The women’s Piz Tri Vertical race will be a rematch of the recent World Championships duel in Innsbruck between Kisang and Austria’s champion Andrea Mayr.
Philaries Kisang and Patrick Kipng’eno will headline strong fields to the Valsir Mountain Running World Cup in Malonno, Italy for the Piz Tri Vertical and Fletta Trail on Saturday and Sunday.
Former winners, six individual medallists from the recent World Mountain and Trail Running Championships, and a host of young up-and-coming athletes are in action in the Piz Tri Vertical, a 3.4km race with 1000m of ascent, on Saturday, and the Fletta Trail, a 21km race with 1100m of ascent, on Sunday.
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The women’s Piz Tri Vertical race there will be a rematch of the recent World Championships duel in Innsbruck between Kisang and Austria’s champion Andrea Mayr, who is a five-time Piz Tri Vertical winner and the event record-holder (37:20).
There will be a very strong field challenging them both which includes Britain’s Scout Adkin coming into this race straight off a win at the Montemuro Vertical Run two weeks ago.
Another Kenyan, Joyce Njeru was second at Montemuro, third at the classic race in the World Championships, and is the reigning women’s World Cup champion.
Valentina Belotti was the champion in 2016 and she will be looking for another victory on home soil. Other women expected to feature include Lucy Murigi, Andie Cornish, Eve Pannone, Celia Powell, Emma Clayton, Katie Lord, and Eden O'Dea.
Meanwhile, the men’s field is just as competitive and the record-holder (33.38) and last year’s winner, Andrea Rostan of Italy, will be there to defend his title. However, he faces a stern test from the newly crowned world champion of the short uphill race, Kipngeno.
Philemon Kiriago, Filimon Abraham, Alric Petit, Andrea Elia, Marco Moletto, Bastien Racineux, Joe Steward, Harry Bolton, Jake Collier, and Cynog Williams have also confirmed participation.
In the women’s Fletta Trail race Njeru, current course record-holder (1:38:44) and champion in 2021, will be back to race the champion of 2022, Mayr. Kisang is new to the race but will be one to watch. Other women doubling up at the Piz Tri Vertical and Fletta Trail include Bonzi, Cornish, Carter, Murigi, Clayton, and Soma.
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In the men’s race the athlete to beat will be Kipngeno, who will be up against Italy’s Cesare Maestri, Kiriago and Abraham.