Mentre molti dei big internazionali erano a Poschiavo per quello che di fatto è uno degli appuntamenti clou di inizio stagione, Urban Zemmer ha cominciato nel migliore dei modi la sua stagione sulle vertical di coppa andando ad imporsi nella seconda tappa dello Skyrunner® Vertical Series che, dopo l’esordio russo vinto da De Gasperi, ha fatto scalo sulle cime greche sopra il golfo di Atene.

Alla competizione hanno preso parte atleti provenienti da Andorra, Francia, Gran Bretania, Spagna, Italia e, ovviamente dalla Grecia.

Zemmer, nonostante i 30°,  ha vinto questa prima edizione del Gerania vertical Kilometer® in 43’24”, mettendo dietro Didier Zago – a 1’06”- e Xavier Teixidó giunto terzo   in46’59”. Al femminile Laura Orgué ha invece chiuso con il tempo di 53’24’’, mettendo dietro Silvia Leal Augé - 55’10’’ – e  Irena Maliborska  - 1h4’32” -.

ENGLISH VERSION:

The Skyrunner® Vertical Series’ second race graced the heights above Athens and the Corinthian Gulf where Italian Urban Zemmer and Spaniard Laura Orguué topped the podium. Their respective times for Sunday’s short, sharp Gerania Vertical Kilometer® were 43’24” and 53’24”.

Competitors came from Andorra, France, Great Britain, Italy, Spain and, of course, Greece, to race the country’s first Vertical Kilometer®.

Read organiser Alex Makropoulos’ race report:

“Sunny and hot weather, about 30οC  at the  9:30 am start. Urban Zemmer, Didier Zago, Laura Orgué Vila, Silvia Leal Augé , Xavier and Ferran Teixidó  Marti-Ventosa, with Greeks Dimitris Theodorakakos and Nikos Kostopoulos led the race to the start of the trail, just above the city of Loutraki.  From here the trail is getting steeper and for a few meters, the athletes used their hands to proceed! In the middle of the route, at the Monastery of Osios Patapios, Urban Zemmer came first in front of Didier Zago, Murray Strain and  the Teixidó brothers. First woman to reach the refreshment point at 2.9km was Laura Orgué Vila, followed by Silvia Leal Augé and Gil Rafart Mavi.“

“From here, the trail traverses the mountain  - the feeling of running over the sea, with a spectacular view to the Gulf and Peloponnese is breathtaking! Here the race is much easier and the incline softens, especially in the last kilometre of the course.”

“Zemmer reached the summit in 43’24’’, Didier Zago came second, 1’06’’ later and Xavier Teixidó third, in46’59’.”

In the women’s category, Laura Orgué broke last’s years VK test record in 53’24’’, while Silvia Leal Augé finished second in 55’10’’ and third, Greek athlete Irena Maliborska  in 1h4ì32”.

The first Gerania Vertical Kilometer® kicked off to a great start and looks like being a popular event for runners everywhere, given the proximity to Athens and the after-race celebrations….cooling off in the sea.

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