2020 SKYRUNNING WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS: BUFF MOUNTAIN FESTIVAL AT VALL DE BOÍ, RACE PREVIEW

Posted by Héctor Rubio on July 8, 2021 in skyraces, skyrunners, skyrunning | Leave a comment

2020 SKYRUNNING WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS: BUFF MOUNTAIN FESTIVAL at Vall de Boí, race preview. Our SKYRUNNING section bring us today the race preview of this weekend’s word championships. The 2020 Skyrunning World Championships are finally on their way from July 9 to 11, 2021, and the magnificent location in the Vall de Boí, Spain, is ready to welcome teams from across the globe to fight for the World titles and the 27 medals at stake.

The world-class line-up counts some 155 athletes from 23 countries who will confront each other in three skyrunning disciplines: VERTICAL, SKY and SKYULTRA. World titles and 27 medals will be awarded to Individuals and Official Teams as well as a Combined title based on the best results of the VERTICAL and SKY races.

Check the results here

Let’s start remembering that World Ultra in 2016 that saw Luis Hernando crowned.

SKYRUNNING WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS 2020:
BUFF MOUNTAIN FESTIVAL 9-11 JULY, VALL DE BOI, PYRENEES.

The postponed 2020 Skyrunning World Championships will take place on July 9-11, 2021 in Vall de Boí in the Spanish Pyrenees, site of the 2016 World Championships. The bi-ennial World Championships will celebrate their sixth edition. The summer season of skyrunning 2021 heats engines with these two important confirmed world events, but we will have more news with the 2021 Skyrunning European Championships to be held in Portugal in November.

2020 SKYRUNNING WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP: BUFF MOUNTAIN FESTIVAL, VALL DEL BOI.

The impressive list of ISF member countries participating with teams counts: Andorra, Bolivia, Canada, Costa Rica, Cyprus, Czech Republic, France, Guatemala, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Peru, Portugal, Russia, Slovenia, Spain, South Korea, Sweden, Switzerland, USA.

The events launch on Friday, July 9, 2021 with the VERTICAL discipline at the Buff Epic Trail VK, a 3.3 km-long Vertical Kilometer® with 1,030m vertical climb to heat up the atmosphere. The following day is the turn of the SKYULTRA with the Buff Epic Trail 68K counting 5,000m vertical climb, while the Skyrunning World Championships will conclude on Sunday, July 11 with the Buff Epic Trail 42K, with 2,900m vertical climb celebrating the SKY discipline.

Many of the top runners participating in the World Championships share the same feelings for the highlight of the season and a sense of rebirth after the long wait due to last year’s event cancellations.

2020 SKYRUNNING WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP: ATHLETES STATEMENTS

“I’m looking forward to participating in the ISF World Championships again,” commented 2016 Sky and Combined World Champion Maite Maiora from Spain. “I think I’m ready to fight for victory although the level is getting higher and higher and it’s more difficult to get a good result!”

Andorran Oscar Casal Mir who has been a top level participant on the international skyrunning scene for many years, can’t wait to meet the friends he’s made along the way. “I’m very excited to participate in the Skyrunning World Championships, not only because it’s like ‘the first time’ after a year without races but because representing my country at an international event is the maximum. It will also be great to see all my friends from the skyrunning family and share these emotions with them.”

Recent Monte Rosa SkyMarathon winners, Swedish twins Lina and Sanna El Kott Helander are both excited and nervous about the World Championships where they will take on both the VERTICAL and the SKY disciplines. “It’s been a while since I did a VK, so I’m a bit nervous! It will also be interesting to see how my body will react in the other race after the VK,” exclaimed Sanna. Her twin Lina, added, “After two years for me without so many races I’m really looking forward to attending a big race again!”

Japan’s Ruy Ueda, 2019 Buff Epic Trail 42K winner, hugs Spain’s Zaid Ait Malek. ©Diego Escobedo

Japan’s Ruy Ueda, 2019 Skyrunner® World Series Champion and winner of the Buff Epic Trail 42K, after two failed attempts in the World Championships, is determined to succeed. “In 2016 I got injured two weeks before and couldn’t run until I got there. Because of that I wasn’t able to perform well. In July, 2018, I injured a  ligament and couldn’t run,” he stated. “I want to give my best performance this time and contribute to the national ranking. This will be my third time racing in Vall de Boì after 2016 and 2019, so I hope to bring that experience to the race.”

2019 Combined European Champion, Marcela Vasinova from the Czech Republic is another athlete ready to tackle both the VERTICAL and SKY disciplines: “For me the main goal is to enjoy the race and its atmosphere, discover beautiful places, meet nice people and run new trails. Of course, when the result is good, it’s a cherry on the top. I’m very proud to be part of a great and strong Czech Skyrunning Team and hope to contribute to a good team result!”

Multiple Youth World Champion Roberto Delorenzi from Switzerland will participate for the first time in the senior World Championships, in the VERTICAL discipline. “I’m super ready for the World Champs! It’s my first-ever and I’m stoked. I really hope to get a medal, even though to tell the truth I don’t know who my adversaries will be, so it’s difficult to say if I can get a podium spot. For sure, I’ve trained hard and will give it everything I’ve got.”

2020 SKYRUNNING WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP: BUFF MOUNTAIN FESTIVAL RACES

BUFF EPIC TRAIL VK: 3,3 KM +1000 M. FRIDAY 9TH JULY

In the men category names such as Oscar Casal Mir – (AND), Manuel Da Col – (ITA) – (2021 Italian VK Champion), Ruy Ueda – (JPN) – (2019 SWS Champion), Romeu Gouveia – (POR) – (Santana VK 2019 winner), Manuel Merillas – (ESP) (2^nd 2019 MAGA European Championships, 2^nd 2021 Livigno SkyMarathon), Daniel Osanz – (ESP) – (multiple Youth Champion, 2019 VKWC Champion), Pere Rullan – (ESP), Roberto Delorenzi – (SUI) – (multiple Youth Champion) will try to get the title in these 3,3 km

Daniel Osanz. ©Luca Cironi

While in the wome category, athletes like Marcela Vasinova – (CZE) – (European Combined Champion), Iris Pessey – (FRA) – (2018 AMA VK2 winner), Viriginia Perez – (ESP) – (Ultraks 46K 2018 winner), Fatima de Diego – (ESP) – (2017 VK Youth Champion), Lina El Kott Helander – (SWE) – (5^th 2018 VKWC, Olympus VK winner, joint 2021 Monte Rosa SkyMarathon winner), Sanna El Kott Helander – (SWE) – (joint 2021 Monte Rosa SkyMarathon winner) will fight for the title tooo in these 3,3km with 1000 elevation gain.

BUFF EPIC SKYULTRA 68K: 68 KM +4889 M. SATURDAY 10TH JULY 2021

Many elite athletes will run for the victory in these 68 km, with the men category highlighted names such Marc Casal Mir – (AND), Luca Carrara – (ITA) – (Italian Champion), Luca Arrigoni – (ITA) – (5^th 2019 MAGA European Championships), Luis Fernandes – (POR) – (10^th 2019 MAGA European Championships), Miguel Heras – (ESP) – (2016 Ultra Pirineu winner), Manuel Anguita – (ESP) – (4^th 2019 MAGA European Championships).

In the women category a great batlle is also foreseen with brave athletes like Michaela Mertova – (CZE), Ildiko Wermescher – (HUN), Yukari Hoshino – (JPN), Ragna Debats – (NED) – (2018 Ultra World Champion, 2017 Ultra European Champion, 2018 SWS Overall Champion), Lucia Franco – (POR), Natalia Neschcheret – (RUS), Gemma Arenas – (ESP) – (2016 SWS Ultra Champion), Maite Maiora – (ESP) – (2016 SKY & Combined World Champion, 2016 2^nd VK World Champion, 2017 SWS Extreme & Overall Champion, winner Ultra Pirineu, Royal & Tromsø)

BUFF EPIC TRAIL 42K: 42 KM +2817 M. SUNDAY 11TH JULY 2021

On Sunday 11th big names like Oscar Casal Mir – (AND), Daniel Antonioli – (ITA) – (2019 Ultraks Extreme winner, 2017 SNS Italy Sky Champion), Ruy Ueda – (JPN) – (2019 SWS Champion), Manuel Merillas – (ESP) – (2^nd 2019 MAGA European Championships, 2^nd 2021 Livigno SkyMarathon), Zaid Ait Malek – (ESP) – (3^rd 2019 VEIA European Championships), Christian Mathys – (SUI) (2021 Livigno Skymarathon winner) and Marcela Vasinova – (CZE) – (2019 European Combined Champion), Oihana Kortazar – (ESP), Lina El Kott Helander – (SWE), Sanna El Kott Helander – (SWE) and Emily Schmitz – (USA) in the women category  will try to arrive to the finish line in frst position and win the title, but that we will see then.

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