After four months and twelve exciting races in seven countries, today we finally crowned our 2024 Valsir Mountain Running World Cup champions. After an extremely close Lagunc KM Verticale yesterday, which saw Scout Adkin (HOKA EU) secure some important points and Patrick Kipngeno extend his lead in the men’s competition over Philemon Ombogo Kiriago (both Run2gether On Running), Val Bregaglia Trail decided the final placings.

Just ten points separated Adkin from Joyce Muthoni Njeru (Atletico Saluzzo) at the start of the day’s race but, importantly, calculations would still need to be applied in terms of number of races to count (the best eight results count) and bonus points for participation in the finals. So the women’s World Cup competition was still very much up in the air. And with In the men’s competition a top five finish in Val Bregaglia Trail would make the title his again for Kipngeno, but places two to five could all change. It was all set up for a thrilling finale on a perfect, sunny day in Chiavenna.

RACE ROUTE

This race manages to take in two countries along its route. The runners start in Promontogno in Switzerland and then pick up the ancient Via Bregaglia trail and cross the border into Italy at Castasegna. They then follow the trail to the stunning Cascate Acquafraggia waterfalls which are a real highlight of the race, and on to the long, fast descent into Chiavenna. While there are technical sections, a lot of this route is on fast, runnable woodland trails, so we always see fast times here. At 23k with 850m of ascent, it is the final long race of the World Cup.

THE WOMEN’S RACE

With so much at stake in terms of the World Cup competition, we knew this would be a highly competitive race. And as we saw in the Lagunc KM Verticale yesterday with Paola Stampanoni, with deep fields like this we can see runners we don’t expect to see in the top places, which could have an impact on those all important final points.

It was Jeruto Kisang who decided to take it out and she led at Soglio, approximately 3k in and after the first climb. But Adkin was right on her heels and looked comfortable and in control. There was then a slight gap back to Muthoni Njeru and Susanna Saapunki (New Balance). Just behind them sat  Naomi Lang (Salomon) and Sara Willhoit (Scarpa), with Alice Gaggi (Recastello Radici Group) a little way back.

It remained incredibly close at the front by the 10k point. The top three women remained in sight of each other but by now Muthoni Njeru had made a move and led. Jeruto Kisang sat in just behind her and there was very little between her and Adkin. The race was really on at this point with nobody giving an inch.

By the time the women reached the Cascate Acquafraggia there was still very little in it. This was our podium for this race, and in fact for the World Cup, but the order of both was still to be determined! Muthoni Njeru had edged away slightly, but she was still being chased hard by Jeruto Kisang and Adkin in that order. The spray of the waterfall must have been a welcome relief for them. Behind the battle for the podium it was equally competitive, with Lang overtaking Saapunki and closing the gap to Adkin. Behind Lang, Gaggi and Beatrice Bianchi (Recastello Radici Group) were moving through as well.

As we have seen at many World Cup races over the last few years, on this type of fast course Muthoni Njeru cannot be caught and she took the win in 1.47.45. Jeruto Kisang never gave up the chase and held off Adkin in an exciting sprint finish, taking second in 1.48.51, with Adkin third in 1.48.58. Lang had a very strong race and finished fourth in 1.50.07 with Saapunki fifth in 1.52.08.

FINAL WOMEN’S WORLD CUP STANDINGS

With Adkin’s win and third place here at the finals, plus five bonus points adding for participating in the finals, she finishes on 339 points. Muthoni Njeru won today, but was fifth yesterday, but importantly, only runners‘ top eight results count in the World Cup, so once this is calculated she finishes on 338 points. Therefore Scout Adkin is crowned the women’s World Cup champion for 2024. Jeruto Kisang finishes on 313 points, taking third place. Saapunki is fourth on 219 points and Gloria Chebet fifth on 155.

MEN’S RACE

Yesterday’s Lagunc KM Verticale didn’t change the top five in the men’s World Cup rankings, but it did shake up the points.  Kipngeno looked the likely World Cup victor statistically, but Ombogo Kiriago and Josphat Kiprotich (Run2gether On Running) still had a very interesting competition on their hands for second and third.

It was Kiprotich who led out to the 3k point, with Paul Machoka (Atletico Saluzzo) just behind him, followed by Richard Omaya Atuya (Run2gether On Running). Next in this small group was Theodore Klein (Scarpa), then Kiriago. There was very little in it at this point and it was already clear it was going to be a fast race.

By the 10k point Machoka was still leading, but with now Kipngeno on his shoulder. But Klein remained in contact with them. It remained close with Michael Selelo Saoli (Run2gether On Running) chasing, followed by Kiriago and Kiprotich. Omaya Atuya remained in contention as did a number of strong Italian athletes including Michael Galassi (Unione Sportiva Aldo Moro), Henri Aymonod (The North Face) and Luca Merli (SA Valchiese).

By the waterfalls Kipngeno had made his move and he was now in the lead. Klein was just behind him and he was chased by Machoka. But it was all changing from places four to ten. By this point Ross Gollan (Scottish Athletics) was coming through the field to challenge, and beginning to catch Saoli and Kiprotich.

Kipngeno could not be caught in the end and he won in 1.34.03. Machoka did manage to catch Klein to take second in 1.34.22, with Klein in third in 1.34.53. Just 50 seconds separated first from third, showing just how close this was. Kiprotich and Gollan had an duel in the finishing straight, both clocking 1.35.24, though Kiprotich was awarded fourth place.

FINAL MEN’S WORLD CUP STANDINGS

Kipngeno dominated this final race today, as we’ve seen him do so often this year. He extended his lead in the competition today, finishing as our men’s World Cup Champion with 330 points. Taking it right to the wire, Kiriago overtook Kiriago in the World Cup today, pipping him to second place with 251 points, against Kiriago’s 248. With his second place today Machoka overtakes both Saoli and Omaya Atuya to move into fourth place with 224 points, with Saoli fifth in 219. Places two to five were incredibly close, but Kipngeno’s crown was never in any doubt.

Congratulations to all of the athletes who took part in this year’s Valsir Mountain Running World Cup, who made it such an incredibly close and thrilling competition.

Find the final World Cup rankings (as well as historical World Cup results) in full here.