Published: 11 August 2019.

KILIAN JORNET AND MAUDE MATHYS AT WORLD CUP #5 SIERRE-ZINAL IT’S TIME FOR HISTORY

It 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 13th 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 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.

Video emotions from: Ivano Bonetti: