Scout Adkin (Great Britain) and Richard Omaya Atuya (Kenya) have won the La Montée du Nid d’Aigle, a 20 kilometres (1.850m+) in Saint Gervais in France, that’s part of the Valsir Mountain Running World Cup.
In the women’s race it was Philaries Jeruto Kisang (Kenya, Run2gether) who took the lead from the start, closely followed by Scout Adkin and Kisang’s teammate and compatriot Gloria Chebet. At Chalet Miage, 13,5 kilometres into the race, Adkin had overtaken Kisang and opened up a two minutes lead. Chebet still followed in third place.
Adkin strongest on downhill
On the long climb after Chalet Miage the British Hoka athlete showed she was not only the strongest uphill, but also downhill and she increased her lead to four minutes. She stopped the clock at 2:08:09. Chebet also descended more easily than Kinsang and moved into second place, finishing in 2:12:09.
In the meantime Kisang had to seriously look over her shoulder, because Axelle Gachet-Mollaret (France) came closer and closer. In the end Kisang made it, with only half a minute to spare. 2:14:03 versus 2:14:34.
New champions
Just like in the women’s race, it was clear from the start that the men’s race would have a new winner as in the days leading up to the race both defending champions, Joyce Muthoni Njeru and Patrick Kipngeno withdrew themselves.
Directly at the start Josphat Kiprotich, Philemon Ombogo Kiriago, Richard Omaya Atuya, Michael Selelo Saoli (all Kenya, Run2gether) and Sylvain Cachard (France, Hoka) broke away from the rest of the field. Up until Saint Gervais they alternated the lead, but as soon as they hit the fast river sections the group fell apart.
Omaya Atuya reached Chalet Miage first, 45 seconds later followed by Selelo Saoli. A few seconds behind him again followed Ombogo Kiriago and Cachard. Both of them were probably hoping to catch up on the long climb, but Omaya Atuya couldn’t be caught and he took the win in 1:46:55. Kiprotich held onto his second place and finished 1:47:40. Selelo Saoli completed the men’s podium. He stopped the clock at 1:48:48.
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Photo: The Adventure Bakery/Philipp Reiter
All results La Montée du Nid d'Aigle