Greece goes Vertical - Zemmer and Orgué winners |
The Skyrunner® Vertical Series’ second race graced the heights above Athens and the Corinthian Gulf where Italian Urban Zemmer and Spaniard Laura Orgué topped the podium. Their respective times for Sunday’s short, sharp Gerania Vertical Kilometer® were 43’24” and 53’24”.
Read organiser Alex Makroupolos’ 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. Vertical Kilometer® Series Ranking |