Download the overall women’s rankings
Download the overall men’s rankings
Kipngeno Reclaims the Vertical Nasego. Engelhard, Mission Accomplished! Elia and Aymonod with the Greats!
Run2Gether’s “alien” takes back the title in the vertical race on the Savallo. Opponents blown away and the challenge against Atuya won. Patrick’s signature is authoritative: 33’31” !!
A smashing debut for world champion Nina Engelhard; the German thrashes her opponents with a performance of absolute authority. However, Andrea Mayr’s record stands; she confirms herself as an eternal champion, finishing on the podium alongside Scotland’s Dickson!
First day of battle for the 7Nations Memorial Silvestro Niboli: Italy dominates the men’s side with a top-5 one-two finish by Elia and Aymonod, both setting personal best times. In the women’s race, however, Scotland and Switzerland responded clearly. Everything will be decided in the Trofeo Nasego.
In terms of the World Cup, Run2Gether consolidates its positions, but Njeru, Dickson, and Broggi remain in contention for the podium.
Casto, September 5, 2026 – Day one of the Nasego 2026 weekend kept its promises with two races featuring highly technical and competitive content. A real challenge among champions and a great show in the climb to Corna di Savallo.
The Women’s Race
At exactly 10:00 am, the women’s race began, a vertical that pitted the legend Andrea Mayr against the woman many experts believe is destined to inherit her legacy in “only up” races. The German Nina Engelhard was highly anticipated after dominating the 2024 European Championships and the 2025 World Championships. She did not disappoint, but opponents from a dream international field fought her every step of the way.
Engelhard did not wait around, immediately breaking the hesitation and taking a clear lead. At 500 meters of elevation gain, her advantage exceeded a minute over a chasing duo made up of Scotland’s Kirsty Dickson and Kenya’s Ruth Gitonga, the World Cup leader.
The second part of the race offered great moments. It is the most spectacular section of the course, featuring the wildest and most stunning scenery, with the classic light-colored rocks of the Savallese mountains impressing the audience and athletes, framed by the backdrop of the green pre-Alpine valleys of Brescia.
The competition saw a sensational shuffling of the deck, with Engelhard arriving at the final 300 meters of elevation tired from the effort but still firmly in control. Her lead narrowed, but it did not prevent a convincing final rush that brought her under the legendary VK Nasego arch to take the picture of her first historic victory in the Savallese. A time of 39’29” for Engelhard, who enters an exclusive club of only 4 women capable of running under 40’ here: Mayr, Kisang, Adkin, and as of today, her.
Behind her, it was an all-out battle, with a masterpiece by Kirsty Skye Dickson, Scotland’s spearhead, who took second place with authority and a telling time of 40’19”, a time that in the first editions of the event would have guaranteed her a triumph. But the story of the day is probably the final spot on the women’s podium, taken once again, incredibly, with infinite class by Andrea Mayr. The 7-time Austrian world champion, who has repeatedly improved the record here at VK Nasego in an untouchable series of victories. Even today, as her career nears its twilight (born in ’79, let’s remember), she confirmed the skills that make her the greatest ever in the uphill discipline, finishing 3rd with a solid 40’49”.
Her finale was applaudable; after being 5th and 4th for a long time, she ousted the Kenyans Gitonga and Chepkirui ahead of her, forcefully taking another podium. Her push in the steep final section was once again a technical and, above all, athletic masterclass for refined palates.
The international nobility of uphill mountain running was also evident in the rest of the top ten, featuring Christel Dewalle (France) in 6th place, answering Scotland, then Switzerland with Selina Burch, and Kenya again with Joyce Njeru, who is gathering points for the Cup standings where she is playing for the title against Gitonga. 9th place went to Gloria Chebet and 10th to the best of the Italians, a blessed Broggi who tried to keep the national team afloat in the fierce competition of the 7Nations-Memorial Silvestro Niboli, the event-within-an-event of this 2026 edition.
The Men’s Race
At 10:45 am, Star Wars in the men’s race. While everyone expected a race dominated solely by Kenya, there was also a “monster” performance from the Italians, who competed without any fear. Many illustrious names from the eve ended up outside the vertical’s top 10, victims of the muggy heat but also of the pressure of a start-line never before seen in 11 editions.
In the very first part of the race, the group was fairly compact with a controlled pace. A quartet formed with Kipngeno, Kiriago, Atuya, and the Italian Elia, who stayed right there with the greats.
The group stretched out; Kipngeno and Atuya gained about twenty seconds on their teammate Kariuki, upon whom Andrea Elia was closing in very well. Kiriago dropped back, and from behind came both Adkin and Aymonod very strongly, battling for a few hundred meters of elevation, giving the impression that the Italian Aymonod had a bit more to give.
The race exploded; Kipngeno and Atuya’s finale was overwhelming, with the Run2gether captain taking his 4th VK Nasego title, finishing with a time of 33’31”, just 8 seconds above the record set last year. For the “Alien” Patrick Kipngeno, a performance in his perfect style. Atuya had to raise the white flag, finishing 2nd, 40 seconds behind the winner, but confirming himself at the top in the World Cup.
The battle for the final podium opened up: the groundwork laid in the first part by a magnificent Andrea Elia was not wasted. The man from Como brought the blue jersey into the top 3 of the VK Nasego again with a time of 34’40”, which becomes the new all-time Italian best time in this race (the previous was also his at 34’52”). Just off the podium, but author of a furious and spectacular comeback, was Henri Aymonod, who did not disappoint expectations, stopping the clock at exactly 35’, his personal best here at Corna di Savallo.
The top 10 here was also stratospheric, and not without huge surprises. 6th was Kiriago, 7th the very young Englishman Edward Hobbs, the absolute revelation of this race day, who brought crucial points to the team England cause for the 7Nations. 8th place went to the Maasai Micheal Saoli, 9th to the Friulian Tiziano Moia, and 10th again to Run2Gether, in this case, Ephantus Njeri.
Statements
Satisfaction within ABCF Comero for having brought home the first commitment of the weekend, a joy that shines through the words of Luca Brescianini and Claudio Freddi, two of the historical members of the organizing committee who speak on behalf of the group:
Luca Brescianini: “We did our best to provide a setting worthy of the World Cup and a National team meeting. Thanks to all our volunteers, a perfect and carefully guarded course. Every year is a great effort but rewarded by the value of the champions and by the joy and enthusiasm of all the athletes.”
Claudio Freddi: “Day number one completed brilliantly. Goosebumps hearing the athletes we managed to bring to our trails, the best of world mountain running, the results say so. Now it’s time to celebrate for everyone and tomorrow we repeat. I have a lot of confidence in our organizing team, which also includes many young people working behind the scenes making everything perfect for competitions of this level.”
Protagonists’ Words
Andrea Elia (3rd Men’s VK Nasego and best Italian today):
“I am truly satisfied with my result achieved in a high-level international race context. Achieving it with the national team jersey gratifies me even more. I am also satisfied with the fourth place of my national teammate Henri Aymonod, which allows us a good team result. Now head down and focus on tomorrow’s test over the longer distance of the Trofeo Nasego.”
Nina Engelhard (Women’s VK Nasego Winner): “It was my first time at the Vertical Nasego, and just yesterday I tested the course, finding it very beautiful and varied. I feared the first 100 flat meters at the start, but the controlled pace of the other athletes helped me. I took the lead right from the first ramps and kept the head of the race until the finish line. I truly gave everything and my legs feel tired, but I want to honor this race and this crowd by giving my best tomorrow at the Trofeo Nasego as well. I thank the whole staff and Alex in particular for the great organization and fantastic welcome.”
Henri Aymonod (4th Men’s VK Nasego):
“I would say today was an excellent performance, in a race that proved to be very tough from the very beginning. After a moment of initial uncertainty, I found myself running alone, but I managed to maintain the right visual references by aiming at the group of Andrea Elia and the Kenyan athletes. This allowed me to finish in fourth place, one step away from the podium. I am really happy for Andrea, who put on a performance of great depth today, and overall it is a very positive day for the Italian colors and for my teammates who defended themselves very well. We hope to continue on this path for tomorrow’s race.”
Benedetta Broggi (10th Women’s VK Nasego):
“It was a very tough race, but I am very happy, both with my own result—because I was about 35 seconds faster than last year, which was already a goal in itself—and with how we performed as a team. We all finished very close to each other, around tenth, thirteenth, and fourteenth place. I don’t know the exact standings yet, but I believe we achieved a great team result as well, so it’s really wonderful, I’m very happy!”
Complete results at this link, and the two overall general standings are attached in PDF format.
More Info on the Official Website: www.trofeonasegocorsainmontagna.com
Photos Attached in the Press Kit (free use – credits: Giada Simonetti, Davide Vaninetti)
Nasego : The Two Races, Courses and Logistics
Vertical Nasego and Trofeo Nasego are international Mountain Running competitions included in the WORLD ATHLETICS/WMRA global calendar and in the national FIDAL calendar. They have been selected multiple times as official stages of the Mountain Running World Cup and, since 2023, they also host an invitational competition for national teams.
Vertical Nasego – Course Overview
The Vertical course starts in the centre of Casto and climbs to the iconic summit of Corna di Savallo at 1,436 metres above sea level, gaining 1,000 metres of elevation over 3.7 km on roads, mule tracks, and mountain trails. Refreshments at altitude, changing rooms, showers, lunch, and the awards ceremony are all located at the Famea Sports Centre. A dedicated clothing transport service allows athletes to send a small bag with spare gear directly to the finish area at the top.
Trofeo Nasego – Course Overview
The Trofeo Nasego course stretches for approximately 21.4 km with a total positive elevation gain of 1,330 metres. The start is identical to the Vertical, with the traditional parade along Casto’s main street before the athletes dive into a fast, undulating first section on forest roads and wide trails between the Ferrate area, the hamlet of Alone, and the Vrenda Bridge. Around kilometre 10.6, the race changes completely: a long climb begins, passing through Valgrande and Piazze and leading to the King of the Mountain prize at Rifugio Nasego, the symbolic heart of the entire event (and the former finish line until 2014). From the 1,300-metre altitude of Nasego, athletes face a demanding descent that brings them to the finish line in Famea in less than 4 km, where all services are available and the final ceremony takes place.
An Event with Rapidly Growing Prestige
“Nasego” is a relatively young event compared to other historic Italian mountain running races, yet in just a few years—thanks to exceptional organisational quality and significant investment from the entire community of Casto and its hamlets—it has risen to the status of an internationally renowned classic. Top athletes from across Europe and around the world dream of competing here, and the best Italians regularly battle for supremacy on these trails.
Nasego is more than a race: it is a true sporting spectacle with its own rituals and traditions, unmissable for both amateur runners seeking a challenging test alongside world-class champions and for spectators who, over two festive days, enjoy the competitions as well as cultural and social events hosted at the Famea Sports Centre.
A Modern History of Champions
The recent history of the event—since the introduction in 2016 of the Vertical and the looped course that brings athletes back to Famea after passing Rifugio Nasego—tells a story of champions, rivalries, and unforgettable moments in mountain running.
Our Roll of Honour:
| anno | vincitore | tempo | vincitrice | tempo |
| 2015 | Isaac Kiprop (UGA) | 1h31’03” | Francesca Iachemet (ITA) | 1h54’04” |
| 2016 | Xavier Chevrier (ITA) | 1h36’36” | Sara Bottarelli (ITA) | 1h54’44” |
| 2017 | Cesare Maestri (ITA) | 1h35’58” | Alice Gaggi (ITA) | 1h58’28” |
| 2018 | Alessandro Rambaldini (ITA) | 1h37’01” | Alice Gaggi (ITA) | 1h55’15” |
| 2019 | Andrew Douglas (SCO) | 1h35’37” | Lucy Wambui Murigi (KEN) | 1h52’23” |
| 2020 | Sylvain Cachard (FRA) | 1h34’11” | Sarah McCormack (IRL) | 1h52’32” |
| 2021 | Petro mamu Shaku (ERI) | 1H32’55” | Grayson Murphy (USA) *RECORD* | 1H45’56” |
| 2022 | Patrick Kipngeno (KEN) *RECORD* | 1H30’46” | Andrea Mayr (AUT) | 1H47’32” |
| 2023 | Philemon Kiriago (KEN) | 1H31’00” | Andrea Mayr (AUT) | 1H46’06” |
| 2024 | Patrick Kipngeno (KEN) | 1H31’26” | Joyce Njeru (KEN) | 1H51’33” |
| 2025 | Philemon Kiriago (KEN) | 1H31’43” | Philaries Kisang (KEN) | 1H46’16” |
| *il percorso ufficiale attuale è valido dall’edizione 2016 | ||||
| anno | vincitore | tempo | vincitrice | tempo |
| 2016 | Nicola Pedergnana (ITA) | 34’45” | Valentina Belotti (ITA) | 39’23” |
| 2017 | Patrick Facchini (ITA) | 35’31” | Valentina Belotti (ITA) | 43’09” |
| 2018 | Patrick Facchini (ITA) | 36’14” | Denisa Dragomir (ROU) | 45’10” |
| 2019 | Davide Magnini (ITA) | 35’17” | Andrea Mayr (AUT) | 38’39” |
| 2020 | Henri Aymonod (ITA) | 35’47” | Valentina Belotti (ITA) | 43’12” |
| 2021 | Henri Aymonod (ITA) | 35’38” | Andrea Mayr (AUT) | 38’51” |
| 2022 | Patrick Kipngeno (KEN) | 33’47” | Andrea Mayr (AUT) | 38’48” |
| 2023 | Patrick Kipngeno (KEN) | 34’25” | Andrea Mayr (AUT) *RECORD* | 38’06” |
| 2024 | Patrick Kipngeno (KEN) | 34’28” | Andrea Mayr (AUT) | 40’51” |
| 2025 | Richard O. Atuya (KEN) *RECORD* | 33’23” | Philaries Kisang (KEN) | 38’55” |
| *il percorso ufficiale attuale è valido dall’edizione 2017 |
