It’s almost time. This Saturday, the 28th of October, the best Skyrunners from around the world will gather on the shores of Lake Garda for the final race of the 2023 season – the Limone Xtreme SkyMasters.
90 elite athletes of over 20 nationalities have earned their place at the starting line of the monumental event by meeting the qualification criteria or being selected as a Wild Card.
Amongst them eight of the top ten females of the Skyrunner® World Series overall season ranking will be present and all ten of the top ten men.
Only those who have completed three races of the series, with a top ten finish, plus the SkyMasters will be eligible to win any of the €100,000 end of season prize money pool.
THE BATTLE FOR THE OVERALL TITLE
Just 50 points separate the top four women of the overall ranking, therefore all will be decided at the final finish line. French athletes Iris Pessey (team Scott Running) and Clementine Geoffray (team Evadict) sit in joint place at the top of the women’s leaderboard with 280 points. Just 40 points behind is Karina Carsolio of Mexico (team Black Diamond) and following her, Hillary Gerardi of the USA with 230 points (team Scarpa / Black Diamond). Emma Cook-Clarke of Canada (team Arc’teryx) currently in third, will not be competing due to injury.
We can expect an equally exciting men’s race. Antonio Martinez of Spain (Team Scarpa) is in first position with 280 points. In second place with 240 are both Frederic Tranchand of France (team Scott Running) and Manuel Merillas of Spain (Team Scarpa). After a season of watching these three go head-to-head, it’s impossible to predict who will take home the title. William Boffelli of Italy (team Crazy / Hoka) and Louison Coiffet of France (team Merrell) are not far behind in fourth and fifth place and could also place top three.
THE RACE TO BE CROWNED THE 2023 SKYMASTER
Not only will the overall ranking champions be crowned but also the winners of the final race. Athletes who have qualified via South American Championships, European Championships, North & Central American Championships, Skyrunner National Series and as Wild Cards, can still take home the SkyMasters title and win the separate €10,000 prize money pool.
The 22km race with over 2,000 meters of elevation gain, starts this Saturday 28th of October at 11:00 am CET in Limone, Italy. The race will be followed by the famous Limone afterparty where the 2024 Skyrunner® World Series calendar will be unveiled.
Seana Forbes, Head of Operations for the Skyrunner® World Series comments:
“We can’t wait to be back in Limone for the final race of the season. Limone has been in the circuit for a decade and its a favourite with athletes and fans around the world. This year has been so exciting and I’m sure Limone will be a great conclusion to an amazing season and as unpredictable and thrilling to watch as it was in 2019.”
Full starting list can be found here.
