Release written by Kirsty Reade for the World Mountain Running Association recaps a thrillingly close race for the women and a display of front running for the men at La Montée du Nid d’Aigle on Saturday, July 22, in St. Gervais, France.
La Montee du Nid d’Aigle provided the Valsir Mountain Running World Cup’s third classic mountain race for 2023 and the next gold label event. This was the event’s third inclusion in the World Cup and it seems that each year the field gets deeper.
Last year’s epic race saw both the men’s and women’s course records broken, by Patrick Kipngeno and Joyce Njeru (both of Kenya), and both were on the start line again this year. But the line-up was so good again this year, with athletes who have done well here before rubbing shoulders with those racing it for the first time, but riding high in this year’s World Cup, it was a certainty the race would be exciting.
Counting down the kilometers to the finish at La Montee du Nid d’Aigle. Photo: Nancy Hobbs
Setting the scene – the weather and the course
The conditions were perfect for running, with cool temperatures of around 15 degrees at the start and an overcast sky. The course is a relentlessly uphill one, starting at Le Fayet at 596m and climbing all the way up to the finish, which would usually be at Refuge du Nid d’Aigle at 2394m, but this year the course was changed slightly for construction work so the finish was at the ski station below it.
A more than 2000 meter climb was realized by the runners over the 19.5-kilometer course which offered a mix of river trail, tree-covered trail and open mountain tracks. The moderate temperatures would be a blessing today. The only downside to the overcast conditions was that the glacier wasn’t visible to the runners or spectators until well after the top finishers crossed the line.
Lots of climbing in the La Montee du Nid d’Aigle course. Photo: Nancy Hobbs
Locals from Saint Gervais turn out in huge numbers to volunteer for and support this race and as such it is a huge part of the town’s history. Today marked the 36th edition, making it one of the oldest mountain running races in France.
Both winners from 2022 were on the starting line, but they were both facing fiercely competitive fields if they wanted to retain their titles. There were any number of athletes in both fields capable of making the podium.
La Montee du Nid d’Aigle women’s race
While Njeru was coming into the race as the favorite, the fact that Philaries Kisang (KEN) was also on the start line set up an interesting duel. With two third places at last weekend’s Fletta Trail and Piz Tri Vertical, combined with a second place at the World Championships in the vertical uphill race, it was expected that she could pose the biggest threat to Njeru retaining her title here.
Timers and volunteers, including Sarah Rowell, treasurer of the WMRA, await runners at La Montee du Nid d’Aigle. Photo: Nancy Hobbs
But, with a start list that also included Camilla Magliano (ITA), who was third here last year, former winner Lucy Murigi (KEN), last year’s runner-up Blandine L’Hirondel (FRA), Susanna Saapunki (FIN) and Sarah Carter (USA), to name just a few, the podium was wide open.
Excitingly, Njeru and Kisang were neck-and-neck almost the whole race. Coming up to the timing point at the 12km point it was Kisang who just edged it, with a small lead of just 11 seconds over Njeru. At that point Saapunki was two and a half minutes behind them in third, with Murigi 90
seconds further back, then another 90 seconds to L’Hirondel. But we knew this could all change over the second half of the race.
Women’s winner Joyce Njeru at La Montee du Nid d’Aigle. Photo: Nancy Hobbs
In a nail-bitingly close finish it was Njeru who came out on top (in 2.06.28), beating Kisang by just 5 seconds! Afterwards Njeru said she ‘just managed’ the win and praised the people of Saint Gervais and the beautiful course. Saapunki managed to maintain her third place in 2.10.42 and in fact Murigi and L’Hirondel’s positions also remained the same to take fourth and fifth respectively.
Runners from the USA fared well on the day. Sarah Carter finished 9th in 2:21:01, Andie Cornish finished in 17th timed in 2:32:04. Five-time USA Mountain Running Team member Anita Ortiz (2002-2005, and 2007) finished 31st among the women taking the masters 50+ title timed in 3:00:13.
Anita Ortiz after her race finish with the stunning back drop that is La Montee du Nid d’Aigle. Photo: Nancy Hobbs
La Montee du Nid d’Aigle men’s race
The men’s race featured 2022 winner Kipngeno, who was back again but, the event also welcomed last year’s men’s runner-up, Philemon Kiriago (KEN) back, hot on the heels of his win at Fletta Trail last weekend. In an absolutely stacked field, this was a wide open men’s race.
Stian Angermund (NOR) was a late confirmation to the race, adding more depth to the field alongside Xavier Chevrier (ITA), 10th at the classic mountain race at the World Championships, Andrea Rostan (ITA), winner of the Broken Arrow VK and fourth at Piz Tri Vertical, Joe Steward (GBR), third at last weekend’s Piz Tri Vertical, Timothy Kirui (KEN) and Alex Baldaccini (ITA).
The men’s race was quite different to the women’s in that Kipngeno opened a lead early on. By the timing point he had stretched out a lead of 2.20 over Kiriago in second. At the point it was an all-Kenyan top three with Kirui sitting 80 seconds behind Kiriago. But Chevrier and Angermund were
right on Kirui’s heels and the main battle looked for third in the race.
It was no surprise to see Kipngeno emerge from the final climb with a clear lead and he took the win in 1.46.44. Kiriago also managed to keep hold of his second place, finishing just over two minutes behind, in 1.48.47. Eventually it was Chevrier who won the hotly contested third place on the podium
in 1.51.11.
Angermund was fourth and Theodore Klein (FRA) fifth. Eric Blake (USA), four-time winner of Mount Washington Road Race and multi-time team member of the US Mountain Running Team, finished 20th in a time of 2:04:50 earning the masters title on the men’s side.
Eric Blake (USA), crossing the finish line. Photo: Nancy Hobbs
La Montee du Nid d’Aigle – summary results on the day
La Montee du Nid d’Aigle is a race that sums up everything the Valsir Mountain Running World Cup stands for, with a local community all getting behind it, a rich history, a jaw-droppingly beautiful mountain backdrop and a testing course. And of course it delivered exciting racing, which will shake up the World Cup rankings.
Joyce Njeru crosses the finish line at La Montee du Nid d’Aigle. Photo: Nancy Hobbs
Women’s top 5
Joyce Njeru (KEN) 2.06.28
Philaries Kisang (KEN) 2.06.33
Susanna Saapunki (FIN) 2.10.42
Lucy Murigi (KEN) 2.13.28
Blandine L’Hirondel (FRA) 2.14.18
Men’s top 5
Patrick Kipngeno (KEN) 1.46.44
Philemon Kiriago (KEN) 1.48.47
Xavier Chevrier (ITA) 1.51.11
Stian Angermund (NOR) 1.51.52
Theodore Klein (FRA) 1.54.54
Valsir Mountain Running World Cup rankings
The points won here have shaken up the World Cup rankings somewhat. For the women Njeru, who was joint leader with Scout Adkin, has now stretched out a lead on her own with 160 points. Adkin is now second but Kisang jumps up from sixth to third now with 100 points. Murigi adds to her tally but, because she has been leapfrogged by Kisang, she is now in sixth with 85 points.
For the men Kiriago has stretched out his lead and now has 130 points. Kipngeno jumps up to second with a total of 100 and Rostan is now third with 88 points. Other changes are that Steward and Baldaccini jump up to joint fifth (with Filemon Abraham) and sixth respectively.
*subject to official confirmation
Next up for the Valsir Mountain Running World Cup
After a break of a few weeks, the next gold label event in the Valsir Mountain Running World Cup will be at Sierre-Zinal on August 12. This will be the next long mountain race.
