Ephantus Mwangi Njeri claimed his first WMRA Mountain Operating World Cup victory of his profession after overturning Richard Omaya Atuya’s lead on a decisive descent, whereas Ruth Mwihaki Gitonga took the ladies’s race win and moved to the highest of the general World Cup standings on the Vauban Mountain Path Traditional Up & Down in Briançon, France.
At some point after the continual climb of the Montée Verticale, Stage 10 of the 2026 WMRA Mountain Operating World Cup introduced athletes with a totally totally different problem: 14 km with roughly 1000 metres of ascent and descent by way of one of the crucial distinctive and delightful settings in worldwide mountain working.
Ranging from Parc de la Schappe, beneath Briançon’s fortified outdated city, the athletes climbed away from the town in direction of the Croix de Toulouse, the best level of the course at round 1950 metres. From there, the route plunged again in direction of Briançon in lower than three kilometres earlier than crossing in direction of one other a part of the town’s historic defensive panorama and the fortifications surrounding the Pont d’Asfeld and Fort des Trois-Têtes.
Briançon’s fortifications type a part of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Fortifications of Vauban. Right here, that heritage was not merely the background to the race. The fortified metropolis, mountain paths, bridges, tunnels and defensive constructions formed the sporting problem itself, bringing collectively Alpine terrain, centuries of historical past and World Cup mountain working.
The opening climb rewarded energy, nevertheless it couldn’t determine the race alone. The speedy descent from the Croix de Toulouse and the second passage by way of the fortifications demanded velocity, approach and dedication earlier than the ultimate return to Parc de la Schappe.
MEN’S RACE: NJERI FINDS HIS MOMENT ON THE DESCENT
Twenty-four hours after profitable Saturday’s Uphill race, Richard Omaya Atuya (KEN) once more confirmed his climbing energy and was the primary athlete to achieve the excessive level above Briançon’s fortifications.
Atuya seemed to be shifting in direction of a second victory of the weekend, however the Traditional Up & Down race nonetheless had its decisive kilometres forward. As soon as the course turned downhill, Ephantus Mwangi Njeri (KEN) started to shut the hole.
Njeri moved previous Atuya on the quick descent in direction of Briançon and continued to construct his benefit on the return to Parc de la Schappe. By the end, he had opened a 27-second margin, crossing the road in 1:03:01 to safe the primary WMRA World Cup victory of his profession.
It was a breakthrough second for Njeri. After ending sixth in Saturday’s pure uphill contest, he returned someday later and used the velocity and technical calls for of the Traditional Up & Down course to say the most important worldwide victory of his profession up to now.
Atuya completed second in 1:03:28, finishing an distinctive weekend in Briançon with one victory and one runner-up end throughout two very totally different mountain-running disciplines.
Elijah Kamau Kariuki (KEN) secured third in 1:05:06, finishing an all-Kenyan males’s podium. Brayan Rodríguez Flores (MEX) completed fourth in 1:05:43, whereas Paul Machoka (KEN) accomplished the highest 5 in 1:06:14
Prime 10 Males
Ephantus Mwangi Njeri (KEN) – 1:03:01
Richard Omaya Atuya (KEN) – 1:03:28
Elijah Kamau Kariuki (KEN) – 1:05:06
Brayan Rodríguez Flores (MEX) – 1:05:43
Paul Machoka (KEN) – 1:06:14
Théodore Klein (FRA) – 1:06:42
Martin Nilsson (SWE) – 1:07:05
Lukas Ehrle (GER) – 1:07:06
Noé Daviaud (FRA) – 1:07:41
Matt Knowles (GBR) – 1:08:04
WOMEN’S RACE: GITONGA WINS VAUBAN AND TAKES THE OVERALL LEAD
After ending second in Saturday’s Montée Verticale, Ruth Mwihaki Gitonga (KEN) returned to the beginning line decided to go one higher within the Traditional Up & Down.
Gitonga crossed the end line at Parc de la Schappe in 1:14:03, finishing her Briançon weekend with a runner-up end and a victory. These two outcomes transfer her to the highest of the general 2026 WMRA Mountain Operating World Cup standings.
The race for victory remained shut till the end, with Gloria Chebet (KEN) crossing the road solely 19 seconds behind in 1:14:22.
Miriam Chepkirui (KEN) accomplished one other all-Kenyan podium in 1:19:08, however the battle for third continued till the ultimate metres.
Simply 5 seconds behind Chepkirui, Arianna Dentis (ITA) produced one of many breakthrough performances of the weekend. Dentis completed fourth in 1:19:13, recording her first main World Cup outcome and coming inside solely 5 seconds of a sensational podium place.
Elle Twentyman (GBR) accomplished the ladies’s high 5 in 1:20:08.
Prime 10 Ladies
Ruth Mwihaki Gitonga (KEN) – 1:14:03
Gloria Chebet (KEN) – 1:14:22
Miriam Chepkirui (KEN) – 1:19:08
Arianna Dentis (ITA) – 1:19:13
Elle Twentyman (GBR) – 1:20:08
Benedetta Broggi (ITA) – 1:23:53
Selina Burch (SUI) – 1:23:59
Céline Jeannier (FRA) – 1:25:11
Bethany Bergstrand (GBR) – 1:26:47
Gabrielle Pilote Fortin (CAN) – 1:27:59
Outcomes: https://vaurtr.v3.livetrail.web/fr/2026
Gloria Chebet (KEN) Vauban Mountain Path Traditional Up&Down © WMRA Marco Gulberti
TWO RACES, TWO DIFFERENT EXPRESSIONS OF MOUNTAIN RUNNING
Throughout two days, the Vauban Mountain Path examined virtually each factor of elite mountain working.
Saturday’s race was a single sustained ascent from Briançon in direction of the higher station of Prorel. Sunday required athletes to climb from the fortified metropolis in direction of the Croix de Toulouse, commit totally to a speedy descent after which race by way of one other part of Briançon’s UNESCO-listed defensive panorama.
For Njeri, the descent opened the door to his first World Cup victory. For Gitonga, a second place and a victory throughout the weekend carried her to the highest of the general standings.
The Vauban Mountain Path was the final Traditional Up & Down race earlier than the World Cup Finals at Défi des Couleurs in Québec, Canada, in October, the place the ultimate factors within the class can be determined.
The Traditional Up & Down class is sponsored by Turismo Centro de Portugal – “MOVE Centro de Portugal – The Sports activities Area.”
The World Cup now pauses for nearly three weeks earlier than returning for Stage 11 at Sierre-Zinal in Switzerland on August 8.
