The following release was written by Kirsty Reade for the World Mountain Running Association and features results from the 50th running of Switzerland’s Sierre Zinal held today, August 12. Feature photo by Marco Gulberti.
Sierre Zinal is one of the highlights of every mountain running season and every year it is thought to be impossible to top the previous year’s edition. Would the 50th edition of Sierre Zinal, the next long mountain race in this year’s Valsir Mountain Running World Cup, be a classic?
Ready for Sierre Zinal start. Photo: Jonathan Wyatt
Setting the stage
If there’s one thing you can guarantee at Sierre Zinal it’s that it will provide a plot that unfolds as the race progresses. With its long, mostly runnable uphill section all the way up to 2400m, and a final, fast downhill third which has often decided the race, it’s a race of many parts and the eventual winners rarely lead from the start. And because of its iconic reputation it attracts established runners on the world stage and newer names, so it often throws up surprises in the top 10.
Such was the depth of this year’s field that it really was anybody’s race for both the men and the women. Nine-time men’s winner, Kilian Jornet, was absent due to injury, and Maude Mathys, three-time women’s winner was also a non-starter, but on the start line were previous top-10 finishers, runners riding high in the World Cup this year, and some exciting newcomers.
Runners stretching and readying for Sierre Zinal start. Photo: Jonathan Wyatt
Conditions had been warm in the valley the day before the race, with the temperature topping 30 degrees centigrade. However, race day dawned slightly cooler and more overcast, which was perfect for the runners. There are some very exposed sections on this course, mostly in the second half and so close to the hottest part of the day for the runners.
Unlike many other races the men and women start together at Sierre Zinal. The non-elites (or ‘tourists’ as they are known at the event) set off between 4.45am and 6.10am, so everybody gets to experience the finish line atmosphere. They would all take on the 31km course, with 2200m of ascent.
The men’s race at Sierre Zinal
The start of the men’s race saw some runners clearly strike out for the front. There was a small group which included Philemon Ombogo Kiriago (KEN) and Patrick Kipngeno (KEN), but it seemed that others in the next group, including Eli Hemming (USA), Thibaut Baronian (FRA), Remi Bonnet (SUI) and Elhousine Elazzaoui (MAR), were content to let them go for now.
With Kipngeno in the lead the expectation was that the main ascent of the course would be very fast, and the opportunity would come for other runners on the descent, where he isn’t as strong as others. So it was something of a surprise that he got to the first timing point two minutes behind the course record pace. At Ponchette he had 34 seconds on Kiriago in second and 1.18 on Bonnet in third. Another surprise at this point was that Vataliy Shafar (UKR), a marathon runner who we haven’t seen in mountain races, was in fourth. Julius Njeri (KEN) was in fifth, with Xavier Chevrier (ITA), Roberto Delorenzi (SUI), Baronian and Elazzauoi all close behind.
Vataliy Shafar (UKR) on course at Sierre Zinal. Photo: Marco Gulberti
Kipngeno maintained his lead through Chandolin and there was little movement among the leaders at this point, and he even stretched his lead out a little coming into Tignousa. But here was when Kevin Kibet (KEN) begin to make his presence known. He was two minutes behind Kiriago in third, with Shafar, Njeri, Chevrier and Bonnet chasing.
Arriving at Weisshorn, Kipngeno still had the lead, but Kiriago was starting to close and Njeri was starting to fade. Sylvain Cachard (FRA) had started to move up a little by this point and now lay in eighth. It was clear that Kipngeno needed to begin the downhill with a decent lead to be able to hold off the stronger descenders. Had he done enough?
When Kiriago made his move it was decisive. He overtook Kipngeno with around 8km to go and he looked very strong. Kibet was still holding onto third and Cachard had by this point made his way up to fourth. Robbie Simpson (GBR) had also moved up through the field to eighth by now. We were on for a very exciting finish.
Kiriago held on to win the men’s race in 2.27.27, celebrating his 21st birthday in style with the second fastest men’s time ever. Kipngeno held onto second place and there was an exciting spring finish for third, with Cachard passing Kibet on the descent, but then Kibet overtaking him as they hit the flat. Delorenzi was fifth and Simpson moved up to take sixth, continuing his incredible run of results here. Baronian was seventh, Chevrier eighth, Shafar hung onto ninth and Maestri came through for tenth.
The women’s race at Sierre Zinal
For the women, it was Philaries Kisang (KEN) who struck out into the lead from the start. It was assured that she would be strong on the ascent, having finished second in the uphill race at the World Championships this year. Monica Florea (ROU) sat in behind her, with Joyce Muthoni (KEN) a little further back and Nienke Brinkman (NED), the 2021 runner-up here a couple of minutes behind, perhaps a bit further back than we’d have expected her.
But while Kisang looked strong, Florea looked stronger and managed to pass her and create a buffer of 53 seconds by Ponchette. Sophia Laukli (USA), who recently won the Mont Blanc Marathon, was just behind Kisang in third at this point, with Muthoni just under a minute behind her. After a gap of another minute came Emma Pooley (SUI), ex-professional cyclist, Brinkman, then Rachel Drake (USA), Allie McLaughlin (USA), Camilla Magliano (ITA) and Alice Gaggi (ITA).
Alice Gaggi on course at Sierre Zinal. Photo: Alex Scolari
At this point the women’s race looked wide open. Kisang remained in touch with Florea, who was still leading, Laukli remained in contact with her and Muthoni was just behind them. Then there was a gap of around three minutes to Pooley in fifth. But the main question was whether Florea and Kisang had gone too hard in the early miles.
Then the women’s race really started to shake out. Laukli moved into second, Muthoni passed Kisang, then Laukli took the lead from Florea just as they came into Tignousa. But they were all close together, with Pooley five minutes further back and Brinkman leading the chasing pack. McLaughlin had moved up into seventh by this point.
Laukli maintained her lead through the next couple of timing points, managing to stretch it out to almost two minutes by Barneuza. Florea was fading and Kisang managed to regain third place, continuing to chase hard, even though the gap looked too big to close by now. But the race for the minor places was really hotting up, with Miao Yao (CHI) moving up the field, along with Gaggi.
Laukli, aged just 23, kept pushing hard and took the women’s win in 2.53.17, the third fastest women’s time ever. Muthoni took second and Kisang ran an incredibly brave race to hang onto third, Yao came through for fourth, with Gaggi finishing an impressive fifth. Brinkman was sixth, Florea seventh in the end, McLaughlin eighth and Pooley ninth. Lucy Murigi, three-time winner finished tenth.
Top five men at Sierre Zinal. Photo: Marco Gulberti
Men’s top 5
1. Philemon Ombogo Kiriago (KEN) – 2.27.27
2. Patrick Kipngeno (KEN) – 2.28.50
3. Kevin Kibet (KEN) – 2.34.16
4. Sylvain Cachard (FRA) – 2.34.22
5. Roberto Delorenzi (SUI) – 2.35.17
Top US Men at Sierre Zinal
14. Jeff Mogavero
15. Eli Hemming
36. Joseph DeMoor
41. Michelino Sunseri
51. Nicholas Turco
Top five women at Sierre Zinal. Photo: Marco Gulberti
Women’s top 5
1. Sophia Laukli (USA) – 2.53.17
2. Joyce Muthoni (KEN) – 2.57.19
3. Philaries Kisang (KEN) – 3.01.06
4. Miao Yao (CHI) – 3.04.05
5. Alice Gaggi (ITA) – 3.05.38
Top US Women at Sierre Zinal
1. Sophia Laukli
8. Allie McLaughlin
12. Rachel Drake
23. Tabor Scholl
32. Erin Clark
38. Rachel Tomajczyk
Find full results here.
Valsir Mountain Running World Cup
It was fantastic to see so many athletes riding high in this year’s World Cup achieving such strong results here. It shows how the World Cup is showcasing some of the best athletes in the sport. In the men’s race Kiriago and Kipngeno are first and second in the current rankings and will extend their leads here. Cachard, currently in tenth in this year’s competition will add important points and Hemming will also move up the rankings.
In the women’s World Cup rankings Muthoni is our current leader and will extend that lead here. Kisang is in third but will now move into second. Murigi, McLaughlin and Florea will add to their tally, and Saapunki and Magliano will also move up the table. See the rankings here.
Next World Cup races
The next stop for the Valsir Mountain Running World Cup is Vertical Nasego on September 2, and Trofeo Nasego on September 3. Find out more about the races here.
