Francesco Puppi and Andrea Mayr win at Italy’s PIZTRIVertical mountain race

Press release from corsainmontagna.it for the World Mountain Running Association (WMRA). PIZTRIVertical was the second race of the WMRA Mountain Running World Cup.

Andrea Mayr (AUT) was the announced top name in Malonno for second round of the WMRA Mountain Running World Cup in Malonno along the tough hills of PIZTRIVertical and Mayr gave an incredible show to all realizing the new course record in 38.11 by beating the former one for more than two minutes. She started fast from the beginning and she went along for a great solo. ”I have never ran in such a nice place and today was all fantastic for me. I felt very well and decided to push hard from the start.” told the Austrian after the race “World Cup is my first goal for the season and I will be back in September stronger than now. Today I am really satisfied about my result in Malonno.”

After the amazing Mayr, Valentina Belotti (ITA) was proudly second :” It was so hard and hot today but I was so excited to run World Cup so close where I live. I am going to be in my top shape very soon and today i gave more trust in my training for next races.”

Sarah McCormack (IRL) reached the bronze medal of day after an intelligent race coming very fast at the end closing on podium, ”I never found similar hills in Great Britain and for me was something unbelievable. I am really happy for my competition.”

Seventh place for Gloria Giudici who earns more points for World Cup after brilliant race in GrossGlockner. Only eleventh Purity Gitonga (KEN) who didn’t confirm her second place in Austria during first round.

A surprise in men by the Italians was waited and today became reality. Francesco Puppi (ITA) former long distance mountain running in 2017 in Premana, won PiziTriVertical after a very exciting competition against Hannes Perkmann (ITA) and Kirui and Ndungu (KEN) who battled a lot along PizTri until last part when Puppi gave the final kick and went away of hardest final wall.

“I started controlled till 600m level than I went in front to discover my shape, and then went in front to push a little. In last part I am happy because I maintained my pace will my contenders decrease their one.When hills where not so hard i was good while during tougher hills I was not so brilliant. Now the Mountain Running World Cup will be my focus: I will compete in Sierre-Zinal next Sunday to aim more points again for global ranking.”

With the crowd incredibly excited cheering everyone, Hannes Perkmann (ITA) caught a fantastic silver medal demonstrating once time more how he liked this kind of competition. “I have prepared this race and so I am really satisfied about my result. Kenyans kept race very fast but when course became tougher I gave my best.”

Bronze medal on Piztri was Timothy Kirui (KEN) who surprising beat his compatriot and teammate Geoffrey Gikuni Ndungu (KEN) only fourth today in Malonno after winner in GrossGlockner.

Very high level competition noticed also by fifth place of current European classic champion Bernard Dematteis (ITA) and sixth for Italian mountain running legend Marco DeGasperi (ITA).

New version of World Cup caught another great success and new concept became a great start for future of our sport.

Full Men’s Results
Full Women’s Results

WRITING: ALBERTO STRETTI
PHOTO: MARCO GULBERTI / DAMIANO BENEDETTO / ALEXIS COURTHOUD / JUSTIN BRITTON

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