Emilie Lecomte, Ronda dels Cims copyright iancorless.com
Emilie Lecomte is without doubt a favourite for the ladies race at Ronda dels Cims. Emilie loves long technical and hard trail, she has proven this time and time again. In 2012 alone she set a course record for the long trail in Corsica, the GR20, she also won the 100-mile Raid de la Reunion.
YouTube HERE
Links:
Ty Draney, Ronda dels Cims 2013 copyright iancorless.com
Ty Draney has been racing for over ten years in trail and ultra races, however, this is his first time racing in Europe. To say he is starting at the top, certainly in terms of difficulty is an understatement. He is prepared though and as he says, if all goes really well he may finish in one and a half days, or if things prove a little tough, it may be three. To be honest, he will be happy with something between the two I am sure.
YouTube HERE
Links:
Terry Conway at Cavalls del Vent copyright iancorless.com
Lakeland 100 winner and course record holder, Terry Conway speaks to Ian ahead of the 2013 Ronda dels Cims. This will be Terry’s biggest race challenge yet. A race over 100 miles with altitude gain over 12,000m is not something that is easy to prepare for while living in the UK. However, Terry has paced his home in the English Lakes and has trained hard to prepare himself for the challenge ahead.
YouTube HERE
Links:
Dave James, Ronda del Cims 2013 copyright Ian Corless
Dave James has immersed himself in European racing for several months now. He started his project with Transvulcania La Palma and followed with Zegama-Aizkorri. Ronda dels Cims lies ahead, 171km with over 12000m of vertical gain. It is a little different to what Dave is used to but he has embraced the experience and as he says, you learn something new everyday!
YouTube HERE
Links:
Four hundred participants will toe the line for an incredible Vertical Kilometer on a stunning world stage in Chamonix. Part of the Skyrunner World series.
1. RUSSIA: Mount Elbrus Vertical Kilometer®, Mount Elbrus – May 7
2. SPAIN: Cara Amón Vertical Kilometer®, Barruera – May 18
3. FRANCE: KM Vertical, Chamonix – June 28
4. GREECE: Gerania Vertical Kilometer®, Loutraki – September 8
5. ITALY: Vertical Grèste de la Mughéra, Limone sul Garda – October 11
Image – http://www.montblancmarathon.net
The VK® is a 100% pure mountain experience. Runners will depart from the centre of Chamonix every 30 seconds to climb 1000m over 3.8km. The arrival at Plan Praz Gondola Brevenet is preceded by rolling terrain in the early stages but is soon followed by tough and technical rocky sections ladders, ropes and cables! Not recommended if you have vertigo…
Please note: Poles are not allowed.
Image by – http://www.montblancmarathon.net
The action starts at 16:00 local time on Friday June 28th.
Follow Talk Ultra on Twitter, Facebook and on this website for the event.
11th June
Due to ongoing issues with heavy snow on the Ronda dels Cims course, a route change has been made.
It is possible to download a route from HERE
However, please see an overview on the map below.
Please ensure that if you are taking part in this race that you have ALL mandatory kit with the addition of ‘crampons’.
Race website HERE
AJ Calitz at Zegama-Aizkorri
This weekend, K-Way athlete Andre Calitz will have no time to savour the cheeses and wines of France’s Provence region as he runs the 100-kilometre Verdon Canyon Challenge.
Calitz is expecting to be out in the mountains for at least 12 to 13 hours. “There’s 6,500-metres of positive ascent!” he says.
Race organisation positions five aid stations on the route, to provide runners with food and drinks.
“But being in the mountains these are weather dependant. We’ve already been told that one has been cancelled,” Calitz says. The weather forecast for the area is a mild 23 degrees, although the conditions can be very different and variable in the mountains.
He’s expecting the terrain to be a good mix of runnable trails with very steep and rough climbs. The event website shows a lung-bursting and thigh-burning route profile – totally suited to Calitz’s climbing strength.
“The race starts and ends with a nice big climb,” he says with a big smile.
Three weeks ago Calitz took a tumble while running in the Zegama-Aizkorri 42-kilometre race in Spain. His knee was sliced open when he fell and the race doctor prevented him from continuing. She stapled the wound closed.
“My knee is ok,” says Calitz. “It is still pretty painful at times but should be alright. The staples are out. My wife and I removed them with nail clippers and a Leatherman…”
During his travels through France Calitz has kept up his training “much as my knee would allow”, finding “some epic trails around the South of France”.
He’s not sure who the other runners are or what type of competition he’ll have at this race.
“Some fast guys have run in the past, but I have no idea who I am up against. In a race like this I am running against myself. 100 kilometres with this much ascent is going to be very hard.”
The race starts at 03h00 on Saturday, 15 June 2013.
QUICK SUMMARY
Event: Verdon Canyon Challenge
Distance: 100 kilometres
Date: Saturday, 15 June 2013
Time: 03h00 start. 35-hour limit. (the time in France and SA is the same)
Location: Aiguines, France (South, Provence region)
Website: www.trailverdon.com (French and English options)
A beautiful race that sums up all that is great about mountain running, the 13th Zegama-Aizkorri Marathon, in which Emelie Forsberg and Kilian Jornet topped the podium.
Trail and mountain running beauty at its best! This is what Skyrunning is all about…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=PBc2BDtIScc#!
Important update for race participants – Ronda dels Cims, Andorra
Please check the essential items HERE
UPDATE
Spring is late, very late! After regular inspections of the course some small modifications have been made to ensure safety. The intention of the race organisation is to maintain the original route as much as possible, however, safety is paramount. Alternative routes may be applied in case of thunderstorms.
In certains sections it will be necessary to walk because of snow and high altitude. Where applicable these sections will be marked and additional staff will be available.
Ultimately, a magnificent and unforgettable experience lies ahead; a big party.
Additional equipment required:
Please ensure you have ALL mandatory kit as specified in article 21 of the rules.
Crampons for snow
In view of the exceptional snow coverage of this year, you are recommend to equip yourself with crampons. They will allow you to progress safely on hardly sections. Numerous models are available, our shops associates (Carving, Roc Vertical, Altitud, Sensació) are able to supply you. You can also acquire in our information chalet before the race.
RACE PREVIEW HERE
Press Release from Skyrunning:
The second Ultra Series race tours Andorra’s highest peaks featuring some of the world’s best endurance athletes.
Ronda dels Cims is not just rated as the world’s toughest 100 miler – it’s a fact!
With 13,000 metres vertical climb across 15 summits between 2,400m and 3,000m altitude, it’s not a race for the faint-hearted. The second race in the Skyrunner® Ultra Series after Transvulcania in May, it represents skyrunning’s first event at this distance, drawing inspiration from the technical mountain heritage that distinguishes skyrunning. Due to late and heavy snow falls, much of the course will be on snow, and safety measures are being taken by the organisers.
Lizzy Hawker’s much anticipated participation dissolved with the sad news of her injury and that she will be unable to take part.
Featuring in the women’s élite field are Spaniard Nerea Martinez (Salomon Santiveri), winner of this year’s Transgrancanaria, she set the Ronda dels Cims record in 2012 in 35h31’21’’; Emilie Lecomte (Quechua) winner of the 2012 Diagonale des Fous hundred-miler and 5th at Transvulcania; Salomon’s Julia Boettger from Germany was third at Diagonale des Fous; and team mate Hiroko Suzuki from Japan was 2nd in the UTMF. Italy’s Francesca Canepa (Team Vibram) placed 2nd at the UTMB behind Lizzy Hawker.
Salomon’s Julien Chorier, winner of the Hardrock 100 in 2011 and last year’s UTMF where he placed 2nd this year, heads the men’s field. Strongly favoured is Spaniard Salvador Redondo, second in last year’s Ronda dels Cims and Andorra’s own Xavier Teixido, (FAM) placed 6th in the 112 km distance, the Andorra Ultra Trail. From Japan, Kenichi Yamamoto, 1st in the Grand Raid des Pyrenees (160km) and 3rd at the UTMF.
Americans Jared Campbell (La Sportiva) won the Hardrock in 2010, placing 13th
last year and Dave James, 2012 US 100 Mile National Champion and long distance specialist should enjoy the distance, but will he enjoy the altitude? AustralianMatt Cooper (Salomon) was 5th in TNF100.
Italy’s Bruno Brunod is a living skyrunning legend. After a long break from running he’s back to try his hand at the ultra distance. Bruno’s mighty curriculum includes winning the first World Champion title in 1998 from where he went from strength to strength leaving a trail of wins and records behind him including the standing Matterhorn ascent and descent which superstar Kilian Jornet will attempt this year.
Fellow countryman Nico Valsesia (Salomon Agisko) fears no distance. He comes from a series of great adventures, which include 2nd and 5th places in the 4,800 km coast to coast RAAM bike race and crossing the world’s largest salt lake in Bolivia. This year he will attempt ISF President, Marino Giacometti’s skybike record from Genoa to the summit of Mont Blanc.
Talking of records, the incredible men’s race record was set by Spaniard Miguel Heras in 2011 in 30h04’28”. It’s unlikely any records will be broken this year with snow still lying on the course. The organisers are well prepared with 400 volunteers, extra signage and the athletes will be equipped with chips and GPS.
More than 300 runners will compete in the race, which is programmed to take place on the longest day and lit by the full moon creating an unforgettable atmosphere.
Ronda dels Cims organisers, Gérard Martinez and Valérie Lafleur are convinced that “this fifth edition will mark our history. The athletes will never forget their participation in Andorra. We are working hard to provide an exceptional experience for runners and their companions. The competition is hard, but it has a human dimension that makes it extraordinary”.
Lizzy Hawker, 2012 UTMB copyright Ian Corless
June 6th
I have just had an email from Lizzy Hawker and unfortunately she has confirmed that she will not be able to run at Rond dels Cims.
Of course, this sad news for the race, the other participants and ultimately Lizzy.
Lizzy had an incredible latter half of 2012 with a series of top notch wins at TNFUTMB, Spartathlon and Run Rabbit Run. She went into the Christmas period with time away from running but returned early in 2013 with a series of races and personal attempts in Nepal.
Lizzy raced at Annapurna 100k and won the ladies race. She then decided to break her own personal record running from Everest base camp to Kathmandu (319km/ 198m) in 63 hours and 08 minutes (here) smashing her previous record. Not content with running for 63 hours, Lizzy then raced the 277km Mustang Trail Race and was 2nd overall.
In the email she says:
Of course we wish Lizzy all the very best and we look forward to seeing her on the trails and mountains later in 2013.
Links:
IAN CORLESS 