An exciting race unfolded at the 2016 Lavaredo Ultra Trail with Great Britain’s Andy Symonds dominating the race from start to finish and setting a new course record in a time of 12:15:06. Switzerland’s Andrea Huser demonstrated her solid racing credentials at this 119km distance with a deserved win in a time of 14:32:39.
2016 Lavaredo Ultra Trail – Men’s Race
The scene was set in the mountain town of Cortina in the Italian Dolomites; and 119km of sweet trails and beautiful vistas was on the menu. The weather in the days ahead of the race had steadily risen in temperature from the low teens to a very warm 30 degrees Celsius. But fortunately just two hours before the start, the heavens opened and relieved the heat, making it a bit more bearable. As the runners amassed at the start line, pre-race nerves and anticipation were swapped for readiness for the 11p.m. start time. The gun went off and the runners charged down the paved streets of Cortina with a large crowd cheering them all the way. It was sign of things to come as the pace never even settled, it was frenetic from the start and it didn’t cease. By the time they had reached Ospitale at 18km, race winner Symonds was in the top three and only two minutes off the course record pace set by last year’s winner Didrik Hermansen, and it was only to get better as the race progressed. Scott Hawker and Pau Capell Gil were also in the top six, a position they were to hold throughout the race.
Andy Symonds with a new course record after totally dominating the race
By the time the field reached Federavecchia at 33kms Symonds was a clear front leader and starting to make ground on the course record. Lithuanian Gediminas Grinius had slowly moved up and was in fourth and by Refugio Auronzo at 48km he was in second place just seconds ahead of Sylvain Court of France. Symonds’ lead was four minutes at this stage and incredibly he kept increasing this lead with a dominant display of running, dipping under course record pace by a full 10 minutes from Cimabanche (67km) onwards. Grinius worked hard in the latter stages to reduce the deficit, eventually finishing eight minutes behind the winner and also under the old course record.
Gediminas Grinius happy for his second place
The surprise of the day was the performance of Spain’s Javier Dominguez, at 33km he was not even in the top 10, moving to seventh at Malga Ra Stua (75km). His progression to a third place podium spot was phenomenal as he was five minutes behind Hawker and Capell Gil at Malga Ra Stua and when they had reached Passo Giau (102km) he had taken third spot passing Hawker, Capell Gil and Court and remained solid from there to the finish line.
Javier Dominguez jubilant at his third place
But the day was all about Andy Symonds complete dominance and front running at an unrelenting pace, a true privilege to have witnessed.
2016 Lavaredo Men’s Results
| Place | Name | Time |
| 1 | Andy Symonds (Scott) | 12:15:06 |
| 2 | Gediminas Grinius (Vibram) | 12:23:06 |
| 3 | Javier Dominguez (Vibram) | 12:36:45 |
| 4 | Sylvain Court (Adidas) | 12:53:04 |
| 5 | Scott Hawker (Hoka One One) | 13:00:37 |
| 6 | Pau Capell Gil (Compressport) | 13:02:32 |
| 7 | Jonas Buud (Asics) | 13:14:47 |
| 8 | Marco Zanchi (Vibram) | 13:21:11 |
| 9 | Antony Gay (Sigvaris Sport) | 13:22:31 |
| 10 | Giuliano Cavallo (Salomon) | 13:33:35 |
Other finishers of note:
22nd – Jez Bragg 14:54:24
48th – Nick Clark 16:04:06
67th – Gary Gellin 16:50:06
104th – Mike Foote 18:01:09
2016 Lavaredo Ultra Trail – Women’s Race
Andrea Huser finally claimed a significant major race victory to add to the many podium places she has earned over the years. She really has this distance nailed and her disciplined approach allowed her to take first place in a time of 14:32 whilst her competitors could not match her unrelenting progress through the field. Huser’s final time was over forty minutes ahead of second placed Uxue Fraile Azpietia of Spain with a time comparable to Rory Bosio’s winning time of 2014. Brazil’s Fernanda Maciel took the final podium spot as she fought hard to move up the field from outside the top five at Refugio Auronzo (48km). Maciel’s time being less than seven minutes behind Fraile Azpietia and looking strong all the way through to the finish.
Andrea Huser claims a deserved victory
Cristina Follador was the top Italian finishing in fourth and looking remarkably fresh at the end. New Zealanders Marie McNaughton and Sophie Grant impressed with really strong runs finishing fifth and sixth. It was refreshing to see Lizzy Hawker back on the international racing scene, and in the early stages she was lying in fifth place, finally placing in the top ten in ninth, after a spell of power hiking with Bosio and Mike Foote who were both having a tough day on the trails.
Sophie Grant on her way to sixth place – still smiling!
But ultimately this was Huser’s day to celebrate a long awaited international race victory.
2016 Lavaredo Women’s Results
| Place | Name | Time |
| 1 | Andrea Huser (Mammut) | 14:32:39 |
| 2 | Uxue Fraile Azpietia (Vibram) | 15:13:09 |
| 3 | Fernanda Maciel (The North Face) | 15:20:57 |
| 4 | Christina Follador (Aldo Moro Paluzzo) | 16:30:37 |
| 5 | Marie McNaughton (Gone running HK) | 16:38:44 |
| 6 | Sophie Grant | 16:48:30 |
| 7 | Manuela Vilaseca (Buff Pro Team) | 17:10:30 |
| 8 | Katie Roby (MDC) | 17:28:15 |
| 9 | Lizzy Hawker (The North Face) | 17:32:15 |
| 10 | Yulia Baykova (Vibram) | 17:33:10 |
Other finishers of note:
14th – Rory Bosio 18:01:08
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