The final weekend of the WMRA World Cup began in spectacular style with a dramatic competition at Velika Planina in Kamnik, Slovenia, on Saturday (23).
Finland’s Susanna Saapunki claimed a commanding women’s race win, while Kenya’s Richard Omaya Atuya secured the men’s title as a host of top international athletes congregated in this stunning area of Slovenia to take on the historic course.
Not only has Velika Planina been used as the venue for the 2010 World Mountain Running Championships, but it will also be the course used in the European Off-Road Running Championships in June next year. And with the World Mountain and Trail Running Championships in Canfranc just a month away, the World Cup finals were perfectly timed to provide a highly competitive opportunity for the athletes to test their fitness and racing strategies.
Valika Planina was the World Cup’s final classic uphill race and the course climbed 1280m over 8.5km, starting at Stahovica and finishing at Gradišče. With a mix of steep forest trails, open meadows offering some easier running, and a final kick up to the finish line, this route had a bit of everything for the runners. The unique finish line was among the shepherds’ villages that the area is famous for, with oval huts with spruce shingles. The misty conditions at the summit just added to the special atmosphere at the summit.
Following the withdrawal of World Cup leader Scout Adkin, the women’s race was wide open. With a field including established World Cup superstars such as Andrea Mayr, Gloria Chebet and Valentine Jepkoech Rutto, as well as breakout performers from this year including Nelie Clement and Elle Twentyman, it was a fascinating women’s start line.
But there was one athlete determined to take it out right from the start and that was Saapunki, who has achieved some incredible performances since switching from cross-country skiing to mountain running. Her early breakaway was ominous for the other runners.
Saapunki opened up an impressive lead of a minute over the chasing pack of Mayr, Kirsty Dickson and Benedetta Broggi by the first timing point. Twentyman was right on their heels, with Martina Falchetti and Clement 20 seconds back.
Saapunki managed to maintain and even extend her lead through the next section, despite a knee injury hampering her on the downhills. By this point Dickson and Mayr had gained a lead of more than a minute and a half on Falchetti and Clement, with Lucia Arnoldo and local favourite Lucija Krkoc joining the chase.
Eventually Saapunki could not be caught and she took an emphatic victory in 1:01:43. With just 1km to go there were three women – Broggi, Dickson and Mayr – all together, desperately trying to put some distance between each other. Broggi eventually won a very close duel and took second place in 1:04:32, with Dickson just one second behind in third. Mayr took fourth place and Chebet came through for a very creditable fifth.
As with the women’s race, the men’s field was incredibly strong. Seven of the top 10 men in the World Cup standings were on the start line, including Paul Machoka, Philemon Ombogo Kiriago, Michael Selelo Saoli and Atuya. They were joined by top Italians Andrea Rostan and Andrea Elia, another top Kenyan in Josphat Kiprotich and revered local runners such as Luka Kovačič and Klemen Španring.
Where the women’s race had a definitive leader from the off, it was more tentative in the men’s race. Initially a small group formed and it took a while for anybody to break away. When they did, it was Kiprotich who made the move. But Atuya stuck with him, while Kiriago followed ahead of Machoka and Elia, who were neck-and-neck through the first timing point. Rostan was also a few seconds behind, along with Abraham Ekwan.
Atuya made his break after the steep forest section and reached the next timing point in the lead, 20 seconds ahead of Kiprotich. Kiriago and Elia were together, a minute and a half behind Atuya and 45 seconds ahead of Machoka and Španring. It was all still extremely close and would come down to the flatter final section before the uphill finish.
Atuya had run a very smart race and had plenty in the tank to extend his lead on the faster section. He took the win in 50:21, with Kiprotich holding on to second place in 51:14. Kiriago won the battle against Elia to claim third in 52:18.
The action continues on Sunday (24) at Smarna Gora, where the 2025 World Cup champions will be crowned.
Kirsty Reade (WMRA) for World Athletics
Leading results
Women
1 Susanna Saapunki (FIN) 1:01:43
2 Benedetta Broggi (ITA) 1:04:32
3 Kirsty Dickson (GBR) 1:04:33
4 Andrea Mayr (AUT) 1:05:03
5 Gloria Chebet (KEN) 1:05:13
Men
1 Richard Omaya Atuya (KEN) 50:21
2 Josphat Kiprotich (KEN) 51:14
3 Philemon Ombogo Kiriago (KEN) 52:18
4 Andrea Elia (ITA) 52:39
5 Paul Machoka (KEN) 53:35