Scout Adkin on her way to Montemuro Vertical Run victory (© Marco Gulberti / WMRA)
Great Britain’s Scout Adkin retained her title and Germany’s Lukas Ehrle joined her in victory at the Montemuro Vertical Run in Castro Daire, Portugal – the fourth race of this year's Valsir Mountain Running World Cup – on Sunday (14).
The fourth edition of the race enjoyed fantastic conditions. With temperatures just above 16°C at the starting line in Parada do Ester, no wind, and a sky blanketed with thin clouds, the setting was ideal for mountain running. Adkin and Ehrle capitalised on these perfect conditions, flying through the 10.3km course, which featured almost 1100m of elevation gain.
The event faced significant logistical challenges this year, with numerous flight cancellations affecting the arrival of participants. Among those impacted was Ehrle, who arrived at 3am after two cancelled flights, yet his determination to compete was undeterred.
In the women’s field, last year’s champion Adkin dominated from the start, leaving no chance for her fellow competitors. Closely trailed by Joyce Njeru and Susanna Saapunki in the opening kilometres, Adkin maintained her lead, striving to surpass her previous year’s performance.
By the final kilometre, she was closely followed by Gloria Chebet and Philiares Kisang. Adkin secured her lead with an impressive time of 1:03:20, bettering her 2023 time. The competitiveness was at an all-time high, with the top three women finishing within 20 seconds of each other, and the top four improving on the winner's time of 2023.
Chebet was second in 1:03:35 and Kisang took third in 1:03:40. Saapunki and Camila Magliano finished in fourth and fifth positions, respectively.
Ehrle’s journey to the race was fraught with obstacles, yet his performance was nothing short of remarkable. He made his intentions clear from the start, leading the race from the first kilometre. Despite the challenges, he crossed the finish line first at Fraga do Inferno in 52:31, showcasing his unwavering determination and resilience.
Philemon Kiriago secured second place in 53:29, followed by the young Italian Andrea Elia in third in 53:40. Elia’s performance marked a strong showing for the Italian team, with Cesare Maestri and Henry Aymonod finishing in fourth and fifth positions, respectively.
The 2024 summit race in Castro Daire will be remembered for its intense competition and the athletes' extraordinary ability to overcome adversity.
The World Cup now heads to La Montee du Nid d'Aigle, a classic race from Saint Gervais to Refuge du Nid d'Aigle, on 20 July.
Hector Rubio (WMRA) for World Athletics
