June 03

ZEGAMA AIZKORRI ALPINE MARATHON 2019: Kilian Jornet and Elia Anne Dvergsdal wins the Zegama-Aizkorri

Posted by adefrutos on June 3, 2019 in basque trail running, photos zegama aizkorri, trail running basque country, trail running euskadi, trail running spain, zegama aitzgorri, zegama aizkorri results, zegama marathon, zegama mendi maratoia, zegama skymarathon, zegama skyrunning | Leave a comment

A new victory for Kilian Jornet at Zegama, Kilian wins wins the Zegama-Aizkorri for the ninth time. The intense heat and strong sunlight didn’t stop Kilian Jornet to win again, in his tenth race in the event, secured a ninth victory in the Zegama-Aizkorri (42km and 2,736m of overall ascent) in a time of 03’52’’47. Last time he run in Zegama was in 2016, when he also won. After a two-year absence, Jornet has reclaimed the throne in one of his favourite races. After him Bartlomiej Przedwojewski (3:55:26) and Thibaut Baronian (3:56:20) complete the podium.

Eli Anne Dvergsdal surprises everybody beating Yngvild Kaspersen who started as the main favorite finishing with 4:36:06. Elisa Desco (4:47:30) and Amandine Ferrato (4:47:38) finishing after her.

Let’s enjoy the pass through Sancti Spiritu between the crowd, beautiful images…

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ZEGAMA AIZKORRI 2017 MARATHON: Winners Kilian Jornet and Elia Anne Dvergsdal

The intense heat and strong sunlight didn’t stop Kilian Jornet this Sunday when, in his tenth race in the event, secured a ninth victory in the Zegama-Aizkorri (42km and 2,736m of overall ascent) in a time of 03’52’’47. He last ran the Zegama in 2016, when he also won. After a two-year absence, Jornet has reclaimed the throne in one of his favourite races. “It was a really tough race and the main rival was the heat which without doubt meant the event got harder and harder,” Kilian Jornet said. The podium was completed by two runners from the Salomon Team. The Pole Bartlomiej Przedwojewski (03’55’’36) was second, with Thibaut Baronian (03’56’’20) third after a close battle for the podium places.

The runners left Zegama at 09.00h faced with the prospect of a very hot day. The organizers had already warned some runners to take special care with hydration. In spite of this, the race got off to one of its fastest starts and from the beginning Kilian jornet, along with the American Andy Wacker, set a frenetic pace which threatened to break the record set by Stian Angermund-Vik. The two runners shared the lead going through Ultzama (8.5km) and Atabarreta (13.5km) but on the ascent at Aratz (16.1km) Kilian built up a two-minute lead over Wacker. From this point on Kilian Jornet set a solid pace and had a three-minute lead at Sancti Spiritu (19.6km) and Aizkorri (22km).

Although the passes at Urbia (28,5km) and the ascent to the peak at Andraitz (30km) made it difficult to believe that the Norwegian’s record would be broken, Kilian continued to consolidate his lead, maintaining his advantage over Bart and Thibaut who were competing for second and third. At the descent to Andraitz the runner crossed the line at Zegama for the 10th time for his ninth victory in a time of 03’52’’47.

“We set off very quickly and I was afraid I’d be made to pay in the second half of the race but I managed it well. In any case, what really makes the Zegama isn’t the runners but the public and the organisers who make it a very special race,” Kilian Jornet added at the finish.

First time in Zegama and first victory for Eli Anne Dvergsdal. As per in 2016 with Yngvild Kaspersen as debutant this young Norwegian was the surprise in Zegama and got the victory. Eli Anne won with 4:36:06 after completing her first mountain marathon. This 27-year-old runner was debuting in the distance and did it in Zegama at the best possible way. From the beginning she got the first position and never looked back. The Italian Elisa Deco was chasing her together with the French Amandine Ferrato, who eventually finished second and third respectively. After them, some of the favorites like Megan Kimmel, Maite Maiora as gold 2017 and Basque runners Oihana Kortazar and Oihana Azkorbebeitia.

However, from kilometer 19.6, in Sancti Spiritu, the three positions were maintained until a few kilometers from the end, Elisa Desco has overtaken Amandine Ferrato and got the second place, leaving the third position for the French, which in 2017 was third and first in Sierre Zinal and the OCC, respectively. Both have arrived with a few seconds difference and almost 10 minutes from the winner. In fourth place came the Catalan Gisela Carrión, who was premiering in Zegama confirming the great sensations that she left us in the half marathon of Transvulcania, while the top5 was completed by Oihana Kortazar who was happy to see herself again at the top.