Gaiardo clinches Grand Prix Title after three races.

3rd WMRA Grand Prix.
5th August.
Schlickeralm (AUT)
Report.

Marco Gaiardo (ITA) duly recorded his second Grand Prix victory which, together with a second position, guarantees him the overall Grand Prix title with just one race to go. Although he was only four seconds in front of Poland’s Andrzeg Dlugosz (4th in last years ranking) he was always in control, doing just enough to win in a modest time of 60.47, five minutes slower than Wyatt’s record for this course.
Gabriele Abarte (ITA), an early leader, finished third and is now a contender for an overall minor position.
The ladies race produced a big surprise. Renate Rungger (ITA), competing in her first mountain race not only beat pre race favourite Anna Pichrtova CZE) into second place by 17 seconds, but set a new record time of 69.03 beating the old one by just two seconds. Renate comes to mountain running from the Italian Cross Country background. The overall final ranking however is between Pichrtova and Martina Strachl (SUI) who was third on this occasion and the outcome will be decided in the final race in Slovenia in October.
Izabela Zatorska, a previous Grand Prix winner on several occasions, finished a creditable 13th (time 80.46) in her comeback race after injury.
Full results may be seen by following the link to the race on WMRA web page (www.wmra.info)

Danny Hughes.