Kilian Jornet, the GOAT of men’s ultrarunning, is relishing a return to Western States this year – the first time since he’ll race there since he won the iconic California 100-miler in 2011.
The stars aligned last week for Jornet to be able to book his Golden Ticket for the event as he had been a doubt for the Chianti Ultra-Trail by UTMB given that the birth of his third child was imminent.
But he and wife Emelie Forsberg celebrated the arrival of a third daughter in time for Jornet to be able to travel from Norway to Italy to compete in the 120km race in the famous Tuscan wine region.
And he treated viewers to a thrilling spectacle as the last three winners of UTMB went head to head – American Jim Walmsley coming out on top this time while Jornet and Frenchman Vincent Bouillard had a brilliant battle for second, in which Jornet just prevailed.
‘A nice game’
Speaking briefly after the race before heading to the airport for the flight back home, Jornet said of the moment Walmsley went clear: “Jim at kilometre 40 decided, okay guys, we are going too slow.
“I want to have a picture before you arrive!
“And then all the way from there [with Vincent] was very fun. I was a bit stronger in the uphills. He was stronger on the flat and downhills and we were like passing each other maybe eighty, a hundred times.
“And then in the last 5k we really raised the pace. It was just a nice game. We were pushing each other and I think that’s what’s beautiful about the sport.
“So a very beautiful race. Great, great ambience. Jim doing a masterclass of running and me having a nice game with Vincent and getting to know each other in in the race.”
California dream
Talking about Western States which takes place on June 28th, he added: “That was the big goal for me, to get the ticket so I’m very happy for that.”
Jornet was visibly struggling at times, especially on the flat and downhills and he explained: “When I started to have pain in my leg, it was like, okay, don’t do anything stupid and take it easy and make sure to get the Golden Ticket and then prepare for Western States.
“It’s been like 14 years in the last time, so I’m excited to go back.”
