Race Media

Burning legs MSIG Lantau VK a taste for Sunday
Ixel and Saint-pé crowned champions of MSIG Lantau Vertical Kilometre

Wildly steep 5km-long course started at sea level and finished on 934m Lantau Peak

Australian Vlad Ixel and Frenchwoman Emilie Saint-pé romped to emphatic victories in the men’s and women’s categories respectively of the MSIG Lantau VK this afternoon. Starting from Tong Fuk Beach at 3pm, the challenging course rose steeply from sea level to the 934-metre high Lantau Peak over just 5 kilometres.

Ixel took an impressive 43 minutes 31 seconds to scale Lantau’s second highest mountain, while Saint-pé clocked 51:55, good for third overall among all participants.

“I’m happy to be the female champion of the race,” said Saint-pé. “However, I had hoped to perform better as I was aiming to finish the race in 50 minutes or less. This was a well-organised event and I will, of course, compete in the race again next year!”

Ixel, of The North Face team, was thrilled to bag his first win after three attempts at the event. He said: “It is always cool to be racing in Lantau. The course owns one of the most beautiful sceneries in the world, and making it to the top is super fun too! I really enjoy participating in the MSIG Lantau VK — the distance is short, but tough and challenging enough. I had fun and am really happy to be on the course again.”

Rounding off the men’s podium was Frenchman Erich Felbabel in second place in 47:47 and Australian Jono Woodhouse in third in 52:21.

Felbabel, participating in the MSIG Lantau VK for the first time, was pleased with his finish. He said: “At first, I was not thinking much but following Vlad. However, he was really fast so I tried to stick with my pace and walk very fast while scaling the stairs and steep inclines. It worked well and I’m happy to be second. The course was designed well also, the view at the finish was especially beautiful. I had an enjoyable race!”

Woodhouse was also mesmerised by the view. He said: “I really like the beautiful scenery of Lantau. We were lucky that today’s weather was nice with just some clouds, so we could enjoy the stunning view when we got to the top. I will absolutely participate in the race again.”

Hong Kong runner Chiu Wai Yin claimed second place on the women’s podium in 58:59. Joining the MSIG Lantau VK for her first time, she was very glad about her result. She said: “Today’s weather was really nice and suitable for racing. I never tried racing such a short distance with only uphill; it was tough. The only thought in my mind while racing was to keep going and never stop, and I finally made it to the top! Overall, it was a very good race and I liked it a lot, I can’t wait to be on the course again next year.”

The third-placed woman was another local and first-timer, Kwok Hoi Sze. She said: “The course was so fun! I always enjoy running uphill. Together with the stunning sceneries of Lantau Peak, I really love this special race and will definitely participate again.”

The MSIG Lantau VK kicked off the Skyrunner National Series weekend in Hong Kong, which also includes the MSIG Lantau 50 on Sunday, December 3, which consists of a 27km Skyrace (over 2,000m elevation gain) and 50km Ultra SkyMarathon (over 3,500m elevation gain), which doubles as the Asian Skyrunning Championships race. Both races will start and finish in Tung Chung.

Together, the MSIG Lantau races are part of the MSIG HK50 Series, which included a leg on Hong Kong Island (October 21, 2017) and will end with a third and final leg in Sai Kung on February 10, 2018.

The event is possible due to the generous support of presenting sponsor MSIG Insurance (Hong Kong) Limited and supporting partners ActionX Store, Hoka One One, C3fit, Bonaqua, Plantronics, Camelbak, Coca Cola, Around DB, East Bali Cashews, Royale International, Skyrunner National Series China, China Skyrunning Association and Action Asia Foundation.

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Race Results - MSIG Lantau VK
Overall Top 5 Men
Name-Nationality-Team/Sponsor-Time
1. Vlad Ixel – Australia – The North Face – 00:43:31
2. Erich Felbabel – France – 00:47:47
3. Jono Woodhouse – Australia – 00:52:51
4. Cyril Gomez – France – 00:54:52
5. Anthony Somerset – New Zealand – 00:56:45

Overall Top 5 Women
Name-Nationality-Team/Sponsor-Time
1. Emilie Saint-pé – France – 00:51:55
2. Chiu Wai Yin – Hong Kong – 00:58:59
3. Kwok Hoi Sze – Hong Kong – 01:02:35
4. Ana Caroline – Brazil – 01:28:50
5. Yan Qin – China – 01:30:40

Race Info

Event Name MSIG HK50 Series - MSIG Lantau VK
Date Friday Dec 1, 2017
Start Time 3:00 pm
Start Location Tong Fuk Beach, Lantau, Hong Kong
Finish Location Lantau Peak
- then Awards at Pak Kung Au BBQ Area
Distance 5 km
Race details http://www.actionasiaevents.com/


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Since the first extreme races in 1992, the first World Championship in 1998 and the introduction of the Skyrunner World Series in 2003, Skyrunning has grown to become a globally renowned sport governed by the International Skyrunning Federation. In 2015, the Continental Championships were introduced and includes Asia, Europe, North America, Africa and Oceania. The sport is practised in more than 40 nations and counts followers from 126 countries.

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