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WORLD MOUNTAIN RUNNING ASSOCIATION

DOUBLE HEADER WEEKEND FOR WORLD CUP WITH VERTICAL AND TROFEO NASEGO

After the excitement of Sierre-Zinal, the Valsir Mountain Running World Cup took a short break, but now it’s back with a bang with a double header in Italy. This weekend  we head to Casto in the North of Italy for Vertical Nasego and Trofeo Nasego.

On Saturday 31st August runners will take on Vertical Nasego, which packs in 1000m of ascent over 4.3km, making it our next short uphill Gold Label race. Then the following day our next long mountain Gold Label race, at 21.5k with 1330m of ascent, takes place at Trofeo Nasego. 18 nations will be represented over the weekend, and it will also incorporate a Three Nations competition between England, Ireland and Scotland, showing just how international this event has become.

The event centre, Casto, is in the province of Brescia in the Lombardy region of Italy. It’s a town that dates back to medieval times and retains a lot of its old-world charm with cobbled streets and historic buildings. Its green hills, forests and network of mountain trails make it a stunning location for mountain pursuits and a perfect venue for World Cup races.

WORLD CUP STANDINGS

As the 2024 World Cup heats up, after seven races and with five to go, we are excited to have many of the leading runners in Casto. In both the women’s and men’s competition we will have the top four runners: Scout Adkin, Joyce Muthoni Njeru, Philaries Jeruto Kisang, Gloria Chebet, Philemon Ombogo Kiriago, Patrick Kipngeno, Michael Selelo Saoli and Josphat Kiprotich. See the current standings in full here: https://www.wmra.info/world-cup-races/

VERTICAL NASEGO

Starting in Casto, the runners will begin climbing on roads and good trails as the course ascends gradually towards Briale village. But then the race really begins and the route becomes steeper and more technical as it winds its way up past Rifugio Nasego (at 1270m) to the eventual finish at 1430m.

THE FAVOURITES

Last year we saw Andrea Mayr (SV Schwechat/Hoolirun) and Patrick Kipngeno (Run2gether) take the wins (just as they did in 2022), and both will return to defend their titles this year. But they will face some very challenging competition.

For the women Scout Adkin (HOKA EU) is incredibly strong on uphill-only races and is also coming off an impressive second place in Sierre-Zinal. Philaries Jeruto Kisang (Run2gether) has been chasing Adkin at several of the World Cup races this year, and also has a strong track record on short uphill courses. Joyce Muthoni Njeru (Atletica Saluzzo) began this season by doing the double at Broken Arrow, Gloria Chebet (Run2gether) has been on three World Cup podiums this year and Susanna Saapunki (New Balance) finishes consistently high in World Cup fields. In addition we will see US runners Sarah Carter (The Trail Team) and Lauren Gregory (Northwoods Athletics), plus World Championships medallist Phillipa Williams (Dark Peak) and previous World Cup champion Sarah McCormack (INOV8).

In the men’s race Philemon Ombogo Kiriago (Run2gether) comes straight off an incredible Sierre-Zinal, where he finished a very close second to Kilian Jornet. Josphat Kiprotich and Michael Selelo Saoli (both of Run2gether) are also having very strong World Cups, with Kiprotich winning Piz Tri Vertical and coming fourth at Sierre-Zinal and Saoli winning Giir di Mont. Former winner of this race, as well as many other VKs over the years, Henri Aymonod (The North Face) will also be on the start line. Paul Machoka (Atletica Saluzzo) is also having a strong year, with top ten finishes at Grossglockner and Sierre-Zinal, and Tiziano Moia (Gemonatletica) finished second at Piz Tri Vertical this year. In addition we will see European Championships uphill race winner Joe Steward (Salford Harriers) and Roberto Delorenzi (Brooks), who finished fifth at Sierre-Zinal, alongside many other contenders.

TROFEO NASEGO

This will be the 23rd edition of Trofeo Nasego and it is a race that has seen many epic battles over the years. The runners will take on a 21.5k course, which has a lot of fast, runnable sections but one very notable climb. From the start in Casto at 400m it climbs slowly for the first 6km, before flattening off for 6k, then comes the big climb up of around 750m up to Rifugio Nasego, before a long descent down to Famea for the finish.

THE FAVOURITES

Most runners taking part in Vertical Nasego will double up in Trofeo Nasego. Unfortunately we will not see Mayr on Sunday for the women, but we will see Adkin, Saapunki, Williams, Njeru, Kisang, Chebut, Gregory and Carter, so the women’s race will certainly be highly competitive. As well as the main, overall event, we will also see an exciting Three Nations competition between England, Ireland and Scotland, adding even more interest to Trofeo Nasego.

For the men, most runners will also double up and the Three Nations contest will bring an additional depth to it, as with the women’s race. There are two notable additions to the men’s field for Trofeo Nasego and these are Cesare Maestri (NIKE), who is a former winner here and has stood on many World Cup podiums through the years, and Xavier Chevrier (ASICS), who has also finished on the podium here, as well as many others. They could add an extra twist to this already highly competitive race.

On Saturday 31st August for Vertical Nasego the women start at 10am and the men at 10.45am

On Sunday 1st September Trofeo Nasego starts at 9.30am