Mamu and Mayr triumphed in the 3. stage of W. Cup 2016 at Telfes.
Petro Mamu (ERI) and Andrea Mayr (AUT) are the clear winners of the third stage of the World Mountain Running Cup 2016 in Telfes-Stubaitall-Austria.
After some nice sunny days in Stubai Valley it stared to rain right an hour before almost 200 runners from 11 countries gathered on the start line in Telfes.
Light rain did not spoil the atmosphere; the runners don’t like hot sunny weather.
Luckily it stopped raining just before the race started and only the wet, slippery ground remained.
Runners enjoyed the 11,5 km long course with almost 1300m elevation gain.
Only on the way back to the valley they found energy to admire all the beauties of this unique landscape.
Just after the start a small mixed group was formed.
The five African runners started fast on the first flat part and just few others did follow.
Edited from Tomo Sarf (WMRA Council member)
The late winner Mamu planned to attack in the steep, middle part, where he got one minute advantage and after he only controlled what was going on behind him – after winning the first two WCup stages, he was the favourite already before the start and he did not disappoint. Mamu clocked 56minutes and 7 seconds.
Robbie Simpson, who finished second with time of 57:39, seems to be a big surprise although he is standard member of the British MR team since 2008; he even finished world and European Championships 2014 and 2015 inside top 4, so his excellent run should not be a surprise.
Kenyans Wangiri (third with 58:16) and Kosgei (fourth with 58:31) are well known runners and their top positions were expected. German Toni Lautenbacher finished fifth with time of 59:27.
Runners from five countries were on the top seven positions.
Andrea Mayr is still dominating in the international women’s mountain running; she even improved her own course record for 14 seconds. Her final time was 1hour 4 minutes and 13 seconds.
The second placed Sylvia Schwaiger from Slovakia finished fifth the European Champs a month ago in Arco, but on a completely different course: she sclocked 1.07:00
American Annie Bersagel is in Europe mostly unknown, so her third place was a surprise also for her opponents: her time was 1.08:15.
Czech Petra Novakova was fourth with of 1.10:47 and Austrian Susanne Mair (winner of last year) finished fifth with tome of 1.11:16.
Runners from five countries were on the top six positions.
The organizer did a good job.
The competition was well organized and all the participants left the Stubai valley with remark in their diaries “come again”.
Source of the pictures (Tomo Sarf):
on front page:
- Mayr and Mamu winners;
on second page:
- 1km.: three african leaders (Mamu n.77, Wangiri and Kosgei)