14/11/2017

Lukla. The runner Luis Alberto Hernando after leading the race all the days, has fight until the end, in a trepidant duel with Suman Kulung. The Nepal runner has won the last stage and the general ranking. His compatriot ChheChee Sherpa has won the women's category.

Luis Alberto Hernando (ADIDAS) knew that he needed more than 10 minutes of advantage in order to win the final victory of the Everest Trail Race by The Elements Pure Coconut Water.  To lead the competition all the days and have almost 6 minutes and a half was not enough. He knew that because the Nepal Suman Kulung (TRAÇA ESQUÍ I ESPORTS DE MUNTANYA), second position, was just after him in the general classification. And when the descent has predominated within the stages, the local athlete has always been faster. Hernando was defending the first position with 6 minutes and 26 seconds ahead in the last stage of 30 km, in which Kulung was the favourite, due to the technical conditions of the descent, a terrain where the Nepal runs as the best. The journey has started fine for the runner from Burgos, who was only 1 minute and 35 seconds back in the first visual check point. In the village of Namche Bazar Hernando has lost his way, but never give up in a last stage with a very frenetic end. Never a runner almost reaches the victory after making his best effort every day; in a trepidant duel until the very last moment. Hernando has finished second in the overall ranking, the Norwegian Sondre Amdahl was third and Jordi Gamito (THE ELEMENTS PURE COCONUT WATER) was fourth.

In the women's ranking there was no surprise, and the local runner ChheChee Sherpa has won the fourth consecutive victory of the stage and the general ranking. Ester Alves (THE ELEMENTS PURE COCONUT WATER) has finished in the second position, and Elisabet Barnes has completed the podium.

In the finish line in Lukla, where the Everest Base Camp's Trek starts, we have experienced very emotional moments, with the runners hugging each other, and thanking the organization for the effort done during 6 days, 160km, and more that 30.000m of elevation gain and loss. The runners have repeated many times: "It is a very tough race, the toughest I've ever done in my life". Moreover, in a unique and amazing landscape, within the highest mountains of the Himalaya in Nepal. Where some of them are already thinking to come back. 

Saved under: PRESS RELEASE 2017