Joyce Njeru, Philaries Kisang and Andrea Mayr will renew their rivalry in the Valsir Mountain Running World Cup set for Malonno, Italy this weekend.
There will be a rematch of the recent World Championships duel in Innsbruck between Kenya’s runner-up Kisang and Austria’s champion Mayr, who is a five-time Piz Tri Vertical winner and the event record-holder (37:20).
But there will be a very strong field challenging them both.
Britain’s Scout Adkin comes into this race straight off a win at the Montemuro Vertical Run two weeks ago, plus an eighth-place finish in the short uphill race at the World Championships.
Kenya’s Njeru was second at Montemuro, third at the classic race in the World Championships and is the reigning women’s World Cup champion from 2022.
The men’s field is just as competitive and the record-holder (33.38) and last year’s winner, Andrea Rostan of Italy, will be there to defend his title off the back of his win at the Broken Arrow a month ago.
But the newly crowned world champion of the short uphill race, Kipngeno of Kenya, certainly won’t take it easy on him. Just as hotly tipped will be Henri Aymonod, the short uphill king. Timotej Becan was fourth here in 2021 and 2022 and also returns.
Philemon Kiriago burst on to the scene last year and finished second here.
Also expected to feature are Filimon Abraham, Alric Petit, Andrea Elia, Marco Moletto, Max Farcoz, Damiano Pedretti, Alex Baldaccini, Ephantus Njeri, Marek Chraschina, Sylvain Cachard, Bastien Racineux, Joe Steward, Harry Bolton, Jake Collier and Cynog Williams.
The programme for the weekend opens on Friday evening with the presentation of the athletes and a screening of a documentary about the race, to mark and celebrate its 60-year milestone.
