Kevin Kibet and Aurora Bosia claim victory in the long race on the modified course.
In the 18 km race, the top step of the podium goes to Elija Kariuki Kamau and Anna Hofer.
Photo credits: Corsa in Montagna by Francesco Bergamaschi
Premana (LC), 26 July 2026 – The 32nd edition of the Giir di Mont came to a close, marking a chapter that will be remembered in the event’s history. Not only for the outstanding performances and the spectacular racing, but also for the ability of the Organising Committee and the entire Premana community to respond to an emergency by redesigning the long-course route within just a few hours, ensuring the safety of athletes, volunteers and spectators.
Following the wildfire that affected the northern slope of the Val Fraina, an alternative route for the Giir di Mont—originally scheduled over a distance of 32 kilometres—was swiftly designed and approved in cooperation with the relevant authorities.
The exclusion of the passage over Bocchetta di Larec, the mountain pass linking Valvarrone and Val Fraina, reshaped the Giir into a 29-kilometre course with 2,500 metres of positive elevation gain, while preserving as much as possible the technical and spectacular character of the traditional race.
It proved to be a fiercely contested race, starting under a light drizzle that helped the athletes cope with the demanding climbs, before ending under bright sunshine as the final runners crossed the finish line on Via Roma.
Photo credits: Corsa in Montagna by Marco Gulberti
Classic Giir di Mont – Men’s Long Race
In the men’s 29 km race, victory went to Kenya’s Kevin Kibet, who crossed the finish line in Premana in 2:57:13.
Kibet had to fight hard for the win. At the start, the leading group remained tightly packed, with the Kenyan climbing towards Alpe Chiarino alongside Andrea Prandi (Atl. Alta Valtellina), Josphat Kiprotich Tuei (Run2Gether) and Damiano Pedretti (AMR Angolo Mountain Running), all on the same time, followed closely by Britain’s Finlay Grant. Just behind were Lorenzo Martir Rota (U.S. Malonno) and Federico Nicolini (Atletica Tione), who would later become Kibet’s biggest challenger.
On the descent towards Alpe Vegessa, the race changed dramatically. Pedretti surged into the lead, followed by Prandi, while Tuei held third and Nicolini moved up into fourth. At this point, Kibet had lost more than one minute and twenty seconds, a gap that remained almost unchanged at the Rasga checkpoint. Everything changed on the demanding climb to Alpe Deleguaggio, where Kibet fought his way back into second place, while Nicolini—showing outstanding form—took the lead with almost a one-minute advantage.
A thrilling battle unfolded between the two leaders, but it was on the final descent into Premana, in the closing kilometres of the race, that the Kenyan found the strength for one last decisive attack, crossing the finish line first to the cheers of the huge crowd lining the streets.
Federico Nicolini (Atletica Tione) finished second in 2:58:13, while an impressive and unexpected Damiano Pedretti (AMR Angolo Mountain Running) claimed third in 2:59:30, dramatically improving on his 16th-place finish from last year’s edition.
Rounding out the top ten were Lorenzo Martir Rota (U.S. Malonno), Britain’s Finlay Grant, Sammy Rotich Chelangat (Run2Gether), local athlete Mattia Gianola (LAB4YOU SSD ARL), who arrived at the race below full fitness but still managed to gain almost two minutes on the final descent, followed by Andrea Prandi (Atletica Alta Valtellina), Alessandro Riva (Sky Lario Runners ASD) and Paolo Bonanomi (Falchi Lecco).
Photo credits: Corsa in Montagna by Marco Gulberti
Aurora Bosia, queen of the women’s race
A consistent and drama-free 29 km race, where the three women on the podium maintained the same positions from start to finish. Victory went to Aurora Bosia (Falchi Lecco), who mastered the new course perfectly, crossing the finish line in 3:58:04.
Behind her, teammate Francesca Crippa (Falchi Lecco) took second place in 4:21:38, while Giorgia Fascendini (G.P. Santi Nuova Olonio) completed the podium in third place with a time of 4:23:12.
Just off the podium finished Cristina Magni (O.S.A. Organizzazione Sportiva Alpinisti), thanks to an excellent comeback, followed by her teammate Roberta Pinchetti. They were followed by Romanian athlete Andra Haas (Run Card), Patrizia Pensa (Team Pasturo ASD) and Vasilica Nastrut (C.A. Lizzoli).
Giir di Mont Mini 18 km
The 18 km race also delivered great excitement, with Kenyan athlete Elija Kariuki Kamau (Run2gether) setting an unbeatable pace from the very beginning and maintaining the lead throughout the race to claim victory in 1:36:44.
Behind him, a thrilling battle developed between Stefano Roncareggi (Atletica Triangolo Lariano) and local athlete Paolo Gianola (U.S. Malonno), born in 2006, who was second at the Alpe Rasga checkpoint. They eventually finished second and third respectively, with Roncareggi crossing the line in 1:38:00 and Gianola in 1:39:16.
Also worth highlighting was the impressive comeback by Lorenzo Milesi (Team Pasturo ASD), who finished in fourth place.
Anna Hofer triumphs in the women’s 18 km race
The women’s 18 km race was won by the young South Tyrolean athlete Anna Hofer (Sportclub Merano), who showed outstanding form and finished in 1:52:29.
After following Sang Jedidah Chepkemoi (Run2gether) throughout almost the entire course, Hofer made her decisive move with a very fast descent from Deleguaggio towards Via Roma. The Kenyan athlete finished second in 1:53:26, while third place went to Melissa Bertolina (Atletica Alta Valtellina), who held her position consistently throughout the race, finishing in 2:03:29.
All official results are available on the ENDU.net portal.
Watch the Giir di Mont again on the @ASPREMANA YouTube channel, with commentary by Marco De Gasperi and Maurizio Torri.
Course modifications
The emergency course started from Premana as originally planned. Athletes first descended towards the valley before beginning the climb to Alpe Chiarino. From there, the route continued towards Piz d’Alben (1,865 m), with a traverse along the ridge for a few hundred metres to reach an altitude of 1,890 m. A demanding yet spectacular climb, followed by a descent reconnecting with the original course at Alpe Barconcelli and then continuing towards Alpe Casarsa.
The second and most significant modification came in the following section. Once reaching the valley floor, runners turned right towards Alpe Vegessa, before descending through Valvarrone and passing the mountain pastures of Forno di Sopra and Forno di Sotto. The descent continued along the agricultural-forestry-pastoral road to the Gebio area, where the route rejoined the Giir di Mont 18 km course, climbing back up through Val Fraina to Alpe Rasga and then continuing along the traditional route to the finish line in Premana.
GIIR DI MONT PRESS OFFICE – FLUIDA Comunicazione
Elena Bellistracci
elena.bellistracci@fluidacomunicazione.it,
M. +39 335 706 2676
https://fluidacomunicazione.it/
Photo Gallery: https://www.giirdimont.it/photo-gallery/
