018 World Cup.

breaking news is that Austria’s, Andrea Mayr will race in Malonno!  The PizTriVERTIKAL is now a truly international race!

perhaps it was legitimate to expect it, since she won the first round of the world cup 2018 circuit (official world cup site), but the news of having the World’s most succesful Women’s Mountain Runner in Malonno is something to celebrate.  She is a true living icon and it’s always a thrill to watch her compete.  

Born 1979, 6 times world champion of Classic Mountain Running, 4 times European Champion of Classic Mountain Running, she holds the World Best Time on Vertical Km without the use of poles established last year at Chiavenna-Lagunc (FIDAL Homologated) with the final crono of 35 ‘ 54 “.

In her career she won 8 times the Bergen’s Hochfelln Berglauf, more times the Grossglockner, Telfes, Bludenz, the Smarna Gora, she won the Jungfrau, she won on the Taipei101, she won over 40 national Austrian titles between track, road, mountain and cross, she participated twice in the World Athletics Championships in the specialty of the 3000 hedges, last but not least: she raced twice the Olympic Marathon, in 2012 in London (54th) and in 2016 in Rio de Janeiro (64th). Her personal-best say 33’35 “in the 10’000, 1h11’49” in the half, 2h30’43 “in the marathon.

But the greatness of this authentic masterpiece of nature lies above all in the determination, passion and seriousness with which she prepares and competes. A monster of concentration, killer instinct she has overcome any type of obstacle, injury, adversary, or difficulty.

The last time in Italy she raced at the World Championships in Premana (where she won silver) and during her career she has added victories and satisfactions in other specialties: Austrian mountain biking champion in 2004, 2006 and 2013, Champion of Europe in short duathlon in 2014 and in 2017 she took the skis and skins to take also the world title of vertical in the ski-alp.

Having her in Italy is a real thrill, she came to the “Bel Paese” to take two world titles (in Casette di Massa in 2014 and Tonale, unforgettable, in 2012), the silver of Premana and the record of Chiavenna. For the square of Malonno it’s an historical blow, here on the paths where they have already passed Felter, Pezzoli, Vallicella, Demadonna, Bordin, Molinari, Milesi, Fregona, Bonzi, De Gasperi, Dematteis, Douglas, Kosoveli, Krupicka, Chevrier, Rancon , Puppi, Belotti, Desco, Gaggi, Roberti, Rota Gelpi and many other great champions could not miss her, the greatest female mountain runner of all time.  Ok that’s Mayr, but what of the Race!!?

Scheduled for Saturday, August 4 the Vertical K is held in the “country of mountain running” where the passion runs deep.  

Mayr at the center of the scene but there will be a real race to run: 3.49 km and 1000 meters D + on off road trails, paths, pastures and the final wall that leads to the Campel-hut (1820 m above sea level). Waiting to give all the energy up there will be a huge group of opponents of the highest level in addition to a men’s race also to be followed.

Piz Tri VK Could re-propose the duel that has made the history of the discipline in the last 15 years, the one between Mayr and rical Valentina Belotti, who holds the course-record (40’36 “established in 2016) and that got many silver medals behind the Austrian. Here, among her mountains and her fans she could look for that sporting revenge that in any case would not change by one centimeter the career of another great champion that the whole mountain-running world in Italy is proud of.

To know if Valentina will be at the start and to know the names of the other elites, the race themes and the details of the weekend program in Malonno, please remember the press conference fixed on August 2nd, 2018 at 20.00, which you can follow live on the page FB of @corsainmontagna

see the  RACE WEBSITE

Find all the photos from our team of photographers….

 Find all the photos from our team of photographers here: Grossglockner Photos 

We have partnered with the Corsa in Montagna team to bring you as much high quality media content as possible.  We hope you enjoy it and come and join the events with us!

Credit Photos and Copyright: Damiano Benedetto / www.corsainmontagna.it

Mayr and Ndungu take out the 2018 World Cup Opener in style at the Grossglockner Mountain Race in Austria. The 7 times world champion and the kenyan sensation deserve the win with their fighting performances in two very different races played out over the beautiful alpine terrain in the region of Carinthia, Austria.

Great organization, 1200 excited and satisfied (but tired!) participants and an event held in one of the most picturesque locations in Austria merited this IAAF label and World Cup designation. The runners were able to cover a variety of terrain from gentle pastures to rocky moraine as they arrived up to the Pasterze glacier on the 13 km and 1500 m+ journey.

Some of the best mountain runners were on the start line on this Sunday morning. The major hit for local fans was the return of Austrian multiple World Champ, Andrea Mayr in her biggest mountain race so far in the 2018 season.

Andrea Mayr follows her partner Andreas into the uphill.  Photo: Damiano Benedetto

The women’s race did not disappoint expectations by showing a Mayr in a state of flowing running form and great rhythm right from the start as “die kaiserinen” confirmed her status of absolute dominator of the international scene. She reached the 2’370 meter above sea level finish line of the Kaiser-Franz-Josefs-Höhe with the final time of 1h21’51 “, only 5 seconds above her course-record! leaving no possibility of a repost to her fellow competitors, she dominated on the climbing sections and 2nd place was 7 minutes behind. It did leave however an exciting finish for the other podium places with Kenyan Purity Gitonga eventually getting the better of Czech athlete, Pavla Schorna. In fact from 2 – 5th positions were closely fought. Grabbing some important points early for the cup ranking was a priority for all of the top 5. The Italian Ivana Iozzia won the 4th place resisting the attacks of the Austrian Alexandra Hauser, the two closed the race spaced apart by just a few seconds.

a good race for young kenyan Purity Gitonga  Photo: Damiano Benedetto

In the men’s race a more open fight unfolded. In the end the victory did not escape the Kenyan Gikuni Ndungu, former winner at the Grossglockner in 2017 and today able to give the decisive push to resist the attack set by some tough and aggressive running opponents, German Anton Palzer, the Italian Francesco Puppi and the Scotsman Andy Douglas, respectively arrived at the 2nd, 3rd and 4th place.

Gikuni Ndungu does it again at Grossglockner and “the Panzer”.. Anton Palzer takes 2nd.  Photos: Damiano Benedetto

The duel between Ndungu and Palzer was an exciting battle. Spectators can clearly see the runners coming up in the final 2.5km of the track and they were locked together as the both hit what is affectionally known as ‘the wall’. It is the final 800m of track that climbs incredibly steeply. Only in this final part could the Kenyan break away from a tiring Anton Palzer who had given everything to hang on. Between the two there was only a margin of less than 30 seconds at the line. A balanced and compelling duel spurred on by a crowd of approx 1000 supporters echoing out over the glacier valley.

 Francesco Puppi with Austria’s highest Mountain as a backdrop. Photo: Jonathan Wyatt

Behind them Puppi and Douglas seemed to follow the same script, marking themselves out mid race but then locked together until the last 700 meters in which the long distance world champion was able to detach the Scotsman to seal his place on the podium of Grosgglockner Berglauf.

The 5th place went to the British runner Chris Arthur while Czech Jan Janu finished 6th and the Austrian Toroitich Kosgei was 7th.

The complete rankings of the Grossglockner Berglauf 2018 >> RESULTS

Photo Isaac Kosgei from Kenya gets the support from the crowd, photo: Jonathan Wyatt

The World Cup is now moving to Italy, on the Orobie Alps with the unprecedented test of Kilometro Verticale. It will be the PizTRiVERTIKAL of Malonno to host the 2nd round of the circuit on August 4th, while a week later it will fly to the Valais Region, in Switzerland, for the iconic Sierre-Zinal.

The World circuit will end in September and October with the Hochfelln Berglauf and the Smarna Gora.

2018 World Cup Schedule:

#1 HEILIGENBLUT (AT) 15/07/18

#2 MALONNO (IT) 04/08/18 

#3 ZINAL (CH) 12/08/18

#4 BERGEN (DE) 30/09/18

#5 ŠMARNA GORA (SI) 06/10/18

amazing landscape at Grossglockner, a real mountain-classic

Credit Photo: Damiano Benedetto / www.corsainmontagna.it

Photos Ndungu/Puppi/Kosgei: Jonathan Wyatt 

The World Cup round one is already upon us and it’s taking place at the mythical Grossglockner Berglauf in Austria.  Located directly below the highest mountain in Austria it shows the best of one of Austria’s most beautiful National Parks.  

The great Austrian classic of Heligenblut ready to become an ideal “trait d’union” between past and present of a circuit on which the new WMRA council is investing a lot for the future to promote mountain running in a proffessional and easy to understand format.  5 great races, great attention to communication and the great desire to offer the ideal stage to make possible the comparison between the best and most versatile international athletes of the Mountain Running Discipline.

Heiligenblut, the spectacular Carinthian valley and the majestic Grossglockner and the 2018 Mountain Running World Cup kicks off next Sunday, July 15. Already several times a part of the original Grand Prix, it has also hosted events such as the 2005 European Championships. The race is classic style of mountain running at 13km and 1400 D + for a challenge of stunning beauty and appeal that takes place in an enchanted setting going up from the village of Heiligenblut and climbing the border valley between Carinthia and East Tyrol. To reach the finish line the athletes will “kiss” thePasterze glacier while the finish is set at 2370m above sea level at the Kaiser-Franz-Josefs-Höhe.

Starting from a classic of the old editions, but with a high class of organisation and an international outlook, it was a clear choice for the new president Jonathan Wyatt, who wants to turn the page but also demonstrate how the heritage of competitions and events that have built over the past 30 years the “Mountain Running Culture” should be preserved and valued in a more decisive way.

Following round 1, Italy always supports the Mountain Running world and on August 4th stages in Italy a completely new idea for the World Cup, the PizTriVERTICAL in Malonno, and a week later, on August 12, will touch the Sierre-Zinal, in what should represent the decisive moment of the season, with the meeting and comparison between Mountain Running Classic and Mountain Trail as the classic Valais will also be a stage of the Salomon Golden Trail Series.  A focus on a bigger variety of distance and styles of mountain running was a key idea in this years races.  The World Championships in Andorra during September break up the Cup races but the series resumes for the final events in Bergen (Hochfelln) and Smarna Gora (Slovenia).

The holders of the prestigious trophies are two Italians, Alex Baldaccini and Alice Gaggi, who for different reasons are not able to compete at the highest levels in the 2018 edition. But both Italy and the other European nations will be on the line up, from Andrea Mayr to Jan Janu, from Andy Douglas to Sarah Tunstall, from Francesco Puppi to Valentina Belotti to Pascal Egli just to name a few. Great expectation as always for Africa, which in this review has won on several occasions especially in recent years with the stratospheric results of the Eritrean Petro Mamu, while the hope is to find participation by non-EU nations such as the South Americans and the USA, the continents to which the cup will turn to in the coming years to become a real world event.

Follow us for more updates on the Stage One of the 2018 World Cup, www.corsainmontagna.it will be present and will tell you about it !!

Here the rankings of the previous editions of the World Cup (WMRA Grand Prix)

Photos by: Gert Steinthaler, Stefan Warmuth, Wisthaler

Team USA swept the top spot across individual and team categories at the 15th NACAC Mountain Running Championships on Sunday, July 8, the 15th NACAC Mountain Running Championships at Loon Mountain in Lincoln, New Hampshire. Joseph GRAY captured his 14^th national championship title enroute to a decisive win at today’s 10.6-kilometer mostly uphill race in a time of 50:28. For the women, USA’s Allie MCLAUGHLIN won gold in a time of 57:45.

 On the men’s side, the top two finishers across the line scored giving USA the gold medal when Andy WACKER crossed the line in second place. Team Canada took silver with Seth MARCACCIO finishing in fourth and Robert MCCANN in fifth. New to NACAC Mountain Running Competition this year, Team El Salvador earned bronze with Juan BOLANOS and Douglas AGUILAR finishing in ninth and tenth.

With two complete women’s teams – four members per country – the top three across the line scored. MCLAUGHLIN led Team USA to gold with a score of ten points with a third-place finish by Addie BRACY and Kasie ENMAN in sixth. Team Canada’s Shelley DOUCET, Emma COOK-CLARKE and Marianne HOGAN finished fourth, fifth, and eighth respectively for a team score of 17 to take silver. Mexico’s Citlali CRISTIAN was second among the NACAC women which earned her a silver medal, but was the sole competitor for her country.

In addition to the NACAC competition, the event hosted the USATF Mountain Running Championships, and the Collegiate Mountain Running Championships. Nearly 900 runners participated. Complete results at: www.millenniumrunning.com.

In 2019, Mexico will host the 16^th NACAC Mountain Running Championships.

On Sunday, July 8, the 15th NACAC Mountain Running Championships will take place at Loon Mountain in Lincoln, New Hampshire. This year marks a return to the USA for this area championship after a four-year absence, and will welcome athletes from Canada, Mexico, USA, and new nation for 2018, El Salvador. The NACAC Mountain Running Championships has rotated between USA, Canada, and Mexico. Last year, Canada served as the host.

First held in 2006, the Loon Mountain Race is a 10.62-kilometer mostly uphill race starting at the base of the Loon Mountain Ski resort, climbing 3200 feet and finishing at the mountain summit. The terrain is a mix of gravel road at the start, service roads, grassy meadows, single track, and of course…climbing. With an average slope of 14 percent, the steepest climb is the final few hundred meters on “the Boss,” with a maximum grade of 48 percent.

WMRA council member Nancy Hobbs (USA), will be on site at the event. Updates on race day will be posted @wmramountainrun by Richard Bolt, who provides social media support to the WMRA. Race results will be posted at: www.millenniumrunning.com.

Italy dominated proceedings once again at the European Mountain Running Championships in Skopje, Macedonia on Sunday.  On a warm day the up and down Championships saw some exciting racing and some dominant performances.  Full results and images can be found with links below:

Their day began with two gold medals from the U20 women’s race as individual winner Angela Mattevi also led Italy to the team title and the championships was bookended with a clean sweep of the medals in the senior men’s race in which Italy won team gold for the 22nd time.

In between, Romania’s Gabriela Bularda defended his U20 title in the junior men’s race before Switzerland’s Maude Mathys also defended her title in the senior women’s race. Mathys was the most dominant winner of the day, winning the title by over four minutes.

Full results can be found : EAA CHAMPIONSHIPS

And race video and photos link : EAA Photos and Video

Excellent organisation and hosting was provided in Macedonia and the featured racing had the brightest stars of European Mountain Running on show.  Many thanks to all who participated and the strong organisation team behind this years event.

Rain & cold temperatures on ?nie?ka Peak didn’t slow down the world’s fastest mountain runners in Karpacz, Poland. Great Britain, Italy, Czech Republic and Austria all stand upon the top step of the podium after tackling the challenging 36 km with 2110 meters of climbing and descending.

Charlotte Morgan (Great Britain) held off defending champion Silvia Rampazzo (Italy) to win gold in a time of 3:08:26. Second place and the silver medal went to the host country’s Dominika Stelmach (Poland) who finished not far behind in 3:08:48. Silvia Rampazzo (Italy) rounds out the podium in 3rd place with a time of 3:10:33.

 A very dynamic men’s race saw Andy Wacker (United States) lead for more than half the race before falling back near the ?nie?ka summit. Passing Wacker while moving uphill fast and up in the running order, Alessandro Rambaldini (Italy) raced into downtown Karpacz in first place finishing in 2:39:18.  This is Alessandro’s second Long Distance win having taken first place at the 2016 championship in Slovenia.  Robert Krupicka (Czech Republic) was never far from the lead and ended up second with a time of 2:40:55. 2016 World Mountain Running Champion Joseph Gray (United States) ran close to Wacker early in the race but ended up battling Robert in a near-sprint finish coming home with the bronze medal in 2:41:02; just seven seconds from silver.

The women’s team race was extremely close with the top three teams separated by just 3 points. Austria’s women placed all three scoring runners in the top 12 to take the gold medal with 28 points. Lead by individual champion Charlotte Morgan, Great Britain took the silver medal with 30 points. Romania’s women earned bronze with 31 points.

The men’s team race saw a close battle for the gold with the Czech Republic putting each of their three scoring runners a single place ahead of the United States’ three scoring runners. In the end the Czech Republic won gold with 15 points with the United States taking silver with 18 points. Mountain running powerhouse Italy rounded out the podium taking bronze with 40 points.

Quotes from the 2018 Long Distance Mountain Running Champions:

“I did not expect to perform as winner, as the competitors were very strong. I did not follow the Americans in the first uphill, I didn’t want to take any risk and I tried to control. In the second uphill I caught up together with Krupicka and I find the resources to fly away in the long final downhill. To tell the truth I felt I was surrender towards Kopa, but in the end I tried my best and it was my winning strategy. It’s emotional to repeat the 2016 Podrbrdo success and to contribute to my team result!” – Alessandro Rambaldini (Italy).

“I had no expectations before the race and am I’m surprised by the win; it wasn’t something I planned. I did take the lead on first descent before briefly loosing it due to calf cramps on top of second climb. I really liked the descents and went through the race feeling relaxed.” – Charlotte Morgan (Great Britain).

Official championship results including team scoring can be found here.

Online race results with 18 km split can be found here: http://live.sts-timing.pl/3xsniezka2018/

Start lists for the 15th WMRA Long Distance Mountain Running Championships in Karpacz, Poland.  Race day is Sunday, 24 June.  For updates follow the WMRA on Twitter and Facebook.  You can also find the start lists on this website.

Kobiety / Women

M??czy?ni / Men

The 15th WMRA Long Distance Mountain Running Championships will be contested this Sunday, 24 June, in Karpacz, Poland. With a population of 5,000, this small town features stunning vistas of the surrounding Giant Mountains (Karkonosze) and a unique landscape which attracts more than one million annual visitors. Its highest summit Sniezka, will be center stage on the challenging mountain course as competitors vie for the title of World Champion.

 Sniezka (pronounced Shny-ezh-ka) stands 1603 meters high and its altitude, when multiplied by three, equals that of Mont Blanc. Thus, 3 times up Sniezka = 1 Mont Blanc, which is in the name of the traditional running event hosting the championships. The Championships course is a distance of 36.2 kilometers with + 2110 m ascent and -2100 meters of descent. There are two loops to Sniezka’s summit, the highest point on the route. In addition, there are two other event distances offered, one with three summits of Sniezka, the final with one summit.

All teams competing in the championships will stay at the Hotel Golebiewski, the biggest hotel in Poland. Competition in the championships’ race begins at 9 a.m. on Sunday, with the traditonal races starting 20 minutes later. The field for the championships includes 76 men and 58 women representing 20 countries. More than 900 runners participate in the traditional races, a number that could be much larger, but the Karkonosze National Park keeps rigorous participation limits.

 Last year’s champion, Italian Francesco Puppi, will not defend his world title, but he will enter the highest stage of the podium … before the race. The Championships 2017 awards ceremony in the men’s category will be held during this year’s Opening Ceremony, arranged after disqualification of the 2017 winner due to a doping violation. This special ceremony will provide an opportunity to recognize the rightful medal winners on a public stage.

Although Puppi will be absent from the start line, the second through fifth place finishers in 2017 will race. Italian Silvia Rampazzo, women’s world champion from last year, hopes to defend her title, but will face strong competition as seven of the top ten women from last year are slated to race. Don’t count Poland out. The host country also has favorites and dozens of mountain running fans await good performance of the national teams with course record holders Bartlomiej Przedwojewski – 2:50:50 and Dominika Stelmach – 3:23:30 competing.

Before coming to Karpacz, view the video links, and get a taste of the atmosphere that awaits!