Kenya’s Patrick Kipngeno was a convincing winner at the Piz Tri Vertical – a Gold Label Race in the Valsir Mountain Running World Cup – held in the Italian town of Malonno on Saturday (15).

With the 1000m of ascent coming in just 3.4km on the course, it is brutally steep in places and the climbing is relentless. Runners start at Moscio at 820m altitude and then climb steadily with little respite up to Malga Campel at 1820m on the slopes of Piz Tri.

The men’s race, which set off half an hour after the women’s contest, looked set to be an enthralling duel between Kipngeno and defending champion and course record-holder Andrea Rostan of Italy. Last year’s runner-up, Kenya’s Philemon Kiriago – who was seventh in the recent vertical uphill race at the World Championships, and took silver in the classic race there – was also in the mix.

Kipngeno took an early lead, and it soon became apparent that, for the rest of the field, it was going to be a race for second place. Kipngeno duly held on for the win and he broke Rostan’s course record by a minute and a half, clocking 32:08.

Fellow Kenyan Kiriago finished second in 34:04, while Britain’s Joe Steward had a breakthrough to finish third in 34:35, 15 seconds ahead of Rostan.

Mayr, a five-time winner here and the existing course record-holder, was up against Kenya’s Philaries Kisang, the woman who pushed her all the way at the World Mountain and Trail Running Championships.

In the men’s standings, Rostan moves into the lead with 75 points, bumping Henri Aymonod down to second. Kipngeno starts his World Cup campaign in a tie with Alexandre Ricard and Eli Hemming on 50 points. But everything could change after Fletta Trail tomorrow.

Kirsty Reade (WMRA) for World Athletics

Men
1 Patrick Kipngeno (KEN) 32:03
2 Philemon Kiriago (KEN) 34:04
3 Joe Steward (GBR) 34:35
4 Andrea Rostan (ITA) 34:50
5 Filimon Abraham (GER) 35:02