The Ascent is part of the Golden Trail Series again. Haven’t seen the start list yet, but there will be at least a dozen good Europeans including Remi Bonnet and Manuel Merillas. For Americans, Joe Gray and probably Eli Hemming.
Let's use this thread to discuss the marathon as well as the ascent.
What are your predictions???
Looks like Patrick Kipngeno and Philemon Ombogo Kiriago are entered in the ascent. Kip has been winning the ascents on the circuit this year and has to be the huge favorite. This is the first time I can remember Kenyans running this race, and it will surely be interesting to see if either can bust out a course record to take down Matt Carpenter's mythical 2:01. Sure they're Kenyans and he was just Matt Carpenter, but then again, they haven't spent years training at 14k elevation either. We'll see!
The Ascent is part of the Golden Trail Series again. Haven’t seen the start list yet, but there will be at least a dozen good Europeans including Remi Bonnet and Manuel Merillas. For Americans, Joe Gray and probably Eli Hemming.
I think Christian Allen and David Norris are likely to be the top two Americans in the Ascent with a chance of top 3-5. Joe Gray is still good, but past his peak years.
christian allen will beat joe gray? wowsa. i haven't paid enough attention this year to know whether that's as crazy as it sounds to me, but i'll definitely keep an eye out.
Gray most definitely is top candidate for usa. Allen got crushed by him last time they raced and I'd say Gray not past prime yet. Kiriago has been dominating Allen and all the Euros and Gray smoked him at the World championships as well as also beat all the top Euro. Put respect on that man name. I'd say 2nd and 3rd for usa are maybe Eli and Joe Demoor?
Gray has consistently won this year and beat Allen along with beating all the guys Allen has been losing to. How is he not favorite over Allen here I’m confused? Allen lost to a guy from Uk in Stellina whom Gray has faced numerous times over the last years and has beaten that guy handily each and every time. I’m gonna say Kipgeneno then Gray 2nd and Kiriago 3rd
christian allen will beat joe gray? wowsa. i haven't paid enough attention this year to know whether that's as crazy as it sounds to me, but i'll definitely keep an eye out.
I take that back. I remembered Gray was beaten by a Canadian at the US championships at Sunapee and was barely ahead of a group of guys like Corcoran, who later was well gapped in Cirque Series races by Allen and Norris. But Gray's Worlds Vertical was still solid at 5th (though 2+ min back), and he beat Curts by 4+ mins there, compared to only 5 seconds at Sunapee.
Allen has had a consistent % gap on Norris in the Cirque Series when they've both run. Norris likely isn't in his Mt. Marathon course record shape, though he won it again this year. (Norris had a decent winter. Though coaching and skiing only part-time, he won the American Birke 50K [most famous ski race in US] for the second time, this time in a massive, 46km solo.)
I just noticed that Meikael Beaudoin-Rousseau beat Norris at the last Cirque Series race in his pro debut, by about the same margin that Allen has had on Norris. He's also in the Ascent, so expect him and Allen to do well. Beaudoin-Rousseau and Allen are teammates on Wacker's The Trail Team. Both are both relatively young, running in the NCAA fairly recently. Will be interesting to see how they match up with Gray.
Let's use this thread to discuss the marathon as well as the ascent.
What are your predictions???
Looks like Patrick Kipngeno and Philemon Ombogo Kiriago are entered in the ascent. Kip has been winning the ascents on the circuit this year and has to be the huge favorite. This is the first time I can remember Kenyans running this race, and it will surely be interesting to see if either can bust out a course record to take down Matt Carpenter's mythical 2:01. Sure they're Kenyans and he was just Matt Carpenter, but then again, they haven't spent years training at 14k elevation either. We'll see!
They also don't know the course like Matt did, who probably had every rock memorized.
Don’t think Gray was fit at Sunappe. Notice he was a few mins ahead of the Canadian at worlds and also cirque isn’t a great way to compare possibilities at pikes. Yes Allen beat Norris there but cirque has significant downhill. Pikes uphill. I change my top 3 to Gray 1st, Demoor then Norris.
Gray has consistently won this year and beat Allen along with beating all the guys Allen has been losing to. How is he not favorite over Allen here I’m confused? Allen lost to a guy from Uk in Stellina whom Gray has faced numerous times over the last years and has beaten that guy handily each and every time. I’m gonna say Kipgeneno then Gray 2nd and Kiriago 3rd
It's hard to keep up with all the races going on, and pleading ignorance on the Euro circuits. There isn't a calendar or central race results place that I know of that covers all the mountain races. What do you use to follow these guys? Individual Instagrams? I can't keep up (and probably shouldn't... too time consuming).
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