Bourne and Belotti winners at Taipei
May 5, 2013
Australian Mark Bourne took the win in the men's Taipei 101 International Run Up this morning ahead of Piotr Lobodzinski of Poland and Christian Riedl of Germany.
Winning the event is Bourne’s second victory on the 2013 Vertical World Circuit, after winning the prestigious Empire State Building Run-Up in New York City earlier this year. The 29-year old Australian scaled the 2,046 steps from the lobby to the outdoor observation deck in a time of 10 minutes and 52 seconds, taking home the winning prize purse of NT$200,000.
In the women’s race, Italy’s Valentina Belotti climbed to her first win of the year, finishing in 12 minutes and 54 seconds, beating Antonella Confortola, also from Italy by 1 minute and 15 seconds. New Zealand’s Melissa Moon finished third with a time of 14 minutes and 11 seconds.
Belotti’s time was her personal best for the event as she also claimed the winning prize purse of NT$200,000.
Celebrating its ninth anniversary, the Taipei 101 International Run Up hosted more than 4,000 participants from more than 20 countries around the world.
Much anticipation is mounting for the next VWC race - the first ever tower race in Beijing. The China World Summit Wing Hotel Vertical Run will open it's doors to the world's top runners and welcome the city's first-time runners in a spectacular new event on August 3.
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VWC Ranking (TBC)
Race Results
Men’s Overall
1: Mark Bourne - Australia: 10 minutes 52 seconds
2: Piotr Lobodzinski – Poland: 11 minutes 12 seconds
3: Christian Riedl – Germany: 11 minutes 50 seconds
Women’s Overall
1: Valentina Belotti – Italy: 12 minutes 54 seconds
2: Antonella Confortola – Italy – 14 minutes 09 seconds
3: Melissa Moon – New Zealand – 14 minutes 11 seconds
Walsham and Lobodzinski Basel winners
March 2, 2013
The second leg of the Vertical World Circuit was staged in the picturesque Swiss town of Basel, where the 105, 31-story Messeturm towers over the Rhine. This year marked the 10th anniversary of the Tower Running event.
The men's elite featured many of the top European vertical runners, and it was a close finish with just 1.5 seconds separating the first three positions. The winner was Piotr Lobodzinski, clocking a very fast 2:36.2, narrowly missing the course record by 0.2 sec making it a 1-2 finish for Poland. Second place went to Bartosz Swiatkowski, who was only 0.5 seconds behind in 2:36.7. Third place went to Italy’s Fabio Ruga, who clocked a personal best 2:37.8. Last year's winner and course record holder German Christian Riedl, placed 4th in 2:39.8. 2012 Vertical World Champion Thomas Dold was absent.
Commenting after the race, Lobodzinski said "I felt good during the race and I wasn't too tired at the end - I think I could have gone a little bit faster. I am happy with the win, but disappointed that I missed the course record by such a small margin."
The women's elite race featured last year's winner and 2012 World Vertical Circuit Champion, Suzy Walsham of Australia, and two-time race winner Marie-Fee Breyer of Germany. Walsham continued her good form from New York, winning the race in a new course record of 3:10.0. Second place went to Cornelia Schindler of Germany with Breyer coming in 3rd.
"It was very cold today and I found it hard to get my rhythm up the stairs", said Walsham. "Based on my training, I thought I would go a little faster, but it is still great to come first and get the course record." Walsham now extends her lead in the 2013 Vertical World Circuit rankings, while Christian Riedl takes the lead in the men's ranking.
Race results
Men
Piotr Lobodzinski 2:36.2
Bartosz Swiatkowski 2:36.7
Fabio Ruga 2:37.8
Christian Riedl 2:39.8
Women
Suzy Walsham 3:10.0
Cornelia Schindler 3:26.2
Marie-Fee Breyer 3:31.7
Full race results here
VWC ranking
Look out for the world's top runners at the next VWC race up Madrid’s Torre Espacio on April 13 and follow us on Facebook for news and updates.
VWC - New York victory is all-Australian
February 7, 2013
Australians Mark Bourne and Suzy Walsham won the first stage of the 2013 Vertical World Circuit at New York’s 36th Empire State Building Run-Up yesterday. Race favourite, VWC champion and seven-time winner Thomas Dold, dropped from the race with flu.
New York kicks off 2013 Vertical World Circuit
February 6, 2013
Celebrating five years, the 2013 Vertical World Circuit continues it’s upward climb launching with today’s Empire State Building Run-Up in New York with newly crowned VWC champions, Thomas Dold and Suzy Walsham toeing the start line.
This year’s nine-race circuit features three new entries and two brand new races in Barcelona and, for the first time on Chinese mainland, Beijing’s tallest tower.