Curtains part on the second leg of the  2010 Skyrunner® World Series on Sunday, May 16 with the highly competitive Maratòn Alpina Zegama-Aizkorri in Spain’s Basque Country.  Some of the world’s greatest runners will line up to race this demanding and technical full marathon course with a gruelling 5,472m vertical climb.

The two standing World Champions, Spain’s Kilian Jornet and Italy’s Emanuela Brizio will head a field of 510 athletes from 12 countries:  Andorra, Ethiopia, France, Great Britain, Holland, Italy, Mexico, Portugal, Russia, Spain, United States and Venezuela.

Some notable absentees due to injury:  last year’s winner, Briton, Ricky Lightfoot;  Mexico’s Ricardo Mejia and Spain’s Jokin Lizeaga will join the Series after recovery.

Joining the start line after the Series’ first Trial last week on Russia’s Mount Elbrus is winner Megan Kimmel from the United States, La Sportiva Team, who now heads the women’s ranking.  Other teams competing include the Catalan Team, Salomon-Santiveri, Salomon Trail Team, Valetudo Skyrunning, Running Team-Trangoworld, Sky Racing IZ and the local, strong Euskadi Team.


photo: Kirill Korabelnikov

The next chance to chalk up their scores will be the Trials in Andorra on June 6 and Portugal on June 13.  A rich selection follows from August to September across three continents while the main events of the five-race Series continue in France with the Chaberton Marathon, followed by the Pikes Peak Marathon in Colorado, the Sentiero Grigne in Italy and climaxing with Malaysia’s spectacular International Mount Kinabalu Climbathon where athletes gain an extra 20% on their ranking points and the men’s and women’s champions are crowned.

See here for race details

2010 Skyrunner® World Series Calendar

2010 Skyrunne®r World Series ranking