This press release from the World Mountain Running Association was written by Kirsty Reade with photos by Marco Gulberti and is a preview of the Montemuro Vertical Run, the second Gold Label race of this year’s Valsir Mountain Running World Cup.
On July 2, the third annual Montemuro Vertical Run in the municipality of Castro Daire, Portugal will host its second inclusion in the World Cup, but it has already revealed itself to be a classic in the making.
WMRA‘s first World Cup visit to Castro Daire was in 2022 and it was also the World Cup’s first visit to Portugal. The course and the race didn’t disappoint and it was a Kenyan double for Joyce Njeru and Patrick Kipngeno. Unfortunately Kipngeno will not return this year, but Njeru will, off the back of a successful World Championships. Let’s take a look at the race and who we can expect to see on the start line this year.
The region of Castro Daire.Photo credit: Marco Gulberti
Montemuro Vertical Run – the region and the course
The region of Castro Daire is developing something of a reputation for mountain sports, having worked hard to develop its potential for running and cycling in recent years. There is a local circuit of 8 mountain running races and the Montemuro Vertical Run has hosted the Portuguese mountain running championships for the last two years.
The Montemuro Vertical Run starts at 434m in Parada de Ester, just above the Paiva River. The opening kilometre takes the runners through the streets before they turn left, heading north toward the summit of Montemuro. This where the climbing really begins in earnest and athletes get little or no respite as it goes on more or less continuously to the finish, after a cruelly steep final climb, at 1,317m.
All in all it is 10.2km, 980m+ and 106m-, putting the race in the Classic Mountain category. A lot of the course is on decent paths and runnable, with some downhill sections where decisive moves could be made. Last year’s event showed that it is a course where we will see some fast racing.
Montemuro Vertical Run – the favorites – women
Joyce Njeru (KEN) will be back as the returning champion and, after her third placed finish in the recent classic race at the World Mountain and Trail Running Championships, she could be hard to beat. The whole of last year’s women’s podium will be back again this year, with Susanna Saapunki (FIN) and Camilla Magliano (ITA) both returning too.
Last year’s Montemuro Vertical Run women’s podium: Magliano, Njeru, Saapunki. Photo credit: Marco Gulberti
But they will face even more competition this year if they want to get on the podium again. Scout Adkin (GBR), fresh from achieving 8th place in the uphill race and 12th in the classic race at the World Championships, will be expected to feature. Lucy Wambui (KEN) is always one to watch, and she will toe the line alongside Charlotte Cotton (BEL), who was 9th here last year, as well as a whole host of strong Portuguese athletes, including Joana Soares, 6th last year and the course record holder.
Montemuro Vertical Run – the favorites – men
Kipngeno may not be there, but the second placed male runner from 2022 will. Zak Hanna (IRL) was 4th at the Broken Arrow Vertical Race two weeks ago and will be a strong contender again here. But he will face competition from a highly international men’s field.
Zak Hanna on course at Montemuro Vertical Run finishes second place in 2022. Photo credit: Marco Gulberti
Marek Chrascina (CZE), last year’s 4th place finisher and the 2019 bronze medallist at the World Championships, will return. Raul Criado (ESP) is fast becoming a familiar name in World Cup races and he will arrive in Castro Daire on the back of two 11th place finishes at Broken Arrow. Alex Baldaccini (ITA) is another big name on the start list, having been our 2017 men’s World Cup overall winner. Alexandre Ricard and Remi Leroux of Canada, Pablo Camescasse (ESP), Alric Petit (FRA), a group of young British athletes including Matthew Knowles, and a host of strong local athletes will make it an interesting World Cup battle.
We may even see some exciting new talent emerging in both the men’s and women’s races, just as we did at Broken Arrow. The women’s race will start at 10am on Sunday, followed by the men’s race at 10:10am. Stay informed of the action by following @wmramountainrun on Instagram and Twitter.
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