Six Down, Six To Go in Valsir Mountain Running World Cup
With half of the season's Gold Label races already in the rear-view mirror, we take a look at the standings midway through the season.
So far in 2022 the World Cup has made its first visit to 2 new countries, run 2 brand new races and, 2 months on from the first Gold Label race, there are 2 almost unbeatable athletes at the top of the men's and women's standings.
Just as the races have been a mix of new favourites and established classics, we've seen a blend of seasoned campaigners and new faces battling for supremacy. The top 2 women are both previous World Cup winners but neither of the top 2 men had run a mountain race outside Kenya before this season.
With each passing race, consistency across a number of races becomes more and more important in maintaining a high position. The provisional podiums on both men's and women's sides have all been regulars on the circuit so far; Petro Mamu's 3 races is the lowest of any of the top-3 ranked runners. One off winners, such as Sierre-Zinal champions Mark Kangogo and Esther Chesang, 6th and joint 4th respectively, are well positioned, should they decide to continue on the World Cup.
View the full standings after 9 races here.
Women's Standings
Joyce Njeru leads the women, just as she did at the end of last season. Her strategy is as simple as it is effective; win lots of races. Before her DNF at Sierre-Zinal last weekend, Njeru had won all four Gold Label races, already matching her total number of wins from 2021.
Frequent racing and consistent results have seen second place Lucy Murigi and third place Camilla Magliano keep Njeru within sight. Both have completed 5 races, with Murigi's pair of 2nd places, at Giir di Mont and Grossglockner Berglauf, giving her the edge over Magliano who took 3rd place at both Montemuro Vertical Run and Montée du Nid d'Aigle. Although both are still looking for that elusive first World Cup win of the seaon, they are well positioned to capitalise should Njeru's form drop off in the second half of the season.
Fourth and fifth in the women's standings are the two other Gold Label winners, Elisa Desco and Esther Chesang, who have both only completed one race.
Men's Standings
In the men's standings Patrick Kipngeno has a lead of almost 100 points after 4 wins and 3rd at Sierre-Zinal. Second is his similarly consistent teammate, Philemon Kiriago, who has 3 2nd places plus 6th at Sierre-Zinal. With plenty more races on the calender that will suit the Run2gether pair, it is possible that their dominance of the results sheets may continue all season, but can the youngster Kiriago mount a challenge for the top step of the podium?
The athlete best placed to take on the Kenya pair is 2014 World Cup winner Petro Mamu, whose 3 races include a win at Giir di Mont. The World Cup's next Gold Label races are Vertical and Trofeo Nasego, where Mamu took 2nd and 1st in 2021. If he can achieve similar placings this year we could be set for an exciting season finale.
Fourth place Zak Hanna started the season with a bang, taking his first World Cup podium with 2nd at Montemuro Vertical Run, and has performed well in each of the 3 races he's run since, including 5th at Giir di Mont Uphill. With 3 vertical kilometres still to come, the Irishman will be looking to capitalise on his prowess in the Short Uphill races to move up the standings.
Like Petro Mamu, the Italian pair of Andrea Rostan and Cesare Maestri, 5th and 7th having scored in 2 races each, have previously run well at Nasego. Strong results would be enough to see them challenging for the overall World Cup podium.
Of course, with nearly half the points still to be handed out, everything could change. Last year's men's champion Henri Aymonod is racing again after missing the early part of the season through injury and looks to be on improving form. And how much more will we see of Andrea Mayr? If the great Austrian chooses to defend her titles at Vertical Nasego and Chiavenna-Lagunc she too could move into contention for the podium.
Everything is still to play for.
Check out all this season's results on the World Mountain Running Ranking.
Photos by Marco Gulberti. See his full album from Giir di Mont Uphill here.