The Matterhorn massif looked menacing, overshadowing the Ultraks 46K course, 6th leg of the Skyrunner® World Series in Zermatt Saturday, but the 640 runners at the start line were not intimidated. Local runner Marc Lauenstein and American Megan Kimmel both delivered a captivating performance at the 4th edition of this picture-postcard event.
Series ranking leader and race favourite Megan Kimmel was on top of the world today after finally winning the race after dropping out in 2015.
“It went as well as could be expected. Last year mentally I had a really difficult race so this year I wanted to make sure I was prepared for a better time,” she said. “I felt strong all day long. I don’t think coming to a sky race assuming you’re going to win is a good way to come into a race. The competition is always high calibre and I feel lucky as always to be pulling off another win”.
Marc Lauenstein, a local runner and second at Zegama behind Kilian Jornet, took the men’s win with apparent ease although the lead pack had fellow Swiss Christian Mathys and Nepali Tirtha Tamang on his heels just two minutes behind, positions which they held to the finish. Lauenstein closed, a happy man, in 4h47’01”.
Last year’s winner, local Martin Anthamatten was unable to hold the pace and closed sixth. “I’ve been doing too much racing,” Anthamatten said. “With my work as an alpine guide I don’t have so much time for training. Next year I aim to plan my racing better.”
As Kimmel pointed out, the women’s race had some very strong competition, especially from last year’s winner, Italian Elisa Desco. Kimmel led throughout although seriously challenged by Desco who, at the 3,100m Gornergrat race summit, was just one minute behind followed by Czech Michaela Mertova and Frenchwoman Célia Chiron four minutes off.
On the downhill, Desco took a fall and was forced to retire. Kimmel crossed the line in 5h23’15”, with Mertova and Chiron holding their positions to close second and third respectively.
Both winners were four minutes off the standing records set by Kilian Jornet, 4h43’05” in 2013 and Stevie Kremer, 5h18’43” in 2014.
The leadership of the Sky Series rankings remains unchanged with Tadei Pivk and Megan Kimmel on the top rung. (Pivk was absent due to injury).
The 48 km course starts and finishes in Zermatt, with a punishing 3,600m vertical climb – softened by some of the best views to be had of the Matterhorn and surrounding 4,000 peaks and glaciers. Today, the views were partially obscured by low cloud and rain, adding to the drama of the event.
Some 2,300 participants from 52 countries took part overall in the weekend’s four events.
Alpina Watches, sponsor of the Matterhorn Ultraks 46K and Official Watch of the 2016 Skyrunner® World Series, awarded the winners of the Alpina Sky Prize with an Alpina Horological Smartwatch. The award is based on the fastest man and woman on the “Alpina Triangle” segment, from Sunnegga to Riffelalp via the Gornergrat. Megan Kimmel and Christian Mathys were the lucky winners.
The Skyrunner® World Series moves on to the legendary Kima Trophy in northern Italy on Sunday, August 28, second race in the Extreme Series presented by Alpina Watches.
Race results
Men
- Marc Lauenstein (SUI) – 4h4701”
- Christian Mathys (SUI) – 4h51’56”
- Tirtha Tamang (NEP) – 4h53’03”
- Hassan Ait Chaou (ESP) – 5h02’47”
- Eugeni Ocana (ESP) – 5h03’58”
Women
- Megan Kimmel (USA) – 5h23’15”
- Michaela Mertova (CZE) – 5h46’21”
- Célia Chiron (FRA) – 5h51’36”
- Oihana Kortazar (ESP) – 5h55’57”
- Ragna Debats (NED) – 5h58’27”
Sky Ranking
Men
- Tadei Pivk (ITA) – 356 points
- Hassan Ait Chaou (ESP) – 236 points
- Pablo Villa (ESP) – 233 points
- Oscar Casal Mir (AND) – 220 points
- Marc Casal Mir (AND) – 219 points
Women
- Megan Kimmel (USA) – 366 points
- Ragna Debats (NED) – 272 points
- Oihana Kortazar (ESP) – 244 points
- Laura Orgué (ESP) – 200 points
- Elisa Desco (ITA) – 188 points
Current Sky rankings
The top 15 athletes were monitored on our live tracking system during the race.
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