Karina Carsolio from Mexico with Stephanie Kröll from Austria – a well-deserved surprise win. ©iancorless.com
It was exactly thirty years ago that the first Monte Rosa SkyMarathon took place to the summit of the mountain, launching the sport of skyrunning. Today, Europe’s highest race celebrated the fourth edition after the relaunch in 2018. The legend continues.
Competing in teams of two, 298 athletes from 23 countries started at dawn to face the challenging 36 km to an altitude of 4,554m with a jaw-dropping 7,000m of vertical ascent and descent.
One of the crevasses on the upper reaches of the Monte Rosa SkyMarathon course. ©iancorless.com
The winning team from Italy, Franco Collé and Tadei Pivk who placed second last year, closed with an incredible performance in 5h11’35”. Collé set the record with William Boffelli here in 2018 in 4h39’59” over the original course. Due to climate conditions over the last few months, the snow level was seriously diminished and the course had to be redesigned to avoid the steep couloir at 3,200m which proved to be too dangerous for the event, amounting to an increase of one kilometre distance.
“It was a great adventure and it was great to share it with a friend, rather than just a team mate,” said Collé. “Last year we came just for the fun, but this time Tadei was on top form. After fighting to overtake leaders Antionioli and Bonaldi at the summit, Tadei convinced me to push on the descent. We knew we were strong on the downhill and we decided to give it our all.” While an emotional Pivk stated, “I have to thank Franco for convincing me to do this race. He’s been with me on many difficult occasions and after several years off running, he convinced me to return. We were aiming for a top-five place and winning is incredible and very special.”
Franco Collé and Tadei Pivk on a steep technical ascent to the 4,554m summit of the Monte Rosa SkyMarathon. ©iancorless.com
The women’s win was a welcome surprise with a mixed team with Austrian Stephanie Kröll, representing race sponsor SCARPA, and Karina Carsolio from Mexico, who closed in 6h43’31”- despite Carsolio suffering an injury on the downhill. “This is an amazing race – a real skyrunning race! It was incredible being up there and it was great to share this with Stephanie. Each one of us had our moments and we pushed each other in the hard parts. We kept talking to encourage each other,” she commented.
American Hillary Gerardi who won the first edition of the relaunch in 2018 and the AMA VK2 in 2021, was back with a second place with French partner Célia Chiron. She had this to say: “Whew! This was a tough one! It was so difficult to be on the podium today. After starting well, at one point in the downhill we were in fourth. That’s when Célia looked at me and told me to push. And we did! Congratulations to Stephanie and Karina for an amazing race and congratulations to the whole organization: despite the difficult situation we felt really safe on the glacier.”
From Norway on their first race above 4,00m altitude, skyrunning world champion Stian Angermund with his companion Katrine Villumsen. ©iancorless.com
World-class athlete, Stian Angermund from Norway, took on “the legend” for the first time accompanied by his partner and mother of their daughter, Katrine Villumsen from Denmark. Despite not being in perfect shape, she led the couple to close before the 9h45’ cut-off time. (Mixed couples are classified in the men’s category).
“This is the most alpine race I ever did. This is pure skyrunning!” said Angermund. “I followed Katrine never pushing her and I’m so happy she did it all on her own without any training – and we were able to close six minutes below the cut-off time! I had never been over 3,000m altitude and wasn’t really prepared for the breathtaking views – maybe also because of the altitude! I will definitely be back again to this wonderful race!” he concluded.
Italian Marcello Ugazio, winner of the AMA VK2. ©Damiano Benedetto
Concomitant with the race to the summit was the AMA VK2 – 9 km of pure uphill with 2,086m vertical climb, this perfect double Vertical Kilometer® tops out at 3,200m altitude where 116 athletes took on the challenge. The winners were Marcello Ugazio from Italy in 1h35’56” and Noémie Grandjean from France in 2h08’24”.
The Monte Rosa SkyMarathon, Europe’s highest race to the Margherita hut at 4,554m is a unique event that takes place annually over scree, snowfields, glacier and crevasses. The course touches on the territories of Gressoney La Trinité in the Aosta Valley and Switzerland on the upper reaches.
The AMA Organising Committee once more celebrated the legend with a successful event and wish to thank the Mountain Guides, the Alpine Rescue Service and all the volunteers – on and off the mountain – together with sponsors: SCARPA, NORTEC, BUFF, Cimberio, Guidi, NAMEDSPORT>, SAIS Compensati, Julbo, Torraccia del Piantavigna, i-exe, Aonijie, NATURAL BOOM, Baglione and institutional partners: the councils of Alagna Valsesia, Gressoney La Trinité, Borgosesia, the Piedmont Region, the Province of Vercelli, Visit Monterosa and Monterosa 2000.
Monte Rosa SkyMarathon and AMA VK2 winners:: Noémie Grandjean, Stephanie Kröll, Karina Carsolio, Tadei Pivk, Franco Collé, Marcello Ugazio ©Damiano Benedetto
Stay tuned for next year’s dates and to rewrite your skyrunning bucket list.
Monte Rosa SkyMarathon results
MEN
- Collé-Pivk – (ITA) – 5h11’35”
- Antonioli-Bonaldi – (ITA) – 5h21’07”
- Rota Martir-Costa – (ITA) – 5h33’24”
WOMEN
- Kröll (AUT) – Carsolio (MEX) – 6h43’31”
- Gerardi (USA) – Chiron (FRA) – 6h52’42”
- Chiarello-Perrier (SUI) – 6h57’28”
AMA VK2 results
MEN
- Marcello Ugazio (ITA) – 1h35’56”
- Daniel Thedy (ITA) – 1h46’54”
- Daniele Fontana (SUI) – 1h47’03”
WOMEN
- Noémie Grandjean – (FRA) – 2h08’24”
- Valentina Giorgi – (ITA) – 2h12’03”
- Aina Cusi – (ESP) – 2h14’46”