Rutto wins uphill, classic mountain race double in China

Kenya’s Valentine Jepkoech Rutto achieved a World Mountain Running Association World Cup double in Chongli, China, this weekend, while Germany’s Lukas Ehrle won the men’s uphill race and Kenya’s Michael Selelo topped the men’s classic race.

The World Cup made its debut in China on Saturday with a spectacular uphill race held in the scenic mountain resort of Yunding, a venue for the 2022 Winter Olympics.

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Rutto delivered a commanding performance in the women's race, taking the lead from the start.

She crossed the finish line in 40:59, writing her name in the history books as the first-ever WMRA race winner on Chinese soil.

Close behind was Great Britain’s Scout Adkin, the 2024 World Cup champion, who kept the pressure on and secured second place in 41:58. Rutto’s compatriot Gloria Chebet completed the podium in 43:05.

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The men’s event saw a spectacular duel between Ehrle and Selelo. The two athletes exchanged the lead multiple times on the steep climbs and slippery turns of the Chongli forest trails and ski slopes, before Ehrle edged Saoli by just one second, taking the win in 35:13.

Italy’s Andrea Rostan rounded out the podium in 35:37, confirming his strong form this season.

The action continued on Sunday with a classic 21.9km race featuring 1417m of ascent and matching descent.

In contrast to her wire-to-wire victory on Saturday, Rutto let leaders Adkin and Chebet dictate the pace during the first uphill kilometre.

But on the second, longer ascent, Rutto unleashed her trademark strength – surging away and never looking back.

Rutto’s decisive move midway, combined with her smooth downhill technique, earned her a comfortable win in 1:55:43, while Adkin and Chebet held on for second (2:01:04) and third (2:04:52), respectively.

Selelo and Ehrle clashed again in this race, surging to the front on the opening incline, with Kenya’s Paul Machoka tagging close behind.

By the 10km mark, Selelo had asserted full control, leading Machoka and Ehrle by slim margins. The Italian duo of Rostan and Alberto Vender rounded out the top five in a fierce mid-race battle.

Selelo’s well-timed push on the final climbs and controlled descent secured him the first classic distance victory in Chongli in 1:38:19, while Machoka and Ehrle lit up the trails with a thrilling tussle for the podium.

Machoka clinched second place in 1:39:38, while Ehrle was third in 1:40:17.