Kilian Jornet has won again, this time in the third event in the Golden Trail Series: Sierre - Zinal. Two weeks after winning the Comapedrosa Skyrace in Andorra, Jornet has returned to competition with a victory in Switzerland.  

From the start Jornet was in the lead group of runners until the midway point when he and  Rob Simpson broke away, but Jornet crossed the line alone in Zinal more than 1’30’’ ahead of Simpson.

After he crossed the line, Jornet said: “It was a great race. It’s always special to run the Sierre - Zinal. A group of us set off at the front and then I was racing against Rob for much of the race until I was able to open up a gap in the final stretch. Sierre - Zinal takes no prisoners and you have to give 100% throughout. I’m very happy to have won here for the sixth time and now I need to recuperate for the races that lie ahead. Thanks to everyone for encouraging me during the race and to those who followed it online.”

Jornet has become the first athlete to win the legendary Swiss race six times, having won in  2009, 2010, 2014, 2015 and 2017. Up until now he had shared the honour with five-times winner Pablo Vigil but on Sunday he made it six.

Jornet’s next challenge is the KIMA (Italy) on August 26, a race over 52km with 4,200m of overall ascent.