September
14
Tags
CANFRANC CANFRANC CLASSIC 16K GOES TO ANTONIO MARTÍNEZ AND GRAYSON MURPHY
CANFRANC CANFRANC CLASSIC 16K GOES TO ANTONIO MARTÍNEZ AND GRAYSON MURPHY Grayson Murphy (USA) blew the Course Record by 10min; Antonio Martinez (ESP) took his second win
Photo Sergio Mayayo
____________________
WORLD CHAMPIONS SMASH CANFRANC CANFRANC CLASSIC 16k
After an exciting Saturday of racing at the Canfranc Marathon 45k/D+4.000m race for the Long Distance WMRA World Cup;. Canfranc provided again today a stunning backdrop for the 16k/D+1.600m classic mountain race today.
We were looking forward to seeing 2019 world champion Grayson Murphy (USA) back for more European action, after her win at Trofeo Nasego (and 2nd place at Vertical Nasego) last weekend.
Also on the start line for the women were course record holder Servant Nadege (FRA), plus national champion Nuria Gil (ESP) and silver Yolanda Martín (ESP).
In the men’s race all eyes were on 2020 winner Antonio Martinez (ESP), team world champion 2019 at Patagonia, facing strong competition from Sandor Szabo (HUN), and Spanish athletes Iñigo Aranzamendi, Roger Comellas, and Ion Sola. Also on the start line for the men was Raul Criado, after taking bronze in yesterday’s 45k race, back for more!
THE PYRENEES WITNESS TAKEOFF AT 9AM,
The runners were set off in small groups at minute intervals, in line with local Covid protocols. They would face one up and down over the 16k, but what a big up and down it was! 1400m over the course of the first 6k to the summit of La Moleta (2.572m), followed by a technical 10k descent down to the finish at the Iconic Canfranc International station.
It was Szabo who hit the summit in the lead in the men’s race, with Daniel Castillo (ESP) a minute behind and Martinez a minute behind him. It was all still very close, despite the long climb.
In the women’s race there was a clear leader and that was Murphy. She hit La Moleta 10 minutes ahead of Gil and in fact was lying in 4th place in the race overall at that point! Servant was around 90 seconds behind Gil. It looked unlikely that Murphy would be caught, but anything can happen on a 10k technical descent!
ANTONIO MARTÍNEZ TAKES HIS SECOND WIN AT CANFRANC CLASSIC.
In the men’s race it was Martinez who hit the final stretch (part of the famous Camino del Santiago) first and he took the win, his second consecutive one here, in 1.52.26. Szabo was a minute and a half behind in 2nd place in 1.53.52, with Castillo taking 3rd in 1.54.38.
Photo Mayayo
GRAYSON MURPHY DELIVERS A HISTORIC PERFORMANCE
All eyes were on the clock for Murphy’s arrival as it looked likely that the existing women’s course record of 2.08.18 was under threat. In fact Murphy broke the tape in an incredible 1.57.43, obliterating the previous mark by 10 minutes and finishing 5thoverall!
The spanish national champion, Gil, took 2nd in 2.15.28 and Servant was 3rd in 2.17.16. The finish line lead for Murphy was, therefore, just about 17min over two world class athletes on her own right.
WORLD CUP WMRA NEXT STAGES
It was another thrilling day of World Cup action and that’s 10 races complete, so just 6 remain:
- Trofeo Ciolo 26/9
- Broken Arrow short uphill race 1/10
- Broken Arrow Sky Race 3/10
- Zumaia Flysch 42k 3/10
- Zumaia Flysch 22k 3/10
- Chiavenna Lagunc short uphill race 10/10
Photo Canfranc Canfranc
……………………………………..
