Not long after the shock retirement of 2020 winner John Kelly, the Montane Winter Spine Race lost another huge name as Czech star Pavel Paloncy exited the event at the Malham Tarn check point.
Paloncy has an almost-unmatched record in the Winter Spine – he won on his debut in 2014 and went on to clock an incredible five-year streak which saw further titles in 2015 and 2018 as well as runner-up spots in the two years between.
‘I just can’t run’
This was the first time he’d been back since and he’d been near the front early on.
But unfortunately a knee injury would get the better of him, though he did everything he could to battle through as he explained on Instagram later.
He said: ‘I’m very sorry, but it’s not possible to finish for me this year.
“There is no longer a position where the knee does not hurt. That’s what I was prepared to undergo.
But it is no longer possible to bounce off the leg, I actually just dragged the leg along. I just can’t run.
“I ended up in Malham. It wasn’t hurry decision, I tried everything – run, rest, pain killers… Nothing worked :/”
‘You have to make the hard choice’
The official race feed posted the following on Facebook: “We hate to serve you sad news for breakfast, but Simon Roberts and Pavel Poloncy have pulled out of the full Montane Winter Spine Race 2024 in the last few hours.
“Both are well and refuelling in Hawes along with John Kelly, who retired last night.
“Minor injuries had slowed all three and the trio have plenty enough experience to know when you have to make the hard choice for the sake of staying safe. As Pavel said over his morning chilli, you can’t run the Spine on one leg.
“It’s not to be their year, but the Pennine Way isn’t going anywhere.”
We wish all three speedy recoveries and hope to see them back at the Spine Race in the not-too-distant future.
