Andrea Mayr, Scout Adkin, Philemon Kiriago and Andrea Elia are among the submissions for this weekend’s big event
After an exciting launch event for the World Cup 2025 in ZMEU X-Fest in Romania, we now go to the family area of Casto in Italy for the next Raes in the WMRA Mountain Running World Cup series.
The athletes will fight for the spectacular background of the Italian Alps at vertical Nasego and Trophy Nasego this weekend (24-25 May).
Casto is located in the beautiful province of Brescia in the Lombardije region and the runners are guaranteed a rich cultural experience, as well as a stunning but heavy jobs. Casto dates from the Middle Ages and is famous for its paved streets, traditional stone houses, Romanesque churches and local cuisine.
Casto, located in the Valsabbia Valley, was a crossroads for trade and military routes throughout the centuries. They are Tose old routes, those eleven connected villages, which the runners will now portray. The famous Parco delle Fucine, a remnant of the historic iron works, is now attracting people for its ferrata, caves and gorges. It is a city that has combined rich history and traditions for more than many hundreds of years with a passion for running and Oher outdoor activities.
The Nasego Raes, founded in 2002, played an important role in this and it is difficult to present a better location for a world cup race. With an international top field, including Andrea Mayr, Scout Adkin, Philemon Kiriago and Andrea Elia, and a double header of racing, Casto will certainly deliver an unforgettable weekend.
Starting on Saturday, May 24, the runners will start climbing on roads and good paths while the track gradually rises. Butars the race really starts and the route becomes steeper and more technical as it is far beyond Rifugio Nasego (at 1270m) to the final finish in Corna di Savallo on 1436m, 4.2 km too late.
On Sunday, May 25, the runners will follow a 20.6 km course with a 1330 meter increase, which has a lot of fast, running sections, only one vray remarkable climb. From the start in Casto at 400m it slowly climbs for the first 6 km, before it is 6 km, the Como comes the large climb of about 750 meters to Rifugio Nasego, for a long descent to Famea for the finish.
In that vertical and trophy Nasego, the line-ups of the women and men are incredibly strong.
In Saturday’s vertical Nasego, all eyes on Andrea Mayr (Hoolirun), who has won five times here, will be an endless list of honors list. Scout Adkin (Hoka EU), last year’s world cup champion and fresh from a victory in ZMEU X-Fest, will try to break Mayr’s grip on this race, such as Will Philaries Kisang (Run2gether), who became second of Mayr in the world championships. The young Italian Benedetta Broggi (VCO sports project) could also be one to watch in this competition.
In the vertical race for men the defending champion, Patrick Kipnden three years, and Andrea Rostan (Atletica Saluzzo). But talented Kenyan athletes Philemon Kiriago and Richard Atuya (both Run2gether) can also be challenged here.
Racing warms up again on Sunday with Trophy Nasego. Joyce Muthoni Njeru (Atletica Saluzzo) will try to defend her title, but during the World Cup 2024 we saw how closely corresponds to Njeru and Scout Adkin in this distancy, who sets up a seductive women’s competition. Add former winners Andrea Mayr and Alice Gaggi (La Recastello Radio Group) and it certainly looks a great race. Valentine Jepkoech Rutto (Atletica Saluzzo), Norwegian athlete Eli Anne Dersgsdal and Simone Troxler (Altra) can also be athletes to watch.
For the men, Philemon Kiriago will try to defend his title, but the competition will be fierce. Our men’s winner of ZMEU X-Fest, Paul Machoka (Atletica Saluzzo), will want to repeat that recent success, together with other strong Kenyan runners, Michael Saoli (Run2gether), Kevin Kibet (Atletica Saluzzo) and Richard Atuya. Of course there is also a strong Italian contingent here, including Xavier Chevrier (ASICS), Alberto Sell (New Balance) and Henri Aymonod.
Others to watch are the British runners Robbie Simpson (Adidas Terrex) and George Foster, as well as the French athlete, Baptiste Massot (Clermont Athletism Auvergne).
How to follow the race
The vertical Nasego race of the ladies starts on Saturday 24 May at 10 a.m., with the men start at 10.45 am. On Sunday 25, the Nasego trophy starts at 9.30 am. You can follow Trophy Nasego and WMRA Social media channels for up-to-date information and images.
For further updates and raced retails, go to WMRA.Info and Trophy Nasego Corsa in Montagna – Pucia La Nasego!
