WMRA WORLD CUP 2021 STAGE 3: LA MONTEE DU NID D’AIGLE |19,5KM | 2000M+| 17TH JULY.

Posted by Héctor Rubio on July 14, 2021 in trail running, trail running spain, wmra, wmra world cup, world mountain running association | Leave a comment

WMRA WORLD CUP 2021 STAGE 3: LA MONTEE DU NID D’AIGLE 17TH JULY. Our WMRA WORLD CUP 2021  section bring us today the next stage, on Sunday 17^th July  heading in this weekend to France. This year’s World Cup is a mix of old classics and new races and our next race, La Montee Du Nid d’Aigle is a bit of both!

This will be the 34^th edition of the event, so it’s definitely a classic, but it’s the first time it will be part of the World Cup. Which is hard to believe because this race has all of the hallmarks of a fantastic mountain race. The location of Saint-Gervais-Les-Bains has to be one of the best in the world for mountain sports. Located next to the Italian and Swiss borders, the Haute-Savoie region is an absolute magnet for mountain runners and skiers.

WMRA WORLD CUP 2021: LA MONTEE DU NID D’AIGLE 19,5KM | 2000M+

17TH JULY, SAINT GERVAIS

La Montee Du Nid d’Aigle was actually one of the first mountain races in France and as such, it’s a must-do race for French runners. It’s also really important to the community in Saint-Gervais, with 200 volunteers helping out every year. It’s an integral part of the identity of Saint-Gervais and the local people embrace it, like all the best races.

LA MONTEE DU NID D’AIGLE 19,5 KM | 2000M+: THE ROUTE.

This is our next classic mountain race at 19.5km, uphill-only with 2000m of ascent. The route begins at Parc Thermal, Le Fayet and initially follows the river towards St Gervais, and then to La Villette, climbing gradually. From here it heads away from the road and into the trees and begins to climb more steeply and it continues to climb relentlessly all the way up to the finish at Refuge du Nid d’Aigle at 2394m.

LA MONTEE DU NID D’AIGLE 2021: COMMITMENT TO SUSTAINABILITY

An aspect of the race which is worth highlighting is its commitment to limiting their environmental impact. The measures they are taking include:

• Using local sponsors and partners to support the local area and reduce the need for transporting goods
• Using reusable flags and banners
• No plastic bottles or cups
• No paper flyers or posters and all race registration online-only
• Using the tram instead of a helicopter to transport equipment to the mountaintop finish
• Encouraging runners to travel by train and providing free shuttles from the station to the race village
• Carbon accounting to calculate emissions

LA MONTEE DU NID D’AIGLE 2021: THE FAVORITES

This year it looks like the race will be playing host to some of the top mountain runners in the world, some of whom have featured in the World Cup already this year. In the women’s race Lucy Murigi (KEN), former World Champion, is hot on the heels of her 3^rd place at last weekend’s Grossglockner Berglauf. Susanna Saapunki (FIN) will also be looking to build on her success at Grossglockner, where she finished 4^th. Lucie Marsanova (CZE), 5^th at our first World Cup race, Tatra Race Run, will also be toeing the line, alongside 10^th placed Timea Merenyi (HUN).

Elise Poncet (FRA), who finished 2^nd in the 2019 World Championships will certainly be one to watch and she’s joined by many impressive fellow French athletes on home turf. Christel Dewalle is a 10 time French VK champion, so should do well in an uphill-only race. Fresh from a 2^nd place at the Mont Blanc Marathon a couple of weeks ago, Anais Sabrie could also challenge, as could Julia Combe, who was 3^rd in the Mont Blanc Cross.

In the men’s race Henri Aymonod (ITA) will be looking to capitalise on his World Cup results so far this year – a 3^rd place at Tatra and a 10^th place at Grossglockner. Compatriot Francesco Puppi, our 2^nd placed runner in the World Long Distance Championships in 2019, recently finished 5^th in a very competitive Mont Blanc Marathon. Petro Mamu (ERI) will always be a threat, having finished on the podium in most of the big races, including Sierre-Zinal and Smarna Gora. Sandor Szabo, 6^th in the 2019 World Cup, is always a tough competitor, as he proved at Tatra, where he finished 6^th and Grossglockner, where he was 13^th. Xavier Chevrier (ITA) will also be one to watch.

But they will face serious competition from the French athletes. Alexandre Fine was 5^th in the 2019 World Championships (Classic Distance) and Simon Paccard (FRA) is fresh from a 3^rd place at the Mont Blanc Cross. Julien Rancon, Julien Michelon and young athletes like Remi Lonchampt and Theo Dancer will be exciting to watch.

France course en montagne 2019 ©PVerticale-C.Hudry

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WMRA WORLD CUP 2021 CALENDAR

Summary 2021 World Cup key facts:
8 Countries
12 Event locations
16 Races in 3 categories
10,000+ Participants

CALENDAR

• 17JUL Spectacular meeting at the foot of Mont Blanc with La Monteé du Nide d’Agle in Saint Gervais. Race in Classic Mountain mode to the iconic refuge of the Mont Blanc normal route, climbing 2,000m in 19.5km.
• 24JUL Second date in Poland with the Tatra Sky Marathon, thihs time as Long Mountain about 42k/+3,300m.
• 7AUG The world’s highest level mountain race arrives: The Sierre-Zinal in Switzerland, celebrates its 48th edition with more than 4,000 bibs running. The 2019 edition will be remembered for the double record achieved by Jornet and Mahtys. In 2021 it will race in Long Mountain mode on its iconic 31k/+2,200m. https://www.sierre-zinal.com
  
• 15AUG. We travel north of the Czech Republic for the Krkonossky Half Marathon. A world cup veteran arrives only a week after Sierre-Zinal and will be the next Classic, on a 21k/+1,200m http://www.maratonstav.cz
• 4-5SEP Journey goes to northern Italy to experience the Vertical Nasego and Nasego Trophy. It will start with the Uphill about 4.2k/+1000m and the next day the Classic about 21.5k/+1.336m. http://www.trofeonasegocorsainmontagna.com/
• 11-12SEP Spain debuts with the spectacular Aragonese Pyrenees offered by Canfranc Canfranc. Will hold two races climbing up to almost three thousand meters of altitude. They will be the 45k/+3910m Long Mountain or the Classic over 16k/+1,600m. https://canfranccanfranc.com
• 26SEP Return to Italy with the Ciolo Trophy. High pace race, about 11km/+496km in Classic mode.
• 3OCT Zumaia Flysch Trail will give the winners of Classic and Long Mountain. There will be a Long Mountain over 42k/+3000m, and also a Classic with 22k/+850m ascent. http://www.zumaiaflyschtrail.com
• 10OCT Vertical Kilometer Chiavenna-Lagunac will give Uphill champion. This classic of Italian mountain racing has already been a WMRA-affiliated race and is known as the “vertical race of records” with a 3.2k/+1,000m trace its conditions are perfect for breaking the world record. http://www.kilometroverticalelagunc.it

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