Casto, Italy hosted the opening leg of a demanding double-header this weekend, with Vertical Nasego serving as stage 12 of the WMRA World Cup earlier than stage 13 follows on Sunday at Trofeo Nasego. Circumstances matched the depth of the racing, with temperatures climbing above 30C and testing athletes throughout each fields.
Vertical Nasego ranks amongst Italy’s most demanding uphill-only races, and its status is effectively earned. The 4.2km course begins gently sufficient, however gradient will increase sharply within the closing levels – practically half of the route’s 1,000 metres of elevation acquire comes within the remaining kilometre alone. The terrain grows steep sufficient that opponents are pressured to make use of their arms for components of the final part.
Each begin lists mirrored the power of this yr’s World Cup area. Andrea Mayr of Austria and Kenya’s Patrick Kipngeno, previous winners with a number of victories between them, lined up alongside reigning World and European champions equivalent to Nina Engelhard (GER) and Jacob Adkin (GBR). They had been joined by a number of athletes who’ve emerged as this season’s breakout performers, organising a genuinely open contest with an unbelievable depth of fields in each races.
Ladies’s race
The ladies have a separate begin right here, to make sure equal protection and their very own end line. They set off at 10am, with the boys’s race beginning 45 minutes later.
Engelhard, as reigning World Champion within the uphill race, was a favorite on paper, however she has been injured this yr, and this was her first race again, so we waited to see how her race would unfold. It turned out that she was definitely again to health, as she appeared sturdy all through. She received in 39.29 in a dominant efficiency. It wasn’t a shock to see Kirsty Skye Dickson (GBR) main the chase, simply as we’ve seen her actually assault so many races this yr. She completed second in 40:19.
Seven-time World Champion Mayr, who has received right here thrice, took a really spectacular third in 40:59, proving that she remains to be capable of compete on the very highest degree towards runners who’re 20 years youthful than her. Mayr nonetheless holds the file right here (38:39), which she set in 2019.
Our girls’s World Cup chief, Ruth Mwihaki Gitonga (KEN) was scorching on Mayr’s heels, simply eight seconds behind in fourth. 20 year-old rising star Miriam Chepkirui (Ken) added one other sturdy outcome to her spectacular 2026 World Cup competitors by taking fifth, sustaining a 30 second hole from Christel Dewalle (FRA).
Males’s race
The boys’s race was equally arrange for an interesting battle. Because it performed out the principle duel was between three-time earlier winner, Kipngeno, and final yr’s winner – and file holder – Richard Omaya Atuya (KEN). Kipngeno got here out on prime this time, profitable in 33.31, his quickest ever time right here and simply eight seconds off Atuya’s file. Atuya took second in 34:11.
The battle for third was between two Italian legends of uphill races – Andrea Elia and Henri Aymonod. Elia took third right here for the second yr in a row, ending in a time of 34:40, with Aymonod simply 20 seconds behind him.
Elijah Karuiki (KEN) beat fellow Run2Gether On Path runner, Philemon Kiriago, to take fifth, including one other sturdy outcome to his World Cup marketing campaign, and 21 year-old Edward Hobbs (GBR) beat some large names to take seventh in his first World Cup race.
Full outcomes may be discovered right here.
One of the best factor about double header weekends is that the runners get the possibility to go once more tomorrow. Can Engelhard and Kipngeno do the double?
Trofeo Nasego is on Sunday September 6, with a mass begin at 9.30am.
