Thursday 25 August 2022, the Spanish Manuel Merillas won the OCC (Orsières-Champex-Chamonix) 55 kilometers and 3500 meters of elevation gain in 5:18:29.
The Spanish ultra trail runners made the show in the OCC race
Manuel Merillas wins the event for the first time ahead of his compatriot Antonio Martinez. English ultra trail runner Robbie Simpson is third.
OCC - Men's results:
- Manuel Merillas (Spain) - 5:18:29
- Antonio Martínez (Spain) - 5:21:01
- Robbie Simpson (United Kingdom) - 5:24:00
According to Le Dauphine, the French runners signed a nice group shot at the foot of the podium with fourth place for Arnaud Bonin, followed by Paul Mathou (5th), Nicolas Martin (6th, winner of the first OCC in 2014) and Antoine Thiriat (7th).
The reaction of winner Manuel Merillas: “I've been racing for fourteen years, it's a big step in my career to win such an incredible race. It was a game of resistance, of psychology today: I felt really good, I gave everything in this race. (On the second place of his compatriot Antonio Martinez) We have known each other for many years, we share a room here in Chamonix, it is great to finish in the first two places."
On the women's side, the Spanish Sheila Aviles won the OCC race
Sheila Aviles (6:10:16) wins ahead of her compatriot Nuria Gil. The American Dani Moreno is third.
OCC - Women's results:
- Sheila Aviles (Spain) - 6:10:16
- Nuria Gil (Spain) - 6:16:03
- Dani Moreno (USA) - 6:17:05
The reaction of the winner Sheila Avilés Castano: “The race was very difficult, but I liked it a lot. In the first kilometers, I wanted to keep the maximum energy to then attack. In the last kilometers, it was really very hard, but I didn't give up, so I'm super happy. I was able to catch Allie McLaughlin who was leading the race, she was very tired so I passed and she couldn't follow me. It gave me the motivation to finish."
Source: @Le Dauphiné Libéré
