Tadei Pivk and Laura Orgué were victorious at the Dolomites SkyRace® today, fifth of the season’s eight-race Sky Series. The 19-year-old event is a magnet for the world’s best talent and today was no different.
1,100 runners from 26 countries lined up for the short, steep punishing course that climbs 1,750m to the summit of the snow-covered Piz Boé at 3,152m altitude starting and finishing in the town of Canazei.
Italy’s Pivk is on a roll, still leading the current Sky Series rankings after four races, two of which he’s won outright. Race winner here last year and 2015 champion, he was favourite for the top spot which he clinched in 2h03’39”. Fresh faces are appearing on the international scene and new-entry Stian Overgaard Aarvic from Norway, just 19 years-old, was a close second. Switzerland’s Martin Anthamatten placed an excellent third just seconds behind.
Laura Orgué, after winning Friday’s Dolomites Vertical Kilometer® proved yet again that she’s number one in both the Vertical and Sky disciplines of which she was the 2015 champion. Despite injury earlier this year in a ski-mountaineering accident, she delivered a second place in her first international race at the Santa Caterina VK and now a double victory in the Dolomites.
Reigning world champion Elisa Desco, after her recent win in Livigno, closed just two minutes behind Orgué and moves up to take second on the Series ranking with American Megan Kimmel still holding the top slot. Surprise third was another new entry on the international scene. Celia Chiron from France joined the leaders and jostled for an excellent third just 14 seconds behind Desco.
The men’s race was led by Spaniard Aritz Egea right up to the final climb of the Piz Boé. Here Pivk took over the lead, followed by Overgaard and Anthamatten. Egea, unable to hold the pace, slipped to finally close 16th.
Both winners fell short by 3’ of the standing records set by Kilian Jornet and Megan Kimmel, 2h00’11” and 2h25’57” respectively but the strong competition of the Dolomites SkyRace® is underlined by the fact that the top 20 men’s field closed just 10’ after the winner’s time.
Today’s Dolomites SkyRace® concluded the weekend events here which kicked off on Friday with the Dolomites Vertical Kilometer®.
Look out for the next race on the Series, the SkyRace® Comapedrosa. It will take place on July 31 in the Principality of Andorra. “Just” 21km long, it reaches nearly 3,000m altitude with 2,280m vertical climb.
Dolomites SkyRace® results
Men
- Tadei Pivk (ITA) Crazy Idea – 2h03’39”
- Stian Overgaard Aarvik (NOR) Salomon – 2h05’52”
- Martin Anthamatten (SUI) Salomon – 2h06’27”
- Martin Stofner (ITA) Raiffeisen – 2h07’09”
- Mattia Gianola (ITA) Crazy Idea – 2h07’29”
Women
- Laura Orgué (ESP) Salomon – 2h27’42”
- Elisa Desco (ITA) SCOTT Running – 2h29’38”
- Celia Chiron (FRA) Optisport – 2h29’53”
Dolomites SkyRace® results
Sky Series ranking
Men
- Tadei Pivk (ITA) – 356 points
- Jan Margarit (ESP) – 147 points
- Marc Casal Mir (AND) – 137 points
Women
- Megan Kimmel (USA) – 266 points
- Elisa Desco (ITA) – 188 points
- Yngvild Kaspersen (NOR) – 162 points
Full Sky Series ranking
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