Buff Epic Trail SkyRunning World Championships Vertical K Review
Buff Epic Trail SkyRunning World Championships Vertical K Review
BUFF® EPIC TRAIL VK
Before the #skyrunningworldchamps 2016 @ #buffepictrail begins tomorrow.
I takes you up the Vertical K Course. It’s all blood, sweat and tears.
Now onto the race
The wheels touch down in Barcelona and the air is thick with anticipation for the week ahead.Soon the city shadows in the past and the mountains open up before me.Like a trial run for the first time, every corner is full of anticipation.After 3 hours I arrive in Barruera, the Home of the Buff Epic Trail, and the setting for this year's Sky Running World Championships.
Buff Epic Trail VK Review
I find myself taken back in time and settle in amongst the old towns of the Vall de Boi.
It is a world heritage listed area and is well deserved as you are treated to an environment that is a throwback to a time gone by with a relaxed lifestyle, surrounded by speculator scenery.
Buff Epic Trail SkyRunning World Championships Vertical K Review
Buff Epic Trail SkyRunning World Championships Vertical K Review
But that relaxed environment is soon to be shaken up by the world best Sky runners fighting it out on the mountains above.
Day 1 see the Vertical K course take centre stage
This course is brutally beautiful!It peaks out at 2113m and takes the runners through the town and then up the streets into the hills.With 1000m elevation over 2.8km, this course offers gradients between 30 - 50%
Buff Epic Trail SkyRunning World Championships Vertical K Review
Along the way, the terrain is uneven and challenging.With steep rocky paths leading into a grassy climb to the top.The runner's faces show the pain this causes, the head down and the legs pounding forward.Their heart and stride in tempo and their breath is like the shouts of encouragement from the crowds.Both sharp and quick!
The front-runners soon pass by and in the lead is Stian Angermund-Vik Finishing the course in an impressive - 34 mins 16secs
Buff Epic Trail SkyRunning World Championships Vertical K Review
Our very own Aaron Knight is placed well in the field and puts in a great effort to finish in 38th in a time of 41mins:27
Buff Epic Trail SkyRunning World Championships Vertical K Review
He said after the race
“That was so tough ! the Sky Running Worlds VK course was brutal but brilliant!
I did my best but the level of the athletes here is amazing and they schooled me! “
Buff Epic Trail media had this to say about the BUFF® VERTICAL KILOMETER®
The female category has finished with an amazing podium.
The fastest woman has been the French Christel Dewalle in 39:35.28.
Dewalle has the world record in VK, and from now on, is the new Skyrunning Champion.
The favourite, Laura Orgué, who was taken the race after recovering from an injury, has reached the second place in a total time of 40:39.15.
The female podium has been closed with the Spanish Maite Maiora that has finished the VK in 41:59.41
.The male category has been really expectant until the end.
The Norwegian Stian Angermund-Vik has achieved the first position in 34:16.09.
Really close to him it was the Colombian Saúl Pàdua, winner of the Transvulcania VK, who has completed the race in 34:42.63.
Finally, the Italian Hannes Perkmann has got the third position with a time of 34:44.01.
BUFF® VERTICAL KILOMETER®MALE CLASSIFICATION1º STIAN ANGERMUND-VIK 34:16.092º SAUL ANTONIO PADUA 34:42.633º HANNES PERKMAN 34:44.014º FERRAN TEIXIDO 35:07.315º FRANCOIS GONON 35:14.71
FEMALE CLASSIFICATION1º CHRISTEL DEWALLE 39:35.282º LAURA ORGUÉ 40:39.153º MAITE MAIORA 41:59.414º PAULA CABRERIZO 42:42.175º VANESA ORTEGA 42:43.38
Buff Epic Trail SkyRunning World Championships Vertical K Review
Buff Epic Trail SkyRunning World Championships Vertical K Review
Stian Angermund-Vik from Norway is the new VK Skyrunning World Champion!
Christel Dewalle is the new VK Skyrunning World Champion!
Day 2 see the Marathon and Ultra Marathon take place and the Australian New Zealand team are well represented in both these events.