MORBEGNO CELEBRATES A RECORD-BREAKING EDITION OF TROFEO VANONI
BRITISH AND ITALIAN SUCCESS AT THE 42ND WOMEN’S RELAY AND 68TH TROFEO VANONI
The streets and steep trails of Morbegno were alive once again with passion, tradition and top-level mountain running as the 42nd Vanoni Women’s Relay and the historic 68th Trofeo Vanoni delivered a thrilling day of competition. Record numbers on the start line, international victories and dramatic lead changes crowned this latest chapter in one of Italy’s most iconic relay events.
A RACE WITH HERITAGE
rofeo Vanoni, known as the “World Mountain Running Relay Classic”, continues to grow both in prestige and participation. This year welcomed 178 men’s relay teams and a record 70 women’s pairs to challenge the technical course that winds through the heart of Morbegno and up to Arzo.
This edition confirmed once again why Vanoni stands as a reference point in the global mountain running community, combining fierce competition with an unforgettable atmosphere.
42ND VANONI WOMEN’S RELAY
SORTINI AND COLLINGE DEFEND THE TITLE FOR ATL. ALTA VALTELLINA
A record field set the tone for an intense women’s race from the opening steps. Nancy Scott (Snowdon Race Team) led early over the summit. Slovenia’s experienced Lucija Krkoc surged on the descent, changing in first place with the second-fastest split of the day (21:54) and taking a 43-second advantage over the British squad.
Behind her, Beatrice Bianchi (La Recastello) powered the downhill to reach the exchange in third, while Elisa Sortini (Atl. Alta Valtellina) positioned her team in fourth after strong descending skills.
The second leg reshuffled everything. Emmie Collinge, former European champion, flew to the front before the summit and never looked back. She not only sealed back-to-back victories for Atl. Alta Valtellina, but also clocked the fastest time of the day (21:46), coming close to the event record set by Gaggi & Belotti.
Slovenia held on for a brilliant second place thanks to Klara Mocnik, while Eve Pannone brought the Snowdon Race Team home in third after a spectacular duel with Alice Gaggi in the final metres.
Scotland completed the top five, confirming the increasingly international reach of the event.
68TH TROFEO VANONI
SENSATIONAL VICTORY FOR BRITAIN’S CARNETHY HILL RACING TEAM
The men’s race delivered a major upset and scenes of jubilation for Carnethy Hill Racing, who became only the second British squad in history to win Trofeo Vanoni. Young, fearless and technically superb, they overcame both pre-race favourites SA Valchiese and Recastello Athletica.
The first leg saw Alberto Vender (SA Valchiese) attack the descent and hand over in 29:38. Isacco Costa (Recastello) and Matthew Knowles (England) stayed well within reach, both finishing under 30 minutes.
Recastello’s Andrea Elia then launched a bold move, cresting Arzo with a lead of more than one minute over Valchiese and Carnethy’s Finn Lydon. But the twist was still ahead.
Valchiese took back control on the descent, setting up a dramatic final leg. On the decisive climb, Finlay Todd of Carnethy surged past both leading Italians and stormed into the lead. Roared on by the electric Morbegno crowd, he maintained focus and power to the line, securing an unforgettable victory in 1:31:20.
They also claimed the MEMORIAL GP BOTTA, awarded to the first foreign relay.
Recastello finished second (+31”), taking the regional relay title, while SA Valchiese completed the podium in third (1:32:36).
• France fourth thanks to Theodore Klein’s excellent run
• England fifth in 1:34:00
• Brayan Rodriguez Flores (Mexico) clocked the fastest time of the day (29:36)
• Tine Zizmond (Slovenia) was the fastest U23 in 31:10
