Sierre-Zinal 2024 men’s results: Kilian Jornet wins one of GREATEST EVER trail races by a single second

Kilian Jornet won the iconic Sierre-Zinal race for a record tenth time in the most dramatic style possible as he held off last year’s winner Philemon Kiriago in a race for the ages by less than two seconds – and beat his own course best by just a second!

Rarely has the 37-year-old GOAT been tested in this fashion in the 31km showpiece in the Valais Alps in Switzerland, which features 2,200 metres of climbing.

Kenya’s Kiriago flew past him on the descent with just over 2km to go only for the Spanish legend to put on the after-burners and power back into the lead soon after.

Still it wasn’t over though as Kiriago put in a desperate late burst and was 1.5 seconds behind at the line.

On ITRA rankings – or pretty much any other metric – this was the most competitive ever men’s race at Sierre-Zinal – and it had the finish to match.

Something sensational was also happening in the women’s race as Joyline Chepngeno won on what was her first-ever trail race – and after losing 30kg to get into race shape. Read all about that here.

But back to the men’s and Patrick Kipngeno took third, a minute and 24 seconds back. And fellow Kenyan Josphat Kiprotich, who had overtaken Jornet for the lead in the first half of the race, was just over six minutes adrift in fourth.

Read on to find out how it all played out…

Rollercoaster ride for Jornet

The searing temperatures – it 26°C at the start at 11:00am local time – were going to be a test for everyone in what was the latest stop on both the Golden Trail World Series and WMRA World Cup.

But things went to the script on the first brutal climb as Jornet pushed clear of the field.

He was first to the opening checkpoint after 7km of virtually continuous climbing but when the gradients levelled out he found himself in the relatively unusual position of being overtaken as Kiprotich cruised past.

Kiprotich then started to put time between himself and the rest – Jornet was 15 seconds back at the second checkpoint of Chandolin, 33 seconds at the next one and it then went out to what proved a high of 45 seconds.

In behind Switzerland’s Rémi Bonnet was running alongside Kipngeno in third and fourth – just over two minutes behind – with Kiriago over three minutes back in fifth.

Drama right to the finish line

But then it all started to change.

Jornet calmly closed in on Kiprotich and they were briefly shoulder to shoulder before the GOAT eased clear.

It looked game over at that point given the climbing was over and Jornet is pretty much untouchable going downhill – and at Sierre-Zinal for that matter.

But both Kipngeno and Kiriago were rapidly making up ground on Kiprotich, moved past him and then locked sights on Jornet.

With a pat as he went off on his own, Kiriago launched a blistering downhill attack that even the camera bike could barely keep up with.

And with just over 2km remaining he had caught Jornet and wasted little time in surging to the front.

If he was shellshocked then Jornet didn’t show it as he flew down the more technical section which came soon after and delivered an absolute masterclass of descending that was thrilling to watch.

It took him back into the lead and surely on the way to victory but even then there was more drama to come.

For Kiriago closed in sight of the line as both men sprinted for glory and just 1.5 seconds separated them on the line after 31km.

By an even smaller margin, Kilian also broke his own course record with 2:25:34 compared to 2:25:35 from 2019.

Sierre-Zinal Results – Elite Men

Saturday 10 August 2024, 31km

1. Kilian Jornet (SPA) – 2:25:34
2. Philemon Kiriago (KEN) – 2:25:36
3. Patrick Kipngeno (KEN) – 2:26:59
4. Josphat Kiprotich (KEN) – 2:31:35
5. Roberto Delorenzi (ITA) – 2:32:26