Trofeo Vanoni 2022: Preview
The 65th edition of Trofeo Vanoni, a WMRA Associate Partner Race, takes place this Sunday, 23rd October, in the Italian town of Morbegno.
An evocative presentation of the 65th Trofeo Vanoni took place on Thursday 13th October in the setting of the Tempietto, overooking Morbegno by night. A location that could not be more suitable given it's location right in the middle of the race course.
women's race
The top runners expected for this edition have been revealed. First up at 11a.m. is the women's race, a 5km and 248m test for individual athletes.
Among the favourites are Sarah McCormack (women's record holder and winner in 2020), Alice Gaggi (Italian relay mountain running champion, World Champion in 2013, 6th in the World Mountain Running Ranking, winner of the women's Vanoni in 2011, 2014), Elisa Sortini (1st in 2018), Sarah Willhoit (2nd at Snowdon Race 2022), the Slovenians Lucija Krkoc (European mountain running champion in 2007 juniors, 3rd at the World Long Distance Championships in 2016) and Dominika Zupancid Valant (4th at the Slovenian national championships), Brits Betty Bergstrand and Kirsty Hall, young Brits Chloe Leather, Eve Pannone (6th at the 2019 European Championships cat. Juniors) and Rosie Woodhams (national junior 2018), Welshwoman Katie Reynolds.
Men's race
Then at 2 p.m. The men's race follows the familiar relay format; teams of 3 each running one circuit of the 7.35km, 435m+ course in the hills to the south of Morbegno.
Again this year there will be large participation of foreign teams, in particular from the UK. Unfortunately, the Polish and the Czech teams will not be at the start, but we have the welcome return of the Republic of San Marino.
The French team is the favourite, having won six times in the last eight editions. This year it fields Manu Meyssat (best time at Vanoni in 2017 with 29'23"), Alexandre Fine (team winner in 2018, 2020, 2021) and rookie Quentin Meyleu. Slovenia will be back with the same trio as last year, who took 4th place: Timotej Becan (author of a great season this year that saw him in the top five of the main international mountain running races and currently 3rd in the World Ranking), Klemen Spanring and Miran Cvet, who were 2nd and 3rd respectively at the Slovenian national mountain running championships.
The Snowdon Race Team will field the best finishers at the Welsh race twinned with the Vanoni Trophy: Ross Gollan, Nathan Edmondson and Michael Cayton. We will then have the Welsh national team, two Irish teams, an English under-23 team, a Scott Sports UK team, and a team from the Eryri Harriers, the Llanberis sports club twinned with the CSI Morbegno since 1983).
As far as the Italian teams are concerned, confirmed for the moment are Atletica Valchiese (2nd in 2021 and 1st at the 2022 Italian Relay Mountain Running Championship), La Recastello Radici Group with Magri, Costa and Ruga (5th in 2021, 2nd and 3rd at the 2022 Italian Relay Mountain Running Championship), but only when registration closes on Thursday 20 will we have evidence of the favourite teams.
Schedule
Saturday, 22nd October 2022
16.30/19.00 Race bibs issuing at Chiostro, St Anthony Square, Morbegno
17.00 Parade of athletes and participating national teams St Anthony Square
17.30 Deposition of wreath at war memorial
18.00 Mass at Saint John Church.
Sunday, 23rd October 2022
8.00\8.45 Race bibs issuing at Chiostro, St Anthony Square
9.00 Junior races start
9.00-13.00 Race bibs issuing at Chiostro, St Anthony Square
11.00 45th Minivanoni junior race prizes awarding
11.00 39th Vanoni ladies race start
14.00 65th Vanoni Trophy race start
17.00 39th Vanoni ladies race prizes giving ceremony at Chiostro, St Anthony Square.
17.30 65th Vanoni Trophy prizes giving ceremony at Chiostro, St Anthony Square.
Photos by Giacomo Meneghello and Davide Vaninetti.