After a rain affected uphill race in Premana on Saturday, conditions couldn’t have been more different for today’s 32k race, the 12^th 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

1. Davide Magnini (ITA) 3.14.04
2. Stian Angermund (NOR) 3.15.35
3. Mattia Tanara (ITA) 3.18.34
4. Paul Machoka (KEN) 3.19.15
5. 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

1. Valentine Jepkoech Rutto (KEN) 3.58.28
2. Roberta Jacquin (ITA) 4.07.45
3. Martina Cumerlato (ITA) 4.08.47
4. Cecilia Basso (ITA) 4.13.49
5. Mathilde Sagnes (FRA) 4.18.42

Anticipation was high for stage 11 of the World Cup at today’s Giir di Mont Uphill. With competition really hotting up in the World Cup competition, podium places here could prove pivotal to this year’s contest, and many of the top athletes made the trip to Premana for this historic race.

The Giir di Mont race’s origins date back to the 1960s, and over the years it has attracted the best mountain runners in the world. The uphill race was added in 2022 but from the off it has showcased the highest level of competition.

Premana provides a perfect playground for the Giir di Mont races, with 2000m peaks all around, alpine pastures, ancient woodland and a local community that lives and breathes mountain running. Hundreds of local volunteers make it an unforgettable race experience for anybody who takes part.

The uphill race starts benignly, with a fast and runnable first kilometre, but over the course of the next 6.5km it climbs 800m, with 400m of that in the final kilometre. The final, steep section sees runners really digging deep to reach the finish line at Alpe Solino.

THE WOMEN’S RACE          

The women set off first, and while the drizzly rain cooled the temperatures for them, it did make the conditions underfoot slightly more challenging.

The line-up for the women included World Cup leader Scout Adkin (HOKA EU), 7-time World Champion Andrea Mayr, Valentine Jepkoech Rutto (Pegarun) and Joyce Muthoni Njeru (Nnormal), currently second and third in the World Cup standings. In addition, the presence of Gloria Chebet (Run2gether), Susanna Saapunki (On Running) and Philaries Jeruto Kisang (Run2gether) made the start line feel almost like a World Championship.

It was very close, with the lead changing hands many times, but eventually Adkin got away and took the win in 47.52. It was Francesca Ghelfi (ASD Podistica Valle Varaita) who chased her to the end and took second in 47.58, with the unstoppable Mayr competing the podium in 48.31.

Women’s top 5

1. Scout Adkin (GBR) 47.52
2. Francesca Ghelfi (ITA) 47.58
3. Andrea Mayr (AUT) 48.31
4. Valentine Jepkoech Rutto (KEN) 48.46
5. Gloria Chebet (KEN) 49.24

THE MEN’S RACE

The men’s race was equally stacked and it, too, got off to a very fast start through the cobbled streets. With the top three in the men’s World Cup competition – Paul Machoka (Pegarun), Philemon Ombogo Kiriago (Run2gether) and  Michael Selelo Saoli (Run2gether) – in addition to Richard Omaya Atuya (Run2gether) and Josphat Kiprotich (Run2gether), it was one of the strongest Kenyan line-ups we’ve had this year.

This race was also the Italian Uphill only Mountain Running Championship, so there was an incredibly strong cohort of Italian athletes in both the men’s and women’s race too. Andrea Rostan (Atletica Saluzzo) , who took a podium spot in Chongli, and Andrea Elia (La Recastello Radici Group), who finished as top Italian last weekend at Vauban.

It was an all-Kenyan podium, with Atuya eventually breaking free to in in 39.49. Kiriago was close behind in 40.07, with another narrow gap to Machoka in third in 40.17. The top five were all Kenyan and within one minute of each other.

Men’s top 5

1. Richard Omaya Atuya (KEN) 39.49
2. Philemon Ombogo Kiriago (KEN) 40.07
3. Paul Machoka (KEN) 40.17
4. Josphat Kiprotich (KEN) 40.32
5. Michael Selelo Saoli (KEN) 40.45

After the excitement of last weekend’s World Cup races in Briançon, France, there’s no let-up for the competition as we head straight into stages 11 and 12 at Giir di Mont. Held in Premana, Italy, in the heart of the Lombard Alps, we will see runners take on an uphill race on Saturday 26^th and a long mountain race on Sunday 27^th.

Giir di Mont is a race with an incredible history. Having started in the 1960s as a bet, then resurrected temporarily in the 1980s, then permanently in 1999, this year it celebrates its 31^st edition.  A love of mountain running runs deep in this place, and the community is the beating heart of this event. Premana itself dates back to Roman times and you can see its ancient history reflected in the landscapes of centuries-old woodland and breathtaking peaks all around. The centre still boasts cobbled streets, and the more recent history of iron and steel working is evident in the local culture.

Premana is a renowned hub for hiking, mountain biking and climbing, as well as running, and has an incredible network of trails. The trail that links the 12 alpine pastures of the area provides the route for the long race, making it a true journey through the history of the region.

THE COURSE

The racing gets underway on Saturday 26^th with Giir di Mont Uphill, an 8km, 1,050m+ test starting at the valley floor in Giabbio and finishing at Alpe Solino. It will serve as the Italian Uphill only Mountain Running Championship.

First reaching Premana, the runners then climb through beautiful woods and pastures, before hitting more variable terrain with some steep slopes. After passing a small group of huts the runners will reach the summit of Alpe Premanaga (1400m) and the final 2k is up and down to Alpe Solino (1618m).

On Sunday 27^th it’s time for the 32k race. Starting from the centre of the village in Piazza della Chiesa, the route initially descends along an ancient mule track, before the first of the three climbs begins. Once reaching the first summit of Alpe Chiarino (1558m) a technical trail leads to Alpe Barconcelli Hut, before descending for 2k.

The second, hardest, climb is approached via an old military road and the runners will ascend 800m over just 3km to reach Bocchetta di Larecc (2063m). Then they will tackle a technical descent, another ascent and a descent back to the military road. The last and longest climb now begins, up to Alpe Solino, before some short and more runnable ups and downs lead to Alpe Deleguaggio (1690m). From here it’s one last technical descent back to Premana.

THE FAVOURITES

An incredible line-up of international athletes will be heading to Premana this weekend, including the top three women and top three men in the World Cup competition. With the depth of fields in both races we will be sure to see some incredible racing.

Scout Adkin (HOKA EU) leads the women’s rankings and she will take part in the uphill race. Currently second, Valentine Jepkoech Rutto (Pegarun) will contest both races, and Joyce Muthoni Njeru (Nnormal), third,  will just do the uphill race.

Add to that the tantalising prospect of seeing Andrea Mayr, Gloria Chebet (Run2gether), Susanna Saapunki (New Balance) and Philaries Jeruto Kisang (Run2gether) in action in the uphill, plus Camilla Magliano (Altra)  and Elisa Desco (Scarpa) in the long race, and the women’s races should deliver some excitement.

For the men the World Cup leader Paul Machoka (Pegarun) takes on both races, as does the third placed Michael Selelo Saoli (Run2gether), whereas second placed Philemon Ombogo Kiriago (Run2gether) just contests the uphill race.

In Saturday’s uphill race they will face stiff competition from Josphat Kiprotich (Run2gether), Jacob Adkin (New Balance) whose season started with a bang last weekend with a third place in the uphill race, Kevin Kibet (Pegarun) and man of the moment Lukas Ehrle (ASICS). In Sunday’s long race Ephantus Mwangi Njeri (Run2gether), Davide Magnini (New Balance) and Stian Angermund could well challenge.

Giir di Mont has it all – epic backdrops, rich history and culture and a stunning line-up of athletes. You can follow all the action via our social media channels and find out more about the race on their website.