Scout Adkin wins the 2023 Montemuro Vertical Run (© WMRA / Marco Gulberti)
Scout Adkin and Paul Machoka will be among the athletes in action when the 2025 Mountain Running World Cup season starts with the Zmeu X-Fest in Câmpulung Moldovenesc, Romania, on Saturday (3).
The Carpathian Mountains will provide a stunning backdrop and with some familiar names from previous World Cups taking part, an exciting first classic mountain race of the season should be in store.
The women’s race offers a truly international mix of athletes. Great Britain’s Adkin, who won last year’s women’s World Cup, will begin her defence here, having claimed some big wins in last year’s competition as well as that unforgettable run at Sierre-Zinal, where she finished second after an epic duel with Romanian Madalina Florea.
Lining up alongside Adkin will be Romanian runners Ioana Madalina Amariei, winner of Giir di Mont 2024, and Ingrid Mutter, who has also finished on the podium at Giir di Mont.
Valentine Jepkoech Rutto could be one to watch, having finished fourth at the classic up and down race at the World Mountain and Trail Running Championships in 2023. Hana Svestkova Struzkova and Klara Ljubi could also challenge.
The men’s race is similarly international, with a strong contingent from Italy as well as some highly competitive Kenyan runners and local Romanian talent. Kenya’s Machoka finished fourth overall in last year’s World Cup with a string of consistent results, and with the experience he gained last year he will be interesting to watch this year.
Kevin Kibet, despite being just 22 years old, has already stood on the podium at Sierre-Zinal and finished fourth at the Mont Blanc Marathon.
Henri Aymonod is a name very familiar to World Cup followers. He is the master of uphill only races, with many classic race podiums in his palmares too, and will always be a runner to watch. Fellow Italians Andrea Elia, Andrea Rostan, Alberto Vender and Luca Merli are also sure to be in the mix.
In addition, young French athlete Alric Petit had an incredible 2024 including a second place at Fletta Trail. Mate Dalos may challenge and Romanian athletes Istvan Szabolcs and Alexandru Husariu Ionut could enjoy some home advantage.
The race is a classic up and down mountain race of 19.6km with 1750m of ascent. Starting from the centre of Câmpulung Moldovenesc at 650m, the runners first head up to Măgura Runcului peak (1176m), before descending 400m and then climbing back up to 1129m to summit Runc. From there it’s another long downhill back to Câmpulung to mark the halfway point of the race, before starting to climb again to the edge of the forest, followed by an ascent of Bodea (1073m). Then it’s another descent, followed by a short climb before the frantic dash to the finish line.
The race starts at 11am local time on Saturday. Live tracking is available at Zmeu X-Fest | LiveTrail®.
Kirsty Reade (WMRA) for World Athletics
