Nineteen-year old Spaniard Jan Margarit clinched yet another victory today on the climb up the Migu Run Skyrunner® World Series rankings, crushing the record at the SkyRace® Comapedrosa, seventh stage of the eleven-race Sky Classic category. A surprise win by fellow Catalan Sheila Avilés, who closed ahead of race favourite Laura Orgué in her first Series’ victory.
312 participants from 18 countries toed the start line in the heart of the Pyrenees in the steepest race on the entire Series. Just 21 km long with 2,280m vertical climb, the average incline is 11% reaching the summit of the Comapedrosa at 2,942m, the highest point in Andorra.
Both the men’s and women’s records were crushed with Margarit slicing 5’06” off Tom Owens’ 2016 record. Both Avilés and Orgué closed under Orgué’s own record set here last year.
Avilés commented, “I felt confident. I felt I was performing well on both climbs and Laura wasn’t far away. I believed I could win. On the last downhill I went for it and gave it all I had – hoping not to fall. I’m really happy with my first Skyrunner® World Series win!”
Third lady was Takako Takamura from Japan. Italy’s Marco De Gasperi placed second with Japan’s Rui Ueda in third.
After missing his flight from Italy, De Gasperi arrived late last night. “Right from the start I didn’t have the best feelings on the ascent – a demanding course like the SkyRace® Comapedrosa is unforgiving,” he said. “On the second ascent Jan Margarit changed pace and went out really strong. It was important for me to concentrate on catching Rui Ueda ahead of me. On the last descent I didn’t push too hard. Probably I paid the price for all the tough races in July. Anyway, closing behind a young runner with huge potential like Margarit is an honour.”
With Japan and USA in the top five men’s and women’s positions here today, skyrunning globalisation is demonstrated by new countries featuring in the Sky Classic category, previously dominated by Europeans.
De Gasperi now rises to second position on the Sky Classic rankings and Frenchman Adrien Michaud in third. Spaniard Aritz Egea continues to hold the lead.
Spaniard Oihana Azkorbebeitia maintains her top slot, while American Hillary Gerardi climbs to second and Spaniard Laura Sola to third.
Five results out of eleven are counted for the final titles and end of season bonus prize for the Migu Run Skyrunner® World Series Sky Classic category.
The weekend’s events also included the Youth Skyrunning Championships with a Vertical Kilometer® and a 15 km SkyRace®. Overall, 700 runners from 27 countries participated.
The race pace is fast and furious with the next race less than a week away. The Migu Run Skyrunner® World Series continues in cooler climates in Norway, where skyrunning stars Kilian Jornet and Emelie Forsberg host the second race in the Sky Extreme category, the Tromso SkyRace® on August 5, together with the Blamann Vertical on August 4, part of the new Vertical Kilometer® World Circuit.
SkyRace® Comapedrosa race results
Men
1.Jan Margarit (ESP) – 2h35’36”
2. Marco De Gasperi (ITA) – 2h41’50”
3. Rui Ueda (JAP) – 2h44’54”
4. Zaid Ait Malek (MAR) – 2h47’45”
5. Adrien Michaud (FRA) – 2h48’29”
Women
1. Sheila Avilés (ESP) – 3h17’16”
2. Laura Orgué (ESP) – 3h19’29”
3. Takako Takamura (JAP) – 3h26’43”
4. Hillary Gerardi (USA) – 3h28’43”
5. Megan Kimmel (USA) – 3h33’22”
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