Henri Aymonod (ITA) and Andrea Mayr (AUT) sealed their World Mountain Running Association (WMRA) Short Uphill World Cup titles with victories at Chiavenna-Lagunc.
Aymonod’s win also saw him confirmed as the overall World Cup champion, with Sandor Szabó (HUN) the runner-up and Geoffrey Ndungu (KEN) third. Szabó finished 14th at Chiavenna-Lagunc, while Ndungu was 12th.
Joyce Njeru (KEN) meanwhile was named the women’s overall World Cup champion, with Charlotte Morgan (GBR) second and Alice Gaggi (ITA) third. Njeru picked up seventh at Chiavenna-Lagunc, with Gaggi coming home in 14th.
In what was the final round of this season’s World Cup, Aymonod claimed his third successive win in the men’s event at Chiavenna-Lagunc, while Mayr was just one second shy of her own course record as she triumphed in the women’s race.
Aymonod completed the 1000m ascent in 31:40, 0:38 ahead of second place Tiziano Moia (ITA) and 1:00 clear of third place Nadir Maguet (ITA).
In what was an incredibly close race, the top 10 men all finished in less than 34:00, with fourth to sixth separated by just eight seconds.
It was Aymonod’s second World Cup win of the season following his victory at Vertical Nasego, with the WMRA World Ranked #1 also picking up podium finishes at Tatra Race Run and Montée du Nid d’Aigle.
In the women’s race, Mayr crossed the line in 35:41, 3:35 clear of second place Francesca Ghelfi (ITA) and 4:20 swifter than third place finisher Sarah McCormack (IRE), who was last year’s winner.
Mayr has raced in two other World Cup events this season, claiming another win at Vertical Nasego and picking up second at Trofeo Nasego.
The Long Distance and Classic Distance World Cup titles were wrapped up at Zumaia-Flysch last weekend.