Madalina Florea wins at Sierre-ZInal (© WMRA)
Romania’s Madalina Florea claimed her first Sierre-Zinal title while Kenya’s Philemon Ombogo Kiriago secured his third victory at the renowned 31km race, the latest stage of the World Mountain Running Association (WMRA) World Cup, in Switzerland on Saturday (8).
Florea, who finished third at Sierre-Zinal in 2024, won the women’s race in 2:55:44 after making her decisive move on the descent. Defending champion Caroline Jepkoech Kimutai came through strongly over the closing kilometres to take second in 2:56:30, while Britain’s Morven Goodrum impressed on her debut to finish third in 2:57:12.
Kiriago, meanwhile, prevailed after a close battle with compatriot Patrick Kipngeno. The pair exchanged the lead during the latter stages before Kiriago finally broke clear on the descent to win in 2:26:24, 32 seconds ahead of Kipngeno. Michael Selelo Saoli completed an all-Kenyan podium in 2:29:36.
The Sierre-Zinal course climbs from 560 metres in Sierre to a high point of 2424 metres over the opening 24km before a 7km descent to the finish in Zinal, making the closing downhill section capable of dramatically reshaping the race.
In the women’s contest, Kimutai initially pushed to the front but Goodrum was quickly alongside her, while Florea, Britain’s Kirsty Skye Dickson and the Netherlands’ Nienke Brinkman were also prominent.
By 5km, Goodrum and Dickson were together at the head of the race with Florea close behind. Kimutai and Brinkman completed the leading group, while Oria Liaci, Laura Hottenrott and Jessica Paguay were among the chasers. World Cup leader Ruth Gitonga, Miriam Chepkirui, Anna Gibson and Vivien Bonzi were also in pursuit.
As the long climb continued, Goodrum, Florea and Brinkman repeatedly exchanged positions at the front, rarely separated by more than 20 seconds. Dickson began to lose ground, while Kimutai remained within striking distance.
The race changed once the athletes began the descent. Florea moved clear of Goodrum and established a gap of about 30-40 seconds. At 26km, Brinkman was more than two minutes behind the leading pair, but Kimutai was moving quickly through the field.
The defending champion passed both Liaci and Brinkman to move into third and then caught Goodrum during the final descent. Florea, though, had done enough to hold on, reaching Zinal 46 seconds ahead of Kimutai. Goodrum followed another 42 seconds later to secure third on her first appearance at the race. Liaci was fourth in 2:58:36 and Brinkman fifth in 2:58:53.
The men’s race developed differently, with Kipngeno and Kiriago among the early leaders alongside Britain’s Jacob Adkin, the European uphill champion. Richard Omaya Atuya, Julius Ott, Brayan Rodriguez Flores, Anthony Felber, Christian Allen and Elhousine Elazzaoui were also in the leading group during the opening stages.
Adkin took control during the climb, leading through the Ponchette and Chandolin checkpoints with Kipngeno just seconds behind and Kiriago and Atuya also close.
Kipngeno and Kiriago then increased the pressure before the end of the climb. By the Hotel Weisshorn checkpoint at 20km, they were running together at the front, with Atuya in third and Adkin close behind. Saoli, meanwhile, began to make progress through the field.
Kiriago and Kipngeno remained locked together as the course turned downhill, the lead changing hands several times. Eventually Kiriago managed to open a gap and carried it through to the finish, earning his third Sierre-Zinal victory after his previous wins in 2023 and 2025. Kipngeno finished second in 2:26:56, while Saoli moved through to third in 2:29:36.
Adkin held on for fourth in 2:30:49, with Kevin Kibett fifth in 2:30:58.
With assistance from WMRA