WMRA Grand Prix 2011, Round 2. The Grand Ballon Race (31. Ed.): 2. June 2011, Willer Sur Thur.

The Second race of the WMRA Grand Prix takes place on Thursday 2nd June 2011 at the Grand-Ballon Uphill Mountain race in Willer Sur Thur, France, near the German border.

500 runners will line up to climb the top of the Vosges.
There will be national teams from France, Switzerland and Belgium and these federations have chosen Grand-Ballon for their selection race for the next European Championship in Turkey in July 2011.
The best French Mountain runners will be vying to be crowned with a top podium finish.

Last year's overall winners, Julien Rancon (61:26) and Marie-Laure Dumergues (48.52), came from France and  will be fully intent on winning again.

Some of the best runners of the world mountain running circuit will also to the start line with winning on their mind. Top runners in the men's event include David Schneider (Switzerland) and Timo Zeiler (Germany). In the women's event Martina Strahl (Switzerland), who holds the course record (46:42) and Emma Clayton (Great Britain) are expected to be vying for the top podium placings. Emma Clayton is well placed to top the GP rankings with a good performance to add to her 2nd position at the opening GP race in Italy.

The mostly uphill Grand-Ballon event should test the athletes in their ascending ability with more than 1200m over the 13.2km course for men. Jonathan Wyatt (New Zealand) established the existing course record (58:19) in 2004, while Martina Strahl (Switzerland) raced to 46:42 in 2008 over the 8.5km course that climbs 832m.

The 31st Grand Ballon event is the perfect preparation for the elite mountain runners of Europe, just one month prior to the next European Mountain Running Championship Race in Bursa (Turkey).

This race will no doubt be a major highlight for mountain running fans and particularly for those who qualify for their national team.

News by LOC and Bashir Hussain 

Source: WMRA

Photos by LOC.
In front page: Julien Rancon, winner Grand Ballon 2010 
On second page: Marie-Laure Dumergues, winner Grand Ballon 2010