The grand finale of the 2024 Valsir Mountain Running World Cup kicked off today with a high octane short race on one of the most famous VK routes in the world. Lagunc KM Verticale provided the perfect backdrop for the first of the weekend’s two races and drizzly cool weather led to some fast times.
Lagunc KM Verticale takes a time trial format, with runners setting off at 15 second intervals, which leads to nail-biting waits at the finish, watching the lead change hands. Women set off first, then men set off later, and in both fields the elites start last. This means that there is a steady stream of runners coming through and the excitement builds until the spectators start to see the elites. Only then do we find out the winners. Because of the format it’s a race that can throw up a lot of surprises, and today was no exception.
RACE ROUTE
Originally a centuries old track linking Chiavenna with Lagunc, used by people as the only way to reach the church or the summit, it slowly dawned on the race organisers that it was exactly 1000 metres difference between the two. So they created this race and the route was then certified as the world’s first official, certified vertical kilometre. As well as that honour, it was also the course where the world‘s fastest time for the vertical kilometre (without poles) for both men and women were set. Andrea Mayr set the women’s record in 2018 with 35.40 and Bernard De Matteis in 2013 with 30.27.
Despite the world record times, it certainly isn’t a soft VK. A lot of the route has large rock steps, rather than smoother grassy or dirt paths, and it doesn’t really have flatter sections offering any respite for the runners.
THE WOMEN’S RACE
With the top three women in the World Cup rankings running, and just two points separating second and third, a lot could change this weekend. Joyce Muthoni Njeru (Atletico Saluzzo) started the weekend with a good buffer to second placed Scout Adkin (HOKA EU), on 288 points to Adkin’s 244, with Philaries Jeruto Kisang (Run2gether On Running) sitting just behind her. Susanna Saapunki (New Balance), who we know is very strong at short, uphill races, began the weekend in fifth place and expected to improve on that.
But with such a strong international field, including runners from Australia, the US and Canada, not to mention an incredibly talented contingent of Italian runners, it was hard to have any nailed-on predictions.
In fact it was Swiss runner Paola Stampanoni who threw down the gauntlet early on with a very fast time of 39.13. Many more runners finished and didn’t challenge this time. Could Stampanoni hang on for a huge upset? It wasn’t until Adkin appeared over the brow of the final climb that it was beaten and Adkin finished in 37.57, which was to be the eventual winning time, but we still had to wait and see for a short while. Jeruto Kisang finished second in 38.35 and Muthoni Njeru fifth in 39.55. Stampanoni held on for an incredible third place and Saapunki was fourth in 39.44. Australian Lara Hamilton took a very strong sixth.
MEN’S RACE
It is equally nail-biting in the men’s World Cup rankings, so two races this weekend will really shake them up. The top six men were taking part here and much could change.
Coming into today Patrick Kipngeno (Run2gether On Running) led with 235 points, with Patrick Omobogo Kiriago (Run2gether On Running) just eight points behind him, and Josphat Kiprotich (Run2gether On Running) 11 points behind him. Michael Selelo Saoli and Richard Omaya Atuya (both Run2gether On Running), plus Paul Machoka (Atletica Saluzzo), also stood to gain places in the World Cup with good performances here.
Standing in their way was a number of very strong US runners, including Joseph Gray (HOKA) and Christian Allen, and exceptionally strong Italians including Henri Aymonod (The North Face), who has won multiple times here.
Unlike the women’s competition, we didn’t really see an early mark put down by anybody until the last runners started to come in. Omaya Atuya and Machoka finished strongly in 32.28 and 32.16 respectively, followed by Kipngeno in 31.50, and for a short time it looked like Kipngeno might have it. However, it was Andrea Elia (Recastello Radici Group) who powered through the line to set the fastest mark in 31.08. Only Aymonod could beat him now. Agonisingly, Aymonod fell just seven seconds short of Elia’s time for second. Kipngeno was third and Tiziano Moia (Gemonatletica) had a strong run for fourth, with Machoka eventually fifth. Allen finished top American in ninth place.
Updated World Cup Rankings
In the World Cup rankings Adkin has closed the gap somewhat on Muthoni Njeru, with 299 points against 309. That will make tomorrow’s closing race incredibly exciting. Jeruto Kisang is in third on 289 and Saapunki now moves up to fourth on 188.
The World Cup ranking positions are unchanged in the top six for the men. Kipngeno now has a lead of 32 points over Kiriago (274 against 242), with Kiprotich on 216. Saoli now has 191, Atuya 179 and Machoka 177.
See full rankings here.