Morocco’s Elazzaoui ends the season on a “vertical” high

Leading Moroccan trail athlete, Elhousine Elazzaoui ended his season on a high with victory on Saturday 30 October in a vertical kilometre (VK) race and a second position in the final SkyRace of the year in Italy.

The Limone Extreme SkyRace over 23km attracts the best mountain exponents in the world, with super-stars Kilian Jornet of Spain and Tove Alexandersson of Sweden holding the respective course records. And while these athletes were absent, the racing was as tough as it gets.

Traditionally a VK race is held two days before the main event, and it was Elazzaoui who used his climbing ability to good affect to win the race with a measured total of 1000m vertical ascent.

The Moroccan was again to the fore in the ‘half-up, half down’ race over 23km of steep, technical rocky trails, although he was unable to stay with local ski-mountaineering and mountain running star, Nadir Maguet, who used his knowledge of his ‘home course’ to good effect to win by six minute ahead of Elazzaoui.

“It was really a very difficult race because I participated in a number of races in Europe these last months and lost a lot of energy,” said Elazzaoui. “But I am very happy to have won the vertical kilometre and finish second in the SkyRace.

“The field was high quality – there were many very, very strong athletes, but I am very happy at how the race panned out.  I tried to make a good strategy and that worked. The race was really well organised and it will be my last race of the season.”

South African trail athlete, Bianca Tarboton, who broke the record for the Otter African Trail race three weeks ago, ran a creditable European trail debut, finishing 12^th in the fiercely-contested women’s race.

Tarboton suffered a sprained ankle while training on the course five days before the race and turned it over again at the same place on the course.

“Ah it was good!” reflected Tarboton. “Not my best but I had a really fun run! I rolled my ankle early on the descent and had to take that pretty conservatively. But I managed to make the podium (top 15) though for my12th position, which I’m super happy with all things considered.

“It was a really great introduction into the Euro scene. “I’m very inspired and excited to improve even more next season.”

Results

Men: 1 Nadir Maguet (Italy) 2:23:03; 2 Elhousine Elazzaoui (Mor) 2:29:41; 3 Roberto Delorenzi (Italy)2:29:51

Women:  1 Denisa Dragomir (Rom) 2:55:23; 2 Joanne Astrom (Swed) 2:59:52; 3 Fabiola Conti 3:00:16

Photos

Elousine Elazzaoui making good progress on the outward leg in the Limone Extreme SkyRace

Winner Nadir Maquet of Italy with runners up Elhousine Elazzaoui of Morocca and Italian Roberto Delorenzi

Bianca Tarboton at the Limone Extreme 23km SkyRace in Italy

By Stephen Granger

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