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WORLD MOUNTAIN RUNNING ASSOCIATION

ADKIN AND OMAYA ATUYA VICTORIOUS AT LA MONTEE DU NID D’AIGLE

20/07/2024

St Gervais in France provided the stunning venue for La Montée du Nid d’Aigle, round five of this year’s Valsir Mountain Running World Cup. Under blue skies and in warm temperatures (20 degrees at 1500m in the early morning) the runners lined up in Le Fayet at the historic thermal baths, ready for this 20km race with 1850m of ascent and 650m of descent, one of the oldest mountain races in France.

It was anticipated that both defending champions, Joyce Muthoni Njeru and Patrick Kipngeno, would be on the start line, but in the days leading up to the race they both withdrew. But with strong fields for both the men and women, and some exciting up-and-coming athletes, the level of competition was high.

At 20k this race is in the classic category of the World Cup, our third classic race in a row after Grossglockner Mountain Run and Montemuro Vertical Run. Four races in, the World Cup overall standings were starting to take shape and without Muthoni Njeru and Kipngeno, both of whom lead the current rankings, we knew this race would shake things up. With Scout Adkin (HOKA EU), Gloria Chebet (Run2gether) and Philaries Jeruto Kisang (Run2gether) in second, third and fourth place respectively in the women’s competition, and with Philemon Ombogo Kiriago, Richard Omaya Atuya and Josphat Kiprotich (all Run2gether) all in the top 10 of the men’s World Cup, a lot would change here.

THE RACE

The runners headed out from the town at a fast pace, but the climbing began early as they entered the woods, and this quickly led to gaps opening up. But this is a course with a lot of variety, from forest trails to flat riverside tracks to long climbs on open mountainside, so anything could happen.

WOMEN’S RACE

In the women’s race it was no surprise to see Jeruto Kisang leading it out, very closely followed by Adkin. Initially it looked as though Jeruto Kisang was pulling away, but Adkin didn’t let her open a gap and they in turn were pursued by 20 year-old Chebet.

Adkin was coming off a win at Montemuro last weekend, where Chebet finished second and Kisang third. It looked very much as though these three runners would be on the podium again this week, but in what order?

It was Adkin who reached Chalet Miage at the 13.5k point in the lead. In fact she had opened a commanding lead of two minutes on Jeruto Kisang by this point, who in turn had a lead of one minute over Chebet. Julie Lelong (Annecy Athletisme) and Axelle Gachet-Mollaret (CMSAB) were in fourth and fifth, two to three minutes behind.

Over the long climb after Chalet Miage Adkin put on a dominant display of her ascending ability and she stretched out her lead over Jeruto Kisang and Chebet. She won convincingly in 2.08.09, with Chebet taking second place four minutes behind Adkin, and Jeruto Kisang fading to third two minutes behind her.

  1. Scout Adkin (HOKA EU) 2.08.09
  2. Gloria Chebet (Run2gether) 2.12.09
  3. Philaries Jeruto Kisang (Run2gether) 2.14.03
  4. Axelle Gachet-Mollaret (CMSAB) 2.14.34
  5. Julie Lelong (Annecy Athletisme) 2.15.32

Women’s podium credit Elisa Gheza/WMRA

MEN’S RACE

A small group quickly established itself at the front of the men’s race. Kiprotich, Ombogo Kiriago, Omaya Atuya, Michael Selelo Saoli (Run2gether) and Sylvain Cachard (HOKA EU) broke away and the lead continually changed. The group broke up slightly as they emerged in St Gervais, and then continued to splinter on the fast river sections. At this point it looked like any one of this group could win.

By the time they reached Chalet Miage at the 13.5k point it was Omaya Atuya who had opened a gap of 30 seconds over Kiprotich. There was then a gap of one minute and 45 seconds to Selelo Saoli, with Ombogo Kiriago and Cachard just a few seconds behind. With a long climb ahead of them, how would this affect this group?

Omaya Atuya couldn’t be caught on the climb and he took the win in 1.46.55. Kiprotich held onto his second place and finished just under a minute behind in 1.47.40. Selelo Saoli completed the men’s podium a minute behind him.

  1. Richard Omaya Atuya (Run2gether) 1.46.55
  2. Josphat Kiprotich (Run2gether) 1.47.40
  3. Michael Solelo Saoli (Run2gether) 1.48.48
  4. Sylvain Cachard (HOKA) 1.49.52
  5. Philemon Ombogo Kiriago (Run2gether) 1.52.09

Full results can be found at Montée du Nid d’Aigle 2024 (l-chrono.com)

NEXT WORLD CUP RACE

Next we head to Premana in Italy for Giir di Mont on 28th July for our second long race in this year’s World Cup. This is a 32k race with 2400m of ascent. Find more information here: Home – Giir Di Mont