Verticale du Grand Serre

Verticale du Grand Serre is a Vertical Kilometer race in France with a brutally simple format: 1.8 km of running and 1,000 m of climbing. The course reaches 2,140 m altitude and is described as the shortest course of its type in the world, making the gradient unusually severe even by VK standards. It is part of the Vertical Kilometer World Circuit and serves as a semi-final in a 12-race tour. The race has produced a women's VK world record of 34'36", cutting 8 seconds from the previous mark set on a 1.9 km course in Fully, Switzerland. Axelle Mollaret set that record, while Christel Dewalle, the circuit rankings leader, finished second in 34'56" and still ran faster than her earlier winning time on the same course. Marianna Jagercikova completed the women's podium in 39'11". In the men's race, Swiss runner Remi Bonnet won and set a course record of 30'13", after going through 500 m of climb in under 14 minutes.