News29 Apr 2008


WMRA Grand Prix set to kick off in Willer-sur-Thur

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Julien Rancon of France en route to victory at the 2007 Montee du Grand Ballon (© Danny Hughes)

The first of seven WMRA Grand Prix races gets under way in the Alsace region of France with the 28th Montee du Grand Ballon in Willer-sur-Thur on Thursday 1 May.

The men will race over a 13.2km course which has 1241m of ascent. The women will race over a shortened course of 8.5km and 832m of ascent.

Rancon returns to defend home ground

Race favourite will be the 2007 winner, Julien Rancon (FRA) running on home ground. However, the Grand Prix status of this event has attracted strong competition from outside France. Steve Vernon (GBR), a regular member of Great Britain’s World Cross Country team is determined to prove his mountain running credentials. The Polish champion and 2007 Grand Prix silver medallist Andrzej Dlugosz will be keen to improve to the Gold medal position in 2008. Robert Krupicka of The Czech Republic, now recovered from injury and the runner up in the Czech 2008 Cross Country championships, will be a strong contender for a podium position. The strong French entry includes Emmanuel Meyssat who was runner-up in the 2007 French championships.

Wilkinson the favourite in women's contest 

The women will not have to contend with Czech star Anna Pichrtova who is recovering from her exertions in winning the World Long Distance championship last weekend. This throws the race open to several possible winners.

Victoria Wilkinson of Great Britain, last year’s Grand Prix silver medallist, leads a strong entry. Her main opposition will come from Martina Strahl of Switzerland, 2007 World silver medallist, and veteran Isabelle Guillot, the 2007 World bronze medallist and winner of countless international medals.

This event launches a new concept for the WMRA Grand Prix. In order to attract more races into the GP series, WMRA have offered a reduced financial burden for races of a high standard. These races, termed 2nd level GP races, attract 50% of the points awarded to the 1st level races. The system thus enables ambitious race organisers to test the effect of joining the GP series. The Montee du Grand Ballon is the first 2nd level event.

Danny Hughes for the IAAF

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