Double joy for Elhousine Elazzaoui (Morocco – Nnormal). After his victory in Friday’s prologue of the Ledro Sky Trentino Grand Finale (Italy), he added another win today and successfully defended his Golden Trail World Series (GTWS) title. The Moroccan athlete thus closes a “historic” season, achieving four victories and the overall title.
After a fast-opening kilometer along the turquoise waters of Lake Ledro, Paul Machoka (Kenya – Atletica Saluzzo) took the lead on the climb, setting a hard pace that no one could follow. Just behind, a chasing group formed with Patrick Kipngeno (Kenya – Run2gether On Trail), Elhousine Elazzaoui, Taylor Stack (USA – Brooks) and Philemon Kiriago (Kenya – Run2gether On Trail).
At kilometer 9, as they passed Cima Pari, the gap between Machoka, Kipngeno and Elazzaoui was reduced to the minimum, and the three reached the highest point of the course together. Behind them, Stack and Kiriago were already losing more than a minute to the race leaders.
The pressure of running alongside the first and second in the overall standings didn’t faze Machoka, who once again surged ahead at the start of the descent. Behind him, Elazzaoui kept his composure, letting Kipngeno take the initiative, knowing that this position would be enough to secure the overall title again. However, after a few meters, the Moroccan overtook the Run2gether On Trail runner and set off in pursuit of Machoka.
The ridgelines after Cima Pari weren’t enough to create any gaps among the front three, so everything would be decided on the descent. Here, Elazzaoui and Machoka ran together until five kilometres from the finish, when Elazzaoui made his decisive move on the rolling terrain before reaching Lake Ledro as both race winner and series champion.
With an incredible comeback, Kipngeno came in second, while Machoka completed the podium. Stack and Kiriago rounded out the top five.
“This is historic for me today. My goal this season was to win the Golden Trail World Series for the second time. I’m very, very happy. I ran smart. I had some problems in my legs on the descent, but I made it. Thank you so much to everyone who has supported me,” said the double GTWS champion at the finish line.
Elazzaoui wraps up a perfect season with 1,000 points, the maximum possible, and four victories: Zegama-Aizkorri (Spain), Broken Arrow Skyrace (United States), Tepec Trail (Mexico) and Ledro Sky Trentino Grand Finale (Italy). Kipngeno and Kiriago completed the overall podium with 953 and 892 points respectively.
Men’s race results
- Elhousine Elazzaoui (Morocco – Nnormal) – 1:58:30
- Patrick Kipngeno (Kenya – Run2gether On Trail) – 1:58:50
- Paul Machoka (Kenya – Atletica Saluzzo) – 1:59:32
- Taylor Stack (USA – Brooks) – 1:59:42
- Philemon Kiriago (Kenya – Run2gether On Trail) – 2:00:15
- Michael Selelo Saoli (Kenya – Run2gether On Trail) – 2:00:18
- Joey Hadorn (Switzerland – Salomon) – 2:02:08
- Fabián Venero (Spain – Salomon) – 2:03:07 (Open Category)
- Daniel Pattis (Italy – Brooks) – 2:03:27
- Ïu Net (Spain – New Balance) – 2:05:24 (Open Category)
Men’s overall ranking
- Elhousine Elazzaoui (Morocco – Nnormal) – 1,000 points
- Patrick Kipngeno (Kenya – Run2gether On Trail) – 953 points
- Philemon Kiriago (Kenya – Run2gether On Trail) – 892 points
- Taylor Stack (USA – Brooks) – 790 points
- Michael Selelo Saoli (Kenya – Run2gether On Trail) – 785 points
- Daniel Pattis (Italy – Brooks) – 741 points
- Joey Hadorn (Switzerland – Salomon) – 704 points
- Dominik Rolli (Switzerland – Salomon) – 686 points
- Cesare Maestri (Italy – Nike ACG) – 685 points
- Paul Machoka (Kenya – Atletica Saluzzo) – 671 points
In the Open category, Spain’s Fabián Venero (Salomon) claimed the victory after an excellent performance that placed him inside today’s top 8. Ïu Net (Spain – New Balance) and Isacco Costa (Italy – La Recastello Radici Group) completed the category podium.
