Christelle Dewalle climbs to victory for the second time at Grèste de la Mughéra Vertical Kilometer®. ©iancorless.com / VKWC
French woman Christel Dewalle is on a winning streak after three straight wins on the Vertical Kilometer® World Circuit. It was a repeat performance also for Italian Philip Goetsch at the Gréste della Mughéra Vertical Kilometer® in Limone sul Garda, Italy, Friday, October 13 which the pair won in 2016.
At dusk from the shore of Lake Garda, 235 competitors ascended the 1,080m vertical climb over the rocky 3.2 km course, their headlamps twinkling in the darkness.
Philip Goetsch, race winner, climbs to victory for the second time on the course. ©iancorless.com / VKWC
Goetsch summited in the fastest time, an incredible 36’23” nearly two minutes ahead of Italian Patrick Facchini who closed in 38’13”. Norwegian Stian Angermund-Vik, World Champion of the Vertical discipline, placed third in 38’40”.
Dewalle took the win in 45’52”, followed by German Michelle Maier in 46’13” and Italy’s Camilla Magliano in 47’45”.
Stephanie Jimenez, fourth in Grèste de la Mughéra Vertical Kilometer®. ©iancorless.com / VKWC
Spaniard Laura Ogué continues to lead the Vertical Kilometer® World Circuit ranking after taking a fifth place in the race. Italian Stephanie Jimenez is ranked second after placing fourth. While Switzerland’s Victoria Kreuzer, who was unable to run due to hamstring issues, holds on to third.
The men’s ranking leadership continues with Angermund-Vik, Slovenian Nejc Kuhar in second and Facchini in third.
Philip Goetsch, winner, Grèste de la Mugéra Vertical Kilometer® winner. ©VKWC
The race also represented the finals of the Skyrunning European Championships.
The Gréste della Mughéra Vertical Kilometer® is the second last event on the 17-race Vertical Kilometer® World Circuit which will conclude on October 21 with the Kilomètre Vertical® de Fully in Switzerland where the world records for the discipline stand at 29’42” by Urban Zemmer and 34’44” by Christel Dewalle who will be heading there to close the season…and give her record another shot.
Race results
Men
- Philip Goetsch (ITA) – 36’23”
- Patrick Facchini (ITA) – 38’13”
- Stian Angermund-Vik (NOR) – 38’40”
- Nejc Kuhar (SLO) – 38’46”
- Petter Engdahl (SWE) – 39’07”
Women
- Christelle Dewalle (FRA) – 45’52”
- Michelle Maier (GER) – 46’13”
- Camilla Magliano (ITA) – 47’45”
- Stephanie Jimenez (ITA) – 48’05”
- Laura Orgué (ESP) – 48’22”
