Search
RUN247 / Running News / Mountain Running News / Valsir Mountain Running World Cup arrives at Montée du Nid d’Aigle

Valsir Mountain Running World Cup arrives at Montée du Nid d’Aigle

Chris Buckley
Editor & Trail Runner
Updated on

The Valsir Mountain Running World Cup reaches one of its highest peaks in Europe this weekend with the Montée du Nid d’Aigle.

This 35th running of the Montée du Nid d’Aigle follows the traditional route beginning at the Le Fayet thermal baths, 596 meters above sea level and finishing at Refuge du Nid d’Aigle at 2394 metres. The runners will face urban areas, forests, streams, bridges and steps along the way on a route that most mountaineers avoid by taking the Mont Blanc Tramway.

Advertisement

Turning point in World Cup series

The men’s race could be a turning point in the battle between Patrick Kipngrno (KEN) and Zak Hanna (IRE) who currently sit first and second in the World Cup series. They will be pushed hard by Henri Aymonod (ITA), who is leading the World Mountain Running Rankings this year, and Geoffrey Gikuni Ndungu (KEN) who is just nine points behind him.

Kenyan Lucy Wanbui Murigi, winner of the Montée du Nid d’Aigle 2021, is back to defend her title but she will be challenged in the women’s race by Joyce Muthoni Njeru (KEN), who is the current leader of the Valsir Mountain Running World Cup, and Blandine L’hirondel (FRA), who is fresh from victory on the second day of the EAORCH in El Paso earlier this month.

Advertisement

Montée du Nid d’Aigle race details

The 450 strong field features athletes from 15 different countries with the race getting underway on Saturday (July 16) at 9.15 CEST.

Montée du Nid d'Aigle 2021
Montée du Nid d’Aigle 2021 [Photo credit: Marco Gulberti]

There is no mandatory kit requirement for the race but running poles are prohibited. There will be three feeding points and four hydration points which are close to each other so that the athletes do not have to carry a backpack or vest.

The record for the women’s race, which was set by France’s Isabelle Guillot at 2:06:06, has stood since 2006 with Xavier Chevrier of Italy setting a new men’s record of 1:44:25 last year.

Written by
Chris Buckley
With his passion for endurance running and love of content sees Chris contribute regularly to RUN247 using his experience of both to generate news, race previews and product reviews. 

Latest Running News

XTERRA-Oak-Mountain-2023-men-podium-Serrieres-Lagerstrom-Sloth
‘Pure magic’ – triathlon star the latest to make ultrarunning mark with podium at Black Canyon
Paris-2024-Olympic-mens-triathlon-Alex-Yee-run-for-run247
“Hopefully I’ll have fun for the first 32km” – Olympic champ on digging deep in first marathon
Seth Ruhling Black Canyons 100 2025 via Howie Stern
Black Canyon Ultras 100k: Ruhling and Brady DESTROY their rivals on historic day
Kim Collison wins Montane Winter Spine Race 2025 [Photo credit: The Spine Race]
How Winter Spine Race hero got the better of ‘Reggie the chimp’ to turn a DNF into a win
Russ Cook completes his epic run across the entire length of Africa [Photo credit: The Snapshot People Ltd]
‘We’re looking at 10 Mt Everests in 10 weeks’ – Hardest Geezer reveals his next challenge
trail running on your terms

Never miss out with our trail alerts & digest. Get a dose of adventure & inspiration with Boundless.

The 247 Group

The home of endurance sports

Share to...