August 11

SIERRE ZINAL 2019: MOUNTAIN RUNNING WORLD CUP. KILIAN JORNET AND MAUDE MATHYS SMASH THE RECORDS

Posted by mayayo oxigeno on August 11, 2019 in Carreras de montaña, iaaf, IAAF trail running, mountain running world cup, mountain running worldcup 2019, sierre zinal 2019, trail running, trail running spain, wmra, world mountain running association | Leave a comment

¡SIERRE ZINAL 2019 LIVE! Since 4.45 the race was on for the popular “touristes” as they are locally baptized, with the elites taking off at 10AM for a total of 5.000 mountain runners on the go. Kilian Jornet and Maude Mathys took the gold ans smashed the previous male and female records by about 4 minutes each, a historic achievement.

The course cover 31k / D + 2,000m with more than 5,000 runners, with a trace that brings us a balanced struggle between all types of runners, from technical mountain runners to flying street runners and even orienteers. Follow all SIERRE ZINAL reportage here as published live from the race by our reportes Mayayo and Paula. Further content also available in our social media with #zinalmayayo

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SIERRE ZINAL 2019 (31k / D + 2200m): PATH AND FAVORITES

Sierre Zinal is run in the Swiss Valais region. It links the towns of Sierre (585m) and Zinal (1685m) along a path that summits at 2,425m Nava. The race thus comprises 31km of mountain trails for a positive climb of 2,200m and negative of 800m. In addition, the Sierre-Zinal allows you to enjoy great alpine panoramas, and is nicknamed “the race of the five 4.000 meter mountains” as participants run below the Weisshorn (4 506 m), Zinalrothorn (4 221 m), Ober Gabelhorn (4,073 m), the Matterhorn (4 478 m) and the Dent Blanche (4 357 m).

As shown above, the course is divided into three large sections: Ascent, intermediate and final descent. The initial climbing is very demanding, rocking from 500m to 2,000m in just 10km and with the hardest part at the beginning of them. From there to km28 there are beautiful sections with a constant ups and downs that culminates in the 2,425m of Nava. After that, it arrives brutal of almost 600m in the final 3km, which generates enormous pain and even cramping in the corridors that has already been punished after the previous 28km. The records so far are for Jonathan Wyatt (2003) with 2h29m.12s and Anna Prichtrova 2h54m26s.

THE FAVORITES 2019: KILIAN JORNET VS JIM WALMSLEY … AND MUCH MORE. The two most media trail runners in the world face today in the famous Sierre-Zinal race in Switzerland. The Spanish Kilian Jornet, dominator of the last decade, faces the American Jim Walmsley, who this 2019 arrives with his record in the 50miles, as well as in the 100 Miles of Western States demonstrating a continuous progression … and with the unknown of If your 1h04m half marathon mark gives you enough sparkle to lead this test. Here is the view by Jim prior to the race.

. Juan Carlos Carrera comes from Mexico, from Switzerland comes a Marc Lauenstein who already knows what it is to win here.Also competing British like Robbie Simpson, silver 2018 or the brand new European WMRA mountain racing champion Jacob Adkin, 10th in 2018 here. The Italian Davide Magnini, winner of Dolomyths Skyrace and Marathon du Mont Blanc this year, arrives in great shape, like the Frenchman Thibaut Baronian third behind Jornet in Zegama this year, the Swiss Remi Bonnet or the American Max King, (bronze here 2018 ). Among Africans, we can highlight the Eritrean Petro Mamu and two Kenyans: Former winner of the Jungfrau Marathon of Kenya, Geoffrey Ndungu and his compatriot Robert Surum, third last year. Among the Spaniards, in addition to Kilian, we have names like Aritz Egea or Pablo Villalobos, among others.

On the women’s side, the African authority seems clear: The world champion of mountain races, the Kenyan Lucy Murigi looks for a third consecutive title here, against the Dutch Ragna Debats and the New Zealand Ruth Croft, fourth in 2018. Norwegian footballer Eli Anne Dvergsdal, recently winner in Zegama, seeks to continue her streak in front of her compatriot Lina El Kott Helander or Swiss mountain three-time champion Maude Mathys, Italian Silvia Rampazzo, fifth last year, and American Yiou Wang They should also be in the mix. The women’s team of favorites is completed by the skyrunning specialist Holly Page from Great Britain joins fellow countrywoman Charlotte Morgan, world long distance mountain racing champion and Irish Sarah McCormack. Among the Spanish, the 2011 champion Oihana Kortazar returns to compete, along with Azara García, Gisela Carrión or Eli Gordón.

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SIERRE ZINAL 2019 RACE REPORT: RECORDS WILL FALL….

t was the day of falling records in Zinal, Switzerland for round 5 of the World Mountain Running World Cup and it was Kilian Jornet Burgada (Esp) who arrived home first breaking the record from Jonathan Wyatt (Nzl) by clocking an incredible 2h25.35 for the 31km mountainous course. Not long after the women’s record was also smashed when Maude Mathys (Sui) with a dominating start to finish run surprised all with her powerful performance taking 5 minutes from the record held by Anna Pichrtova (Cze) since 2008

Jornet broke away early from the start at Sierre and at intermediate points of Ponchette and Chandolin had an advantage by over 2mins over 2016 winner Petro Mamu (Eri) back from a 2 year enforced absence and he also finished faster than the former record. Between Chandolin and Hotel Weisshorn, Kilian Jornet took his foot off the gas dropping to 20 seconds above Wyatt’s record and Mamu reduced the gap to 1min27. From Weisshorn (the high point of the track) to the finish it was something amazing with both athletes literally flying to the Zinal finish. Kilian made the big difference with his powerful uphill preformance, normally his weaker part of a race, and it was where he earned all his advantage over all the other racers. In the second part though he was still able to push hard while second placed Mamu finished stronger still and clocked 2h26.17, in the end only 42 seconds behind. The 50miles World Record holder Jim Walmsley (Usa) led home a field packed with quality and his podium place in 2h31.52 was a very positive debut for him for his European trail and mountain running campaign. Juan Carlos Carrera (Col) and Robbie Simpson (Gbr) completed the top five.

WMRA World Cup leader Andrew Douglas (Gbr ) placed sixth and consolidated his leadership in the Mountain Running World Cup. His run puts an overall win beyond doubt going into the final two races.

History was also made today in the women’s race where Maude Mathys took the record back to her home country. 2h54.26 was the old record belonging to Anna Pichrtova but today the swiss athlete and back to back defending European Champion improved it to a near unbelievable 2h49.20, no one would have predicted a time so fast and indeed she dominated race without any trouble and her gap was increasing each kilometer arriving in 51st position overall.

In 2h54.20 Judith Wyder (Swi) completed a terrific 1-2 for Swiss athletes and she went under the former course record as well. After an exciting battle with Wyder, third place was Silvia Rampazzo (Ita) in 2h56.17, the fastest italian female result on this legendary course. A sprint battle for fourth went to Ruth Croft (Nzl) who was just in front of Anais Sabrie (Fra).

As Douglas did in the mens competition, it was Sarah McCormack (Irl) who gained some more important points for her leadership in WMRA World Cup and her 12th place along with the DNF by Lucy Murigi due to injury could now give her a solid grip on the crystal World Cup trophy.

The next race round #6 for the WMRA World Cup is scheduled for the 14th of September at the majestic Drei Zinnen in Sexten, in the heart of the Italian Dolomiti. If Sierre Zinal is one of the most iconic then Drei Zinnen is one of the most beautiful mountain race tracks. The World Cup finals will be held at the historical Smarna Gora, in Slovenia, on October 12th.