Andrea Mayr, Scout Adkin, Philemon Kiriago and Andrea Elia are among the many entries for this weekend’s huge occasion
After an thrilling launch occasion for the 2025 World Cup at Zmeu X-Fest in Romania we now head to the extra acquainted floor of Casto in Italy for the following races within the WMRA Mountain Working World Cup collection.
The athletes will battle it out in entrance of the spectacular backdrop of the Italian Alps at Vertical Nasego and Trofeo Nasego this weekend (Might 24-25).
Casto is within the lovely province of Brescia within the Lombardy area and the runners are assured a wealthy cultural expertise, in addition to a shocking however robust programs. Relationship again to medieval occasions, Casto is legendary for its cobbled streets, conventional stone homes, Romanesque church buildings and native delicacies.
Nestled within the Valsabbia valley, Casto was a crossroads for commerce and army routes by the centuries. It’s these historic routes, which as soon as linked villages, that the runners will now retrace. The well-known Parco delle Fucine, a remnant of the historic ironworks, now attracts folks for its by way of ferrata, caves and gorges. It’s a city that has, over many a whole bunch of years, mixed wealthy historical past and traditions with a ardour for operating and different out of doors pursuits.
Established in 2002, the Nasego races have performed a significant position on this and it’s laborious to think about a greater location for a World Cup race. With a high worldwide area, together with Andrea Mayr, Scout Adkin, Philemon Kiriago and Andrea Elia, and a double header of racing, Casto is certain to ship an unforgettable weekend.
Beginning in Casto on Saturday Might 24, the runners will start climbing on roads and good trails because the course ascends step by step. However then the race actually begins and the route turns into steeper and extra technical because it winds its manner up previous Rifugio Nasego (at 1270m) to the eventual end at Corna di Savallo at 1436m, 4.2km later.
On Sunday Might 25 the runners will tackle a 20.6km course with 1330m of ascent, which has lots of quick, runnable sections however one very notable climb. From the beginning in Casto at 400m it climbs slowly for the primary 6km, earlier than flattening off for 6km, then comes the large climb up of round 750m as much as Rifugio Nasego, earlier than a protracted descent right down to Famea for the end.
In each Vertical and Trofeo Nasego the ladies’s and males’s line-ups are extremely robust.
In Saturday’s Vertical Nasego all eyes shall be on Andrea Mayr (Hoolirun), who has gained 5 occasions right here, alongside an countless checklist of palmares. Scout Adkin (HOKA EU), final yr’s ladies’s World Cup champion and contemporary from a victory at Zmeu X-Fest, shall be making an attempt to interrupt Mayr’s grip on this race, as will Philaries Kisang (Run2gether), who was runner-up to Mayr on the World Championships. The younger Italian Benedetta Broggi (Sportproject VCO) is also one to observe on this contest.
Within the males’s vertical race the defending champion, Patrick Kipngeno, is not going to participate however an entire host of Italian brief uphill specialists, together with Henri Aymonod (The North Face), who has gained right here twice, Andrea Elia (La Recastello Radici Group), Italian VK champion for the final three years, and Andrea Rostan (Atletica Saluzzo). However proficient Kenyan athletes Philemon Kiriago and Richard Atuya (each Run2gether) may effectively problem right here too.
The racing heats up once more on Sunday with Trofeo Nasego. Joyce Muthoni Njeru (Atletica Saluzzo) shall be making an attempt to defend her title, however we noticed throughout the 2024 World Cup how intently matched Njeru and Scout Adkin are at this distance, which units up an attractive ladies’s competitors. Add in former winners Andrea Mayr and Alice Gaggi (La Recastello Radici Group) and it seems to be certain to be an awesome race. Valentine Jepkoech Rutto (Atletica Saluzzo), Norwegian athlete Eli Anne Dvergsdal and Simone Troxler (ALTRA) is also athletes to observe.
For the lads Philemon Kiriago shall be making an attempt to defend his title however the competitors shall be fierce. Our males’s winner from Zmeu X-Fest, Paul Machoka (Atletica Saluzzo), shall be trying to repeat that latest success, alongside different robust Kenyan runners, Michael Saoli (Run2gether), Kevin Kibet (Atletica Saluzzo) and Richard Atuya. After all there’s a robust Italian contingent right here too, together with Xavier Chevrier (ASICS), Alberto Vender (New Stability) and Henri Aymonod.
Others to observe embrace British runners Robbie Simpson (Adidas Terrex) and George Foster, in addition to the French athlete, Baptiste Massot (Clermont Athletisme Auvergne).
How one can comply with the race
The ladies’s Vertical Nasego race begins at 10am on Saturday Might 24, with the lads beginning at 10.45am. On Sunday 25 the Trofeo Nasego begins at 9.30am. You possibly can comply with Trofeo Nasego and WMRA social media channels for up-to-date info and imagery.
For additional updates and race particulars, go to wmra.data and Trofeo Nasego Corsa in Montagna – Pucia la Nasego!
