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The seventh edition of the European Mountain Running Championships gets under way in Germany on Saturday 12th July. Athletes from twenty-six countries will compete on the up/down courses in the small town of Zell am Harmersbach in the Black Forest.

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The current senior womens champion, Anita Evertsen Hakenstadt (NOR), who won on the uphill only course in France, will not defend her title, but in the mens race, champion Ahmet Arslan (TUR), and seven out of last years top ten are present.

However, multiple world champion in the up/down races, Marco de Gasperi (ITA), European silver medallist last year, must start as favourite once more. The most likely challengers to the dominant Italians for the team title appear to be the French led by previous European bronze medallist Julien Rancon. The 12km course contains 804m of ascent and 714m of descent.

The womens race is quite open and predicting the three who will stand on the podium is guesswork. Victoria Wilkinson (GBR) has been running well in the Grand Prix races. Elisa Desco (ITA), fourth in last years World Trophy, Daneja Grandovec (SLO) sixth and Iva Milesova (CZE) tenth in the same up/down race will be in contention. Joining Grandovec will the young Slovenians Mateja Kosovelj and Lucija Krkoc to make Slovenia the most likely challengers to Italy for team honours.

Their 8.75km course contains 566m of ascent and 476m of descent.

The entry for the junior races is encouraging with 15 nations sending athletes to compete in races which have not yet been awarded championship status.

The Turkish boys team looks strong with the gold and silver medallists from the recent Balkan championships, Akalin Emrah and Demir Alper included. The Junior mens course is the same as the womens.

The Junior womens course is 4km with 238m of ascent and descent. Hannah Bateson (GBR) who finished 10th in last years World Trophy will be hoping for a win before she enters the senior ranks.

With rain forecast for Saturday, choice of correct mountain running shoes will be vital.

Vist the event web page to see the full entry list.
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Danny Hughes

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