28^th Montee du Grand Ballon

Willer-sur-Thur (France)

Preview.

The first of seven WMRA Grand Prix races gets under way in the Alsace region of France on Thursday May 1^st.

The men race over a 13.2km course which has 1241m of ascent. The women race over a shortened course of
&nbsp,8.5km and 832m of ascent.

Race favourite will be the 2007 winner, Julien Rancon (FRA) running on home ground. However, the Grand Prix status of this event has attracted strong competition from outside France. Steve Vernon (GBR) a regular member of the Gt. Britain World Cross Country team is determined to prove his mountain running credentials. The Polish champion and 2007 GP silver medallist Andrzej Dlugosz will be keen to improve to the Gold medal position in 2008. Robert Krupicka (CZE) now recovered from injury and runner up in the Czech 2008 Cross Country championships will be a strong contender for a podium position. The strong French entry includes Emmanuel Meyssat who was runner up in the 2007 French championships.

The women will not have to contend with Anna Pichrtova (CZE) recovering from her exertions in winning the World Long Distance championship last weekend. This throws the race open to several possible winners.

Victoria Wilkinson (GBR), last years GP silver medallist leads a strong entry. Her main opposition will come from Martina Strahl (SUI), 2007 World silver medallist and veteran Isabelle Guillot 2007 World bronze medallist and winner of countless international medals.

This event launches a new concept for the WMRA Grand Prix. In order to attract more races into the GP series, WMRA have offered a reduced financial burden for races of a high standard. These races, termed 2^nd level GP races, attract 50% of the points awarded to the 1^st level races. The system thus enables ambitious race organisers to test the effect of joining the GP series. The Montee du Grand Ballon is the first 2^nd level event.