30TH JUNE 2024, START 6:45 AM (CET), 42KM, 2,540M V+ CHAMONIX, FRANCE Elhousine Elazzaoui and Judith Wyder win back-to-back victory on the Marathon du Mont-Blanc, the 4th stage of the Golden Trail Series.
Elhousine finally conquers Chamonix
He had to wait for his 4th participation before finally raising his arms in the Chamonix streets. After two drop-outs and a 4th place, Elhousine Elazzaoui (MAR – Nnormal) claimed his first victory on the Marathon du Mont-Blanc, and his first victory of the season. "This victory means a lot to me; I've been wanting to win the Marathon du Mont-Blanc for a long time. It’ll give me even more confidence for the upcoming races, I know that I can do even better. Rémi was really strong today, but I stayed calm, and I went in for the kill at the 36 kilometre mark to take that victory."
He led the whole race, but finally succumbed on the last downhill; Rémi Bonnet (CHE – Salomon) didn’t win his second Marathon du Mont-Blanc in a row and had to settle for second place. "I’m happy, for my first marathon of the season I don’t think I could’ve done better. If you look at the times we set today they were much faster than last year. It shows that the level is rising every year and that this second place is worth even more than my victory last year. Elhousine was really strong today so congratulations to him."
As he confided in us before the race, Roberto Delorenzi (CHE – Brooks) knew that he could be on a Golden Trail Series podium again this year. The Swiss did it today at this Marathon du Mont-Blanc by coming in 3rd place. "I’m really pleased with how my race went today. At the start the pace was manageable and I could keep up with Rémi, but when he put on the gas in the first climb, I preferred to keep some energy for the second part. Then I managed to keep up the speed to get ahead of the Kenyans and I’m very happy with this podium spot and especially with the time. As I said after Asia, I wasn’t in my best shape at the start of the season, but I knew I could get back on the podium."
Judith Wyder, right from the first!
With the women’s line-up being so high level, it was a tough call to predict who would be this year’s Marathon du Mont-Blanc winner. After a fierce battle, it was Judith Wyder (CHE – Hoka) who won her first Golden Trail Series race of the year. "I’m pleased with my strategy today. I felt strong on the rolling sections but had more trouble on the steep climbs. Despite that I was able to keep up with the leading girls and I knew I could then go on to take the win, and that’s exactly what I did."
Just like Rémi Bonnet, Mădălina Florea (ROM – Salomon) also had to succumb to her rival in the final downhill but she clung on to a strong second place for her first GTWS 2024 race. "It was my first marathon-distance trail race and I’m really proud of how it went. I tried to go for the win, I made my move on the final climb but the last 6 or 7 kilometres felt really long… I’m thrilled, for me this second place is worth just as much as a win."
Chinese Miao Yao (CHN – Salomon) completed the women’s podium after overtaking Sophia Laukli in the last kilometres. "I could see that in the downhill I could catch up with Sophia, I could see her in the distance, and it motivated me. I just told myself I had to keep pushing to try and get on the podium. In the end, I managed to catch her on the road section and I’m really happy with this podium."
After Chamonix, Sierre-Zinal
The Golden Trail Series will head to Switzerland for Sierre-Zinal, the 5th stage of the season. Join us on 10th August.
Results
1 – Elhousine Elazzaoui (MAR – Nnormal): 3:30:10 (+200 pts)
2 – Rémi Bonnet (CHE – Salomon): 03:30:56 (+188 pts)
3 – Roberto Delorenzi (CHE – Brooks): 3:33:07 (+176 pts)
4 – Kevin Kibet (KEN – Milimani Runners): 03:35:05 (+166 pts)
5 – Ezekiel Rutto (KEN – Milimani Runners): 03:37:23 (+156 pts)
6 – Robert Pkemoi Matayango (KEN – Joma): 03:38:40 (+150 pts)
7 – Frédéric Tranchand (FRA – Scott): 03:39:33 (+144 pts)
8 – Francesco Puppi (ITA – Nike Trail): 03:42:25 (+140 pts)
9 – Miquel Corbera Rubio (ESP – Brooks): 03:43:36 (+136 pts)
10 – Daniel Pattis (ITA - Brooks): 03:45:37 (+133 pts)
Women
1 – Judith Wyder (CHE – Hoka): 04:11:12 (+200 pts)
2 – MădălinaFlorea (ROM – Salomon): 04:13:42 (+188 pts)
3 – Miao Yao (CHN – Salomon): 04:18:30 (+176 pts)
4 – Sophia Laukli (USA – Salomon): 04:19:15 (+166 pts)
5 – Rosa Lara Feliu (ESP - Compressport): 04:25:25 (+156 pts)
6 – Caitlin Fielder (NZL – Salomon): 04:25:59 (+150 pts)
7 – Maude Mathys (CHE – Asics): 04:26:28 (+144 pts)
8 – Anna-Stiina Erkkilä (FIN – Asics): 04:26:40 (+140 pts)
9 – Theres Leboeuf (CHE – Compressport/Leboeuf): 04:29:12 (+136 pts)
10 – Ikram Rharsalla Laktab (ESP – Millet): 04:29:44 (+133 pts)
