Joyce Muthoni out to defend two titles at Valsir Mountain Running World Cup in Spain

ATHLETICS Joyce Muthoni out to defend two titles at Valsir Mountain Running World Cup in Spain

Abigael Wafula 15:36 - 07.09.2023

Muthoni won both races here last year and will be out to defend those titles.

Joyce Muthoni will be gearing up to defend her title when she heads to the Valsir Mountain Running World Cup leg in Canfranc-Estación, a small mountain town in northeastern Spain.

The event will promise to be a thrilling show since several of the top-ranked athletes in the World Cup standings will be racing.

The vertical uphill race takes place on Friday evening with dozens of athletes hoping to make a mark and add to their points.

Muthoni won both races here last year and will be out to defend those titles. She leads the women’s World Cup standings and she could add some important points to her tally in Spain. This season she has won Fletta Trail and La Montee du Nid d’Aigle.

However, she is bound to face tough opposition from compatriot Lucy Murigi, who has consistently placed in the top 10 in her outings this year. Italy’s Camilla Magliano is also always a strong performer in big races and she finished fourth in the vertical race and second in the classic race here last year.

Other women to watch include France’s Olivia Magnone, who was runner-up in the long mountain race here last year, and Spain’s Maitane Melero.

Spain’s Daniel Osanz is the men’s defending champion for the vertical race and he will be hoping to shine on home soil one more time. His compatriot Raul Criado, who was third in the long race here last year and sixth in the vertical race, could well improve on that if his strong showing at Broken Arrow is any indication.

Britain’s Joe Steward and Canada’s Remi Leroux will also be competing at the event with eyes set on the prize.

Many of the athletes from the vertical uphill race will double up at the 16km classic mountain race on Sunday, trying to make the most of the rest day in between.

Muthoni will attempt to replicate her double triumph from last year, with Murigi and Magliano once again providing stiff opposition. 

They will all be pushed by Belgium’s Charlotte Cotton – who finished in the top 10 in both races here last year – as well as Spanish duo Anna Guirado and Bel Calero.

Criado will be among the favourites in the men’s race but there’s a deep field of talent. Morocco’s Adil Moussaoui could also place well, as could Loustau.

The Spanish contingent includes Cherta, Marcos Villamuera, Eduard Hernandez, Toni Banos, Alberto Lasobras, and Jose Luis Pujadas.

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