Joyce Muthoni seeks to defend mountain running titles at Canfranc-Canfranc

Kenya’s Joyce Muthoni will be seeking to defend her title as action heads to Canfranc-Estación, a picturesque mountain town in northeastern Spain.

The region will host an exhilarating double-header weekend as the Valsir Mountain Running World Cup reaches its climax.

Joyce Muthoni to compete with best

In what promises to be a thrilling event, the world’s top-ranked athletes in the World Cup standings will converge here, presenting an opportunity for dramatic shifts in the series standings.

The action-packed weekend kicks off with a challenging vertical uphill race on Friday evening (8). Covering a gruelling 4km distance, the course will take the runners from 1455m at the Seta River, steadily ascending to the summit of Tuca Blanca at a towering altitude of 2313m.

The path, characterized by steep inclines, intensifies towards the end, demanding a final burst of effort from the competitors.

All eyes will be on Kenya’s Muthoni, who currently leads the women’s World Cup standings. With a chance to solidify her position, she aims to accumulate crucial points in Canfranc-Estación.

Muthoni, who triumphed in both races at this location last year, is determined to defend her titles. Her impressive form this season, including victories in the Fletta Trail and La Montee du Nid d’Aigle, makes her a formidable force.

Nevertheless, she faces formidable competition, particularly from fellow Kenyan Lucy Murigi, consistently a top-10 performer this year.

Italy’s Camilla Magliano, renowned for her strong performances in high-profile races, will also be a contender, having secured fourth place in the vertical race and second in the classic race at this venue last year.

Other standout women to watch include France’s Olivia Magnone, the runner-up in the long mountain race here last year, and Spain’s Maitane Melero.

The defending champion in the men’s vertical race is Spain’s Daniel Osanz, and his compatriot Raul Criado, who showed promise with a third-place finish in the long race and sixth in the vertical race last year, is poised for a strong showing.

British athlete Joe Steward, currently ranked fourth in the men’s World Cup standings, has enjoyed a successful season with podium finishes at Vertical Nasego and Piz Tri Vertical. Canada’s Remi Leroux, also riding high on success at Montemuro in this year’s World Cup, could be a contender in Canfranc-Estación.

Additional noteworthy men in contention include France’s Vincent Loustau and Spain’s Ricardo Cherta.

The highlight of the weekend is the 16km classic mountain race on Sunday (10), a grueling test of endurance and skill on rugged terrain.

With a daunting ascent of 1600m along the way, the runners will reach the summit of La Moleta (2572m), offering breathtaking views of the mountain range. The race essentially comprises one brutal climb of 1400m over a mere 5.8km, followed by a challenging descent back to the finish.

Many athletes who competed in the vertical uphill race will double up at the longer distance on Sunday, capitalizing on the rest day in between.

Joyce Muthoni eyes double

Muthoni, with aspirations of duplicating her double triumph from last year, will face fierce competition from Murigi, Magliano, and Belgium’s Charlotte Cotton, who achieved top-10 finishes in both races at this location last year. Spanish duo Anna Guirado and Bel Calero will also be contenders in the women’s race.

Raul Criado, with his strong performance at Broken Arrow, is among the favorites in the men’s race. However, the field boasts an abundance of talent, including Czechia’s Ondrej Fejfar, who secured two top-10 placements in Broken Arrow.

Morocco’s Adil Moussaoui and France’s Vincent Loustau are also poised for strong showings. The Spanish contingent, featuring Cherta, Villamuera, Hernandez, Banos, Lasobras, and Pujadas, promises to make their presence felt.