Philemon Kiriago in action at the Trofeo Nasego (© Marco Gulberti)
Andrea Mayr, winner of yesterday’s Vertical Nasego, completed the double with victory at the Trofeo Nasego, while Kenya’s Philemon Kiriago was a comfortable winner of the men’s race at the Valsir Mountain Running World Cup race in Casto on Sunday (3).
The race, held on a relatively fast and runnable course over 21km, featured many of the athletes who had contested the Vertical Nasego just 24 hours prior, including the two eventual winners.
From the start, it climbs steadily for the first 6km and then flattens off for 6km before the big climb up to Rifugio Nasego at 1311m, then a steep descent and slight final climb to Famea for the finish.
USA’s Christian Allen, a 28:36 performer over 10km, took the men’s race out from the gun, with Kiriago – the runner-up here last year – on his heels and a chasing pack just behind. By 4km, Kiriago had established a five-second lead over Allen.
Behind them, Patrick Kipngeno – winner of the men’s race at yesterday’s Vertical Nasego – lay 18 seconds back, followed by a group including Italy’s Xavier Chevrier and Cesare Maestri, and Spain’s Alejandro Garcia Carrillo. By 11km, just before the big climb, Kiriago still held the lead, but by the time he reached Rifugio Nasego, his fellow Kenyan Kipngeno had drawn level.
Kiriago emerged from that section in the lead, though, and opened up a leading margin of about a minute on the descent. Allen lay just behind Kipngeno in third, with Maestri and Chevrier chasing in fourth and fifth respectively.
Kipngeno chased hard but Kiriago couldn’t be caught, eventually winning in 1:31:00 with Kipngeno clocking 1:31:45 for second and Allen placing third (1:32:33).
Frontrunner Madalina Florea of Romania took control of the women’s race in the early stages alongside Kenya’s Joyce Muthoni. By 4km, Florea had opened a gap of 15 seconds on the chase pack, which was being led by Kenya’s Philaries Kisang. At this point Mayr was 30 seconds back, with Muthoni and Britain’s Scout Adkin just behind.
At 11km, just before the climb up to Rifugio Nasego, Florea had a one-minute lead over Muthoni with Kisang and Mayr trailing behind. Mayr climbed strongly and reduced the gap on Florea before eventually passing her. Muthoni, Kisang and Adkin were all relatively close behind as the lead quintet began their descent.
Florea emerged first at the bottom of the descent, 15 seconds ahead of Mayr, but the Austrian veteran came back in the final two kilometres to reclaim the lead, eventually winning in 1:46:06. Florea was 46 seconds behind (1:46:52) while Muthoni completed the podium in 1:48:33.
After this weekend, Kiriago leads the men’s World Cup standings from compatriot Kipngeno, 250 to 230. Muthoni has a comfortable 58-point lead in the women’s standings with 248.
Kirsty Reade (WMRA) for World Athletics
Leading results
Women
1 Andrea Mayr (AUT) 1:46:06
2 Madalina Florea (ROU) 1:46:52
3 Joyce Muthoni (KEN) 1:48:33
4 Philaries Kisang (KEN) 1:49:44
5 Susanna Saapunki (FIN) 1:50:06
Men
1 Philemon Kiriago (KEN) 1:31:00
2 Patrick Kipngeno (KEN) 1:31:45
3 Christian Allen (USA) 1:32:33
4 Cesare Maestri (ITA) 1:34:43
5 Xavier Chevrier (ITA) 1:36:17
