Winner and record holder Piotr Lobodzinski, VertiGo, Paris. ©iancorless.com /VWC
The tough competition between the current and former Vertical World Circuit champions helped push for a new men’s course record in last night’s VertiGo, third leg of the circuit in Paris in the city’s tallest building.
Piotr Lobodzinski from Poland, reigning VWC champion and ranking leader sliced yet another second off his own course record to close in 4’42” after climbing 954 steps and 48 floors of the Tour First to his third consecutive victory. Some 2,000 runners took part in the event organised by PL4Y International.
Winners Lobodzinski and Svabikova. ©iancorless.com /VWC
The women’s winner was current ranking leader Lenka Svabikova from the Czech Republic. Her third win here, she closed in 6’34”.
“I’m very happy with my result,” commented Lobodzinski. “I saw on my watch it was one second off the course record. I think having Thomas [Dold] on the start line was the best motivation to run fast. I hope to be back next year to defend my title,” he concluded.
Thomas Dold, second, VertiGo, Paris. ©iancorless.com /VWC
After a two-year absence from the sport, former VWC champion Thomas Dold from Germany, took second place in 4’47”, while Italian Fabio Ruga finished third in 4’55”.
Dold stated, “During the race I felt much better than in London, but I was quite tired these last few days. I was focussed on the time afterwards. When I saw it was 4’47” I was ok with that although it wasn’t a perfect day.”
In the women’s race, Italian Cristina Bonacina, 7’18” took second place and in third, Emmanuelle Blanck from France in 7’32”.
Cristina Bonacina, second, VertiGo, Paris. ©iancorless.com /VWC
Svabikova commented on her win, “I haven’t been able to train these last two months. In fact I was half a minute slower than last year. I knew I didn’t need to push so much because the competition was not so big. I’m very happy with the victory of course!” she added. The standing race record of 5’43 set by VWC world champion Suzy Walsham from Australia remains intact.
It is the fourth consecutive year that VertiGo is an official race on the Vertical World Circuit, where this year, five out of ten races count for the final ranking.
After Dubai, London and Paris, the 2017 Vertical World Circuit shifts to New York’s T2T Tower Climb on One World Trade Center on June 4th for the fourth stage of the circuit.
La Defence, Tour First, location of the VertiGo, third stage of the 2017 VWC. ©iancorless.com /VWC
VertiGo race results
Men
- Piotr Lobodzinski (POL) – 4’42”
- Thomas Dold (GER) – 4’47”
- Fabio Ruga (ITA) – 4’55”
- Omar Bekkali (MAR) – 5’07”
- Hugo Altmeyer (FRA) – 5’36”
Women
- Lenka Svabikova (CZE) – 6’34”
- Cristina Bonacina (ITA) – 7’18”
- Emmanuelle Blanck (FRA) – 7’32”
- Maria Landsberg (FRA) – 9’09”
- Edwige Voldstein (FRA) – 9’13”
2017 Vertical World Circuit ranking
About PL4Y International
The money raised will help PL4Y International to develop its programmes across the globe. Since 1999, the NGO has used sports as powerful leverage for social change and has showed that innovation through sports favours social cohesion.