St Gervais is a famous spa town, which draws visitors all year round for skiing, hiking, mountain biking, climbing and running. St Gervais played a major part in European mountaineering history as climbers in the mid-19^th Century dreamed of summiting Mont Blanc. In 1855 the ‘voie royale’ to the summit was opened after a first ascent by Hudson, Kennedy and Smythe. In 1909 the famous Mont Blanc tramway was opened, saving climbers the first part of the journey to summit the mountain. This tramway takes people to the Nid d’Aigle (Eagle’s Nest) at 2380m in the summer. Therefore the race recreates the route mountaineers took before the tram existed.

La Montee Du Nid d’Aigle 2023 © Marco Gulberti

THE COURSE

La Montée du Nid d’Aigle is a 20km race with 1850m of ascent and 650m of descent. The runners start at the Le Fayet thermal baths, 596 meters above sea level. The first two kilometres involve some quite steep ascent in places, before flattening off for the next few kilometres which follow the river. Then the climbing really begins in earnest, on forest tracks and then open mountainside, through Le Champel and then along the TMB route up to the highest point at Col de Tricot (2120 metres), before dropping for two kilometres and then climbing again gradually to the finish. The traditional finish at the Nid d’Aigle isn’t possible this year due to work on the Mont Blanc Tramway, so the route has been amended to finish at Bellevue at 1800m.

La Montee Du Nid d’Aigle © Marco Gulberti

THE FAVOURITES

La Montée du Nid d’Aigle has become a firm favourite in the World Cup during the last few years and always attracts a great field. This year is no exception. Please note that with registration still open for elites, there could still be changes to the final start lists.

WOMEN’S RACE

Joyce Muthoni Njeru (Nannoni) has won here for the last two years. In 2022 she obliterated Isabelle Guillot’s record (2.06.06), which had stood since 2006, reducing it to 2.00.31. So far this year she has finished fifth at Grossglockner, fifth again at Montemuro Vertical Run last weekend and won both the short uphill and classic races at Broken Arrow in the season opener.

Joyce Muthoni Njeru and Philaries Jeruto Kisang are back this year © Marco Gulberti

Philaries Jeruto Kisang (Run2gether) has also started the season well, with a second place at Grossglockner and a third at Montemuro. Scout Adkin (HOKA EU) started her World Cup campaign with a 4^th place at Grossglockner and then defended her title at Montemuro last weekend in a dominant display. She also finished second at the recent EA European Championship uphill race. Gloria Chebet (Run2gether) was also on the podium at Grossglockner, finishing third, and then bettered that with a second place at Montemuro.

Susanna Saapunki (New Balance) was third here in 2023, when she also won Smarna Gora and Primiero Dolomiti Trail. She achieved a sixth place at Grossglockner two weeks ago and then a fourth place at Montemuro last weekend. Camilla Magliano (Altra) has finished sixth here previously and took sixth place at Montemuro last weekend and could also do well here.

Other women to watch include Sarah Douglas, New Zealand mountain running champion 2023, Clementine Geoffray (Kiprun), winner of the recent EA European Championship Trail Race and the 2023 Short Trail Race at the World Championships, Celine Jeannier, tenth here last year, and Charlotte Cotton (AD Marathon).

MEN’S RACE

The defending champion will, unfortunately, not be back in the men’s race. Patrick Kipngeno (Run2gether) took a significant chunk off the record (taking it down to 1.38.54 from 1.44.25) in 2022, and then returned in 2023 to win again, however, this year, his crown will be tae by other athlete.

The man whose record he broke, Xavier Chevrier (Asics), will also be back to try to regain his title and record.

Philemon Ombogo Kiriago (Run2gether) will also be on the start line, looking to add to his World Cup points after his third place at the Broken Arrow Skyrace and seventh place in the VK. Another runner, Paul Machoka, who has a 29.32 10k PB, emerged onto the mountain running circuit with a fourth place at Grossglockner two weeks ago and he will be another exciting runner to watch.

Sylvain Cachard (HOKA) or Theodore Klein (Scarpa) will no doubt be popular with the French spectators. Sylvain had a very strong 2023 season with fourth places at Sierre Zinal and Fletta Trail, as well as a third place at Challenge Stellina., while Theodore comes from a third place at the latest European offroad Championships, earlier this June.

Jacob Adkin (New Balance) was tenth here last year and could well improve on that, judging by his performance at the recent EA European Championship uphill race, where he finished second.

Other men who could feature here include Alberto Vender (New Balance), who has an impressive string of top ten finishes at high profile mountain races to his name, Timotej Becan (Merrell), who finished eighth at Grossglockner, Ondrej Fejfar (INOV8), Cade Michael (The Trail Team), who made his World Cup debut at Grossglockner, New Zealand steeplechaser Michael Sutton and Marcelo Goncalves.

Patrick Kipngeno at last year’s race © Marco Gulberti

SUSTAINABILITY

La Montee Du Nid D’Aigle has also made an impressive commitment to reducing their environmental impact and they’ve pledged to make every change a lasting one. These commitments include the use of the Mont Blanc tram as much as possible as well as encouraging runners to use the train and shuttle buses to travel to Saint Gervais; the protection of sensitive habitats on the route; collaboration with local partners for food and logistics; and not using single use plastics and paper.