Buff Skyrunner #1 - Berga

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Record Breaking Start to Skyrunner Series

Rob Howard / 06.06.2007

Madrid athlete Raúl García and Angela Mudge of Scotland are the leaders in the BUFF® Sky-Runner World Series 2007, after showing their mettle in the inaugural trial of this seven-race championship in Berga, Bergadà province, Spain.

Raúl García of La Granja team shredded the race record with a time of 4h 18’ 33. In second place, Tòfol Castanyer, from the Catalan team, was proclaimed Catalan champion with a time of 4:21:46. The other place-winner on the men’s podium was the Basque runner, Fernando Echegaray (4:25:40). The Berga circuit, new to the international calendar in this event, has been a regular event in the Spanish national calendar. It’s a tough marathon of 42.195km with 2,960m of altitude difference and 300 athletes from around the world took part.

The race set a rapid pace from start to finish. Already in the initial kilometres, a small group of three athletes pulled ahead – among them, Raúl García and Tòfol Castanyer, who juggled first and second places over practically the entire course. It wasn’t until eight kilometres before the end that the leader increased his pace, leaving Castanyer behind. All the athletes stressed how tough this season opening race was.

In the women’s category, there weren’t many surprises. Scots athlete Angela Mudge, from Team SAAB Salomon, dominated the race from start to finish and showed her ability with a time of 5:08:30. Second athlete in, Corinne Favre, from the Vall d’Aosta, came in 11 minutes after the winner, at 5:19:37. Third place went to Stéphanie Jiménez, from Pirinenc Andorrà, with a time of 5:20:57. The fastest Catalan was Mònica Ardid, who won the title of champion of Catalonia.

The new calendar for the BUFF® SkyRunner World Series 2007 – the world circuit in mountain racing – is presenting a few surprises in terms of previous years. In this, the fourth year there will be two races in Spain and Italy, and one each in Andorra, Japan and Malaysia. This most prestigious international mountain racing circuit has over 10,000 athletes participating from over 31 different nationalities and five continents.

For the full results and the programme of races for the year ahead see www.buffskyrunner.com.See All Event Posts