Joyce Njeru in action at the Montee du Nid d’Aigle (© Marco Gulberti)
La Montee du Nid d’Aigle provides the stunning backdrop of Mont Blanc for the next gold label race in the Valsir Mountain Running World Cup on Saturday (22).
Kenya’s Patrick Kipngeno and Joyce Njeru, who front-ran their way to course records here last year, return to the French region of Saint Gervais to defend their titles, but they will face stiff opposition.
Njeru is fresh from her victory at Fletta Trail last weekend and a runner-up finish in Montemuro a few weeks prior. She is joint leader in the World Cup rankings, alongside Britain’s Scout Adkin who will not be in Saint Gervais this weekend. But Njeru’s fellow Kenyan Lucy Murigi – the winner here in 2021 – will be taking part and can never be discounted.
Italy’s Camilla Magliano was third here last year and more recently finished fourth at Montemuro. She is consistently strong in uphill-only races so will be one to watch, as will Finland’s Susanna Saapunki, having made the move from cross-country skiing to mountain running over the past couple of years. Belgium’s Charlotte Cotton, who was seventh at Montemuro, will also be toeing the line, as will USA’s Sarah Carter and Andie Cornish.
The men’s race could likely become a showdown between Kipngeno and his fellow Kenyan Philemon Kiriago. Kipngeno won Piz Tri Vertical last weekend and is the vertical uphill world champion so it would take a brave person to bet against him. But Kiriago broke the course record at Fletta Trail last weekend, and he will be keen to improve upon his runner-up finish from La Montee du Nid d’Aigle last year.
Ireland’s Zak Hanna finished 11th here last year, and was fourth in a competitive Broken Arrow VK back in June. Britain’s Joe Steward had a good outing last weekend in Malonno, finishing third in Piz Tri Vertical and eighth in Fletta Trail, as well as finishing eighth in the World Championships vertical uphill race, so he will be one to watch. Compatriot Jacob Adkin, the 2019 European mountain running champion, finished 10th here last year and could well improve on that this year.
Czechia’s Ondrej Fejfar achieved two top-10 finishes at Broken Arrow this year and will be looking to improve his World Cup standing, while France’s Alric Petit, who was 14th at Fletta Trail and 25th here last year, leads the home challenge.
La Montee du Nid d’Aigle (or Eagle’s Nest) became part of the World Cup series in 2021, but the event has been running for 36 years. At 19.5km with 2000m of ascent, the uphill-only route starts at Le Fayet at 596m and heads along the river towards Saint Gervais, and then climbs gradually to La Villette. It then heads away from the road and into the trees and begins to climb more steeply all the way up to the finish at Refuge du Nid d’Aigle at 2394m.
Kirsty Reade (WMRA) for World Athletics
