Muthoni Njeru dominates both women’s races at Canfranc-Canfranc, with Adil Moussaoui winning the men’s 16k race.
On Sunday, September 10th, the 16k classic mountain race took place at Canfranc-Estación, marking the next stage of this year’s Valsir Mountain Running World Cup. After the vertical uphill race on Friday, anticipation was high for this challenging race.
Joyce Muthoni Njeru from Kenya and Joe Steward from Great Britain emerged as victors in the vertical uphill race on Friday. Now, all eyes were on Muthoni Njeru as she aimed to achieve a double win in the 16k race.
Following a storm the night before, the route was clear but some sections were slippery due to the rain. This added difficulty to the race, especially during the descent.
A challenging course for mountain runners
The course featured rugged terrain and a 1600m ascent, making it a tough challenge for the runners. Starting from just over 1000m, they had a short, flat section before facing a steep climb to La Moleta at the 5.8km mark. The race then continued with a long and technical descent to the finish line.
Many athletes who participated in the vertical uphill race also took part in the 16k race. In the women’s field, this meant a rematch between Muthoni Njeru, Lucy Murigi from Kenya, Camilla Magliano from Italy, and Charlotte Cotton from Belgium. However, Olivia Magnone from France, who was the runner-up on Friday, did not compete.
In the men’s race, Remi Leroux from Canada and Adil Moussaoui from Morocco, who both finished in the top five on Friday, returned for another challenge. The men’s race was highly competitive, with a talented field of local runners.
Photo: Marco Gulberti
Women’s Race
Muthoni Njeru took the lead right from the start, continuing her dominant performance in this year’s World Cup. Behind her, Murigi and Magliano tried to chase her down.
By the highest point of the race, at La Moleta, Muthoni Njeru had established a significant lead over the rest of the field. She reached the summit in 1.09.14, with Murigi trailing by five minutes.
Reflecting on her race, Muthoni Njeru said, “The more I ran, the stronger I felt. My goal was to beat my time from last year.”
Magliano remained in third place, 90 seconds behind Murigi, keeping the battle for second and third positions alive. Bel Calero and Charlotte Cotton were also in the mix, while Olivia Magnone did not participate in the race.
Muthoni Njeru extended her lead on the challenging descent, despite appearing to limp at times. As she reached the bottom of the descent, she regained her stride and crossed the finish line in 1.58.57, leaving her competitors far behind.
Murigi secured second place with a time of 2.10.32, followed closely by Magliano in third place. Muthoni Njeru revealed that she slipped on the slippery downhill section, sustaining an injury. Murigi also fell and required medical attention after finishing.
Top Five Women’s Finishers
1. Joyce Muthoni Njeru (KEN) – 1.58.57
2. Lucy Murigi (KEN) – 2.10.32
3. Camilla Magliano (ITA) – 2.12.41
4. Bel Calero (ESP) – 2.19.03
5. Ainara Alcuaz (ESP) – 2.22.22
Men’s Race
In contrast to the women’s race, the men’s race was fiercely contested with frequent changes in the top three positions. At the start, a group of athletes, including Leroux, Alvaro Asanz, and Eduardo Hernandez, ran closely together.
Eduardo Hernandez on the descent. Credit: Marco Gulberti
At the summit of La Moleta, Leroux was the first to arrive, clocking in at 1.03.49, closely followed by Osanz.
Behind them, there was a gap of under a minute to Hernandez, then a 20-second gap to Goncalves, with Moussaoui right behind. Alric Petit and Ondrej Fejfar trailed further behind. The final result of the race hinged on the technical and slippery descent.
In this thrilling final descent, Moussaoui emerged as the winner with a time of 1.47.52, closely pursued by Hernandez, who finished just 12 seconds later.
Osanz secured third place, only 20 seconds behind Hernandez, while Villamuera and Leroux sprinted to the finish line for fourth and fifth place.
Credit: Rafaromero15
Top Five Men’s Finishers
1. Adil Moussaoui (MOR) – 1.47.52
2. Eduardo Hernandez (ESP) – 1.48.04
3. Alvaro Osanz (ESP) – 1.49.24
4. Remi Leroux (CAN) – 1.50.18
5. Marcos Villamuera (ESP) – 1.50.19
Valsir Mountain Running World Cup
The next race in this year’s World Cup is the Sky Gran Canaria, which will feature a vertical uphill race, a long mountain race, and a classic mountain race. The results of this competition will determine the World Cup winners for this year. For more information about the races at Sky Gran Canaria, visit their website.
In terms of the World Cup standings, Muthoni Njeru has extended her lead with an additional 100 points, while Murigi has earned 70 points. In the men’s competition, Steward has climbed to third place, and Leroux has improved his ranking to fourth.