Skyrunning® once again came to the endurance capital of the world, Chamonix, with the Mont-Blanc 80km and Vertical Kilometer events on Friday 26^th June.

Skyrunning partner Scott Sports had a stunning weekend of results and in the process unleashed a secret weapon; new signing Andy Symonds (UK).

“I've only just moved to Scott a couple of weeks ago. The Mt Blanc 80km was my first race for them and I was using the new vest. I'm looking forward to working with a new team and to the adventures and possibilities in store.”

Andy rocketed to fame in 2012 after pushing the worlds best to the finish line at Transvulcania Ultramarathon. However what followed was a troubled time of injury.:

“I came 2nd at Transvulcania and I didn't suffer anywhere near as much as yesterday. For sure there's some work to do to get back to being fully competitive over long sky races. Next year!”

He’s back now though and back with a punch after placing 3^rd on the 80km podium behind American Alex Nichols and Italian Franco Colle.

“This year I'm getting back into it. I'm now planning on completing the French Skyrunner® Series. Next year I'll race less, train more and hopefully improve as a consequence. You may well see me on the start line of some even longer races as well.”

Running a strong and consistent pace from beginning to end, the British runner who resides in France showed the worlds best that he has not lost all the skills and form that made him one of the best trail and mountain runners in the world.

Scott Running have year-on-year invested more time and money into Skyrunning and they have always had great exposure from world class athletes such as Marco De Gasperi and Elisa Desco. However, new names came to the fore at the Mont-Blanc 80km with another Brit, Dan Doherty placing 11^th and David Pasquio placing 12^th.

Ultimately though, a highlight of the weekend came in the Vertcial KM when Frenchman Francois Gonon won in a time of 34:07 beating Kilian Jornet’s course record of 34:18. It’s a breakthrough performance and one that will have heads turning. To make victory even sweeter, Gonon was crowned European Skyrunning Champion.

Gonon’s performance was so devastating that he had a full 41 seconds advantage over Norwegians Stian Hovind-Angermund, 2^nd and 58 seconds ahead of Thorbjorn Ludvigsen.

Alexis Sevennec rounded a quality weekend for Scott placing 14^th.

Attention now turns to Val d’Isère and the iconic Kilometre Vertical Face De Bellevarde and the Ice-Trail Tarentaise, which will host the Skyrunning European Championship event for the ultra distance.