DOMINANT RUTTO REDEFINES GIIR DI MONT RECORD AND MAGNINI MASTERS MEN’S FIELD
After a rain affected uphill race in Premana on Saturday, conditions couldn’t have been more different for today’s 32k race, the 12th stage of this year’s World Cup competition. There were clear skies and warm temperatures for the runners as they stood on the start line in Piazza della Chiesa.
The 32k race is a big loop which links the 12 mountain pastures of the region. As such it really showcases the beautiful valleys and peaks around the area. The crux of the course is the three big climbs, the first of which ascends to Alpe Chiarino (1558m) after 5km of running, then on to the huts of Alpe Barconcelli.
The second climb, which comes after a flatter valley section and a 4km stretch of the old military road, is the biggest and takes the runners up to the Bocchetta di Larecc (2063 m), recording 800 m of elevation gain in just over 3 km. Traditionally there is a large crowd gathered here to cheer the runners on in the last 600m of this climb.
The final climb is the last and longest. The first part is the hardest, starting from the huts of Domant and then passing through Pianch, up to Alpe Premaniga (1403 m) and more crowds of supporters, before becoming less steep to Alpe Solino (km 25). Then there’s just the matter of the long descent back to Premana.
THE MEN’S RACE
With a very strong cohort of Kenyan runners, as well as some top Italians and other Europeans and a Columbian runner capable of making the podium, this was going to be a fascinating contest.
Davide Magnini (New Balance) struck out for an early lead and he emerged at Alpe Chiarino first, but with Paul Machoka (Pegarun) right behind him. There was then a gap of a minute back to Norwegian Stian Angermund, followed by another gap back to Michael Selelo Saoli (Run2gether), Mattia Tanara (Scott) and Alex Oberacher (La Sportiva). Federico Nicolini, Lorenzo Rota, Columbian Diego Vera (Scarpa) and Kevin Kibet (Pegarun).
It was something of a shock to see Saoli drop out soon after this, and the men’s race really was wide open. Magnini had maintained his lead at the next timing point at Vegessa, but Machoka was right on his heels and looking very comfortable. By this point the top 10 had splintered a little, with a group of four – Angermund, Tanara, Oberbacher and Rota Martir – working together, with Kibet just a few seconds behind.
At the next timing point at Larec, Magnini was still holding off Machoka by 40 seconds. Tanara and Angermund were still together and two minutes behind Machoka, with Rota a minute behind them and Oberacher and Vera two minutes further back. By Delagnaggio Magnini was still holding firm, but Angermund had overtaken Machoka to move into second place, and Tanara had moved into third, pushing Machoka into fourth. Rota Martir lay two minutes behind.
Eventually this top five didn’t change and Magnini took the win in 3.14.04, with Angermund in second in 3.15.36. Tanara completed the podium in 3.18.34.
Men’s top 5
- Davide Magnini (ITA) 3.14.04
- Stian Angermund (NOR) 3.15.35
- Mattia Tanara (ITA) 3.18.34
- Paul Machoka (KEN) 3.19.15
- Lorenzo Rota Martir (ITA) 3.20.18
THE WOMEN’S RACE
With a very strong women’s field, there was one runner who was determined to establish a lead straight from the start and from then on it became a case of whether she could hold on. And the race for the rest of the podium was going to be incredibly competitive.
It was Valentine Rutto (Pegarun) who took the race on from the front and by the time she reached Alpe Chiarino she’d already established a lead of two minutes. Italian Roberta Jacquin (Pegarun) led the chase, with Mathilde Sagnes of France 30 seconds behind, followed by Italians Martina Cumerlato, Cecilia Basso (Brooks) and Elisa Presa (Salomon). Swiss runner Simone Troxler and Alice Testina (Salomon) were close behind.
By Vegessa Rutto had stretched her lead out to three minutes and Jacquin, still trying to chase her down, had opened a gap of a minute now to Cumerlato, Presa, Sagnes and Testini. How would this next more runnable section through the valley effect the women’s race?
Incredibly, once they reached the next timing point at Larec, Rutto had used her flat speed and strong climbing to increase the gap to seven minutes. Behind her, three women were working together to try to reduce that gap and it was Cumerlato, Basso and Jacquin. It was starting to look unlikely that Rutto could be caught, but the race for second the third was on.
Rutto’s relentless pace didn’t let up and by Deleguaggio she had stretched the gap out to 10 minutes. Barring injury it looked like it was in the bag. At this point Cumerlato sat in second place, but Jacquin was just eight seconds behind and as they started the downhill section Jacquin looked ominously determined. Basso was two minutes behind.
Rutto took the impressive win in 3.58.28, which was a new women’s course record. Jacquin’s descending speed proved decisive and she overtook Cumberlato to take second in 4.07.56, with Cumerlato taking a brilliant third place in 4.08.47.
Women’s top 5
- Valentine Jepkoech Rutto (KEN) 3.58.28
- Roberta Jacquin (ITA) 4.07.45
- Martina Cumerlato (ITA) 4.08.47
- Cecilia Basso (ITA) 4.13.49
- Mathilde Sagnes (FRA) 4.18.42
