Philemon Kiriago smashed the course record as Ruth Mwihaki Gitonga continued her superb World Cup campaign with victory at Trofeo Nasego.
Kenyan star Kiriago produced a front-running masterclass to win the men’s race in 1:30:08, taking 38 seconds off the previous benchmark set by compatriot Patrick Kipngeno in 2022.
Kipngeno, who had won the Vertical Nasego just 24 hours earlier, finished second as Kenyan runners remarkably swept the first five places.
There was another Kenyan victory in the women’s race as World Cup leader Gitonga held off reigning world champion Nina Engelhard in a thrilling battle.
Trofeo Nasego course
The 25th edition of Trofeo Nasego formed Stage 13 of the 2026 Mountain Running World Cup and came just a day after the Vertical Nasego, won by Engelhard and Kipngeno.
The 21.5km course provides a very different test, with a fast and rolling opening 10km giving way to the defining climb from Ponte Vrenda towards Rifugio Nasego.
That ascent gains more than 700 metres and becomes progressively steeper before the runners reach the rifugio at around 16km.
But the climbing isn’t quite finished there, and nor is the race, with a fast and at times technical descent towards the finish at Famea meaning the winner needs to combine speed, climbing strength and descending ability.
Men’s race – Kiriago breaks course record
Kiriago and Kipngeno had dominated Trofeo Nasego in recent years and again started among the clear favourites.
But it was Kiriago who immediately took control.
He led through Piani di Alone after 6km, with fellow Kenyan Elija Kamau Kariuki in second and Michael Selelo Saoli third. Kipngeno was fourth at that stage, ahead of Ephantus Njeri.
Little separated the leading group when they reached Pannelli at 11km, just as the major climb towards Rifugio Nasego began to bite.
And that was where Kipngeno, one of the world’s outstanding uphill runners, started to make his move.
The defending course-record holder had closed to within a few seconds of Kiriago by Rifugio Nasego, while Paul Machoka moved into the top five.
It set up a fascinating finale, but Kiriago wasn’t going to be denied.
The Kenyan held off Kipngeno on the descent to cross the line in 1:30:08, breaking his compatriot’s 1:30:46 course record which had stood since 2022.
Kipngeno finished 1:02 behind in 1:31:10, with Saoli completing an all-Kenyan podium in 1:32:13.
Kariuki took fourth and Machoka fifth as Kenya completed a clean sweep of the top five.
“I was dreaming about breaking the course record and I’ve managed today to do it,” said Kiriago.
Trofeo Nasego 2026 men’s results – top five
- Philemon Kiriago (KEN) – 1:30:08
- Patrick Kipngeno (KEN) – 1:31:10
- Michael Saoli (KEN) – 1:32:13
- Elijah Kariuki (KEN) – 1:33:11
- Paul Machoka (KEN) – 1:34:43
Women’s race – Gitonga holds off Engelhard
The women’s race brought together two of the biggest names in mountain running, with World Cup leader Gitonga facing reigning world champion Engelhard.
Gitonga had won every classic World Cup race she had entered in 2026, while Engelhard arrived buoyed by her Vertical Nasego victory the previous day following her return from injury.
And it was Gitonga who made the early running.
She led Engelhard through 6km at Piani di Alone, with Miriam Chepkirui, Joyce Muthoni Njeru and Gloria Chebet completing the early top five.
That order at the front remained unchanged approaching the decisive climb, setting up a fascinating showdown between Gitonga and Engelhard.
Engelhard’s performance in the Vertical Nasego had underlined her climbing strength, but Gitonga refused to yield.
She reached Rifugio Nasego with a 22-second advantage over the German, while Chepkirui was by now around two minutes behind the leading pair in third.
Behind them, Britain’s Kirsty Skye Dickson had climbed into fourth, while Arianna Dentis of Italy was also moving strongly through the field.
Engelhard still had the long descent to try to erase Gitonga’s advantage, but the Kenyan held firm.
Gitonga crossed the line in 1:47:06 to continue her outstanding World Cup season, with Engelhard just 27 seconds behind in 1:47:33.
Chepkirui secured third in 1:50:14, while Dentis continued her late charge to take fourth ahead of Chebet.
Trofeo Nasego 2026 women’s results – top five
- Ruth Mwihaki Gitonga (KEN) – 1:47:06
- Nina Engelhard (GER) – 1:47:33
- Miriam Chepkirui (KEN) – 1:50:14
- Arianna Dentis (ITA) – 1:52:51
- Gloria Chebet (KEN) – 1:53:12
What next?
The Mountain Running World Cup now moves to Poland, with Maraton Trzech Jezior – the Three Lakes Marathon – on September 19 providing the final long-distance race of the 2026 competition.
