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Patrick Kipngeno tipping another big run from defending champ at Sierre-Zinal

Jonathan Turner
News Director
Published on

Only one person has won two Golden Trail World Series races this season โ€“ can Patrick Kipngeno make it three against the strongest menโ€™s field of the year so far?

The brilliant Kenyan won both stages of the Asian leg that kicked off the 2024 campaign โ€“ the Kobe Trail and the Four Sisters Mountain โ€“ as well as numerous other events and heโ€™s now set for the iconic Sierre-Zinal on Saturday.

Heโ€™ll be up against the GOAT Kilian Jornet, Rรฉmi Bonnet and reigning champion and fellow Kenyan Philemon Kiriago.

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Ups โ€“ and now downs!

His prowess going uphill is undoubted but he surprised a few with his descending at the technical Kobe Trail and he told the GTWSโ€™ Mickaรซl Mussard: โ€œYes, I have improved, not even I expected to be so good on the downhill in Japan.

โ€œLast off season I changed my training program to improve on those sections, I have been training more downhills in Kenya, focusing on my technique and resistance in those sectors, itโ€™s also helpful not having pain problems like I had last year.โ€

It means he has to be a threat whatever the terrain and asked about his ambitions for Sierre-Zinal, he added: โ€œMy target is the podium, improve my time from last year, and enjoy the race.โ€

A Kenyan 1-2 again?

Having led, he finished second last year behind Kiriago after stepping on a stone and twisting his ankle just after the halfway mark.

And heโ€™ll again look to work in tandem with Kiriago, explaining: โ€œWe always try to run together and push each other, I would like to share the podium with him again this year.โ€

Patrick Kipngeno GTWS 2024 [Photo credit: Golden Trail World Series | Kobe Trail | Colin Olivero]
[Photo credit: Golden Trail World Series | Kobe Trail | Colin Olivero]

While he wouldnโ€™t be pushed on who he sees as the biggest danger on a stacked start line on Saturday, he did add: โ€œI donโ€™t have a main rival, I race against myself and try to improve each race, I cannot worry about the competition too much, but maybe my friend Philemon is the guy to compete with!โ€

Jonathan Turner
Written by
Jonathan Turner
Jonathan Turner is News Director for both TRI247 and RUN247, and is accustomed to big-name interviews, breaking news stories and providing unrivalled coverage for endurance sports.  

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