Austria’s Andrea Mayr will not be racing in the Mountain Running World Cup, and her absence has potentially opened the door for Kenya’s Lucy Murigi.

Mayr is third in the overall standings, and her absence means Murigi has been handed a favourable chance to compete over the weekend.

The Kenyan and Britain’s Scout Adkin will run in the classic race, while Adkin will also run in the vertical uphill.

Murigi’s season

Murigi has been a regular top-10 finisher this season, and this includes two podium finishes at Canfranc, while Adkin won at Montemuro, was second at Piz Tri Vertical, and was third at Vertical Nasego.

Meanwhile, as the Mountain Running World Cup heads to its grand finale at Sky Gran Canaria, Kenya’s Philemon Kiriago and Muthoni Njeru are standing in favourite positions to emerge as winners.

Kiriago leads the men’s standings with 250 points, while Njeru is the leader in the women’s category with 280 points.

Kiriago, who has had a phenomenal track record in 2023, will also race the classic and vertical uphill races this weekend. He has posted wins in Fletta Trail, Sierre Zinal, and Trofeo Nasego.

Kiriago is set to participate in the classic and vertical uphill races, and this promises to be a tight World Cup battle for the Kenyan duo. 20 points separate Kiriago from Kipngeno, who prevailed at Piz Tri Vertical, La Montee du Nid d’Aigle, and Vertical Nasego this year.

Njeru’s favourite

On the other hand, Njeru is set to be buoyed by her wins from classic races at Fletta Trail, La Montee du Nid d’Aigle, and Canfranc, as well as a win at the Canfranc vertical race, as she eyes the World Cup title.

Just like Kiriago, Njeru will face tough opposition from her Kenyan compatriot Philaries Kisang, who sits in second place in the women’s World Cup competition with 195 points.

Kisang managed podium finishes at Piz Tri Vertical, Fletta Trail, La Montee du Nid d’Aigle, Sierre Zinal, and Vertical Nasego, but a win has eluded her this year.