Kenya’s Patrick Kipngeno was topped the 2024 Mountain Working World Cup males’s champion. On this interview, he talks about how he exceeded his personal expectations on the world cup finals, the place he positioned third within the vertical kilometer and gained the path race on back-to-back weekend days; in regards to the challenges of racing in very aggressive fields; and what his subsequent race can be.
For extra on how the finals performed out, learn our in-depth 2024 Mountain Working World Cup VK outcomes article, and 2024 Mountain Working World Cup Path Race outcomes article.
Patrick Kipngeno, 2024 Mountain Working World Cup Champion, Interview Transcript
iRunFar: Meghan Hicks of iRunFar. I’m with Patrick Kipngeno. It’s the day of the 2024 Mountain Working World Cup Finals and you’re the collection champion. Hongera sana. Congratulations.
Patrick Kipngeno: Thanks, thanks.
iRunFar: How are you feeling? You’ve gotten had two races in a row, two large races in a row.
Kipngeno: Yeah, I’m feeling nice. I thank God as a result of I wasn’t anticipating that I’m going to win right this moment’s race, however I’m completely happy as a result of I gained right this moment’s race.
iRunFar: A fast query about yesterday’s race. You took third within the vertical kilometer uphill. How did you’re feeling throughout that race? Have been you taking it straightforward to save lots of your self for right this moment?
Kipngeno: No, yesterday, , I’m good in uphill, so I used to be attempting to push very laborious, however sadly I develop into for place three, and I used to be completely happy for being place three.
iRunFar: After which after yesterday’s race, how did you’re feeling? Did you’re feeling such as you had been going to have the ability to recuperate sufficient for right this moment?
Kipngeno: Sure, I inform myself that I’ve to compete and I need to be within the podium facet. For me, I used to be saying that I need to be within the podium facet.
iRunFar: Coming into this weekend because the chief within the Mountain Working World Cup collection, did you’re feeling stress to ensure to carry on to that first-place place?
Kipngeno: No, I used to be not having any stress.
iRunFar: No stress. After which how did right this moment really feel? How was the race course for you?
Kipngeno: The race was very tactical, and I knew at first that we had been having a really large identify within the crowd, and I inform myself that I need to be within the podium and I used to be not having any stress.
iRunFar: Wonderful. The lads’s race went forwards and backwards for the lead for a very long time. I believe it wasn’t till the previous couple of kilometers that you simply took over the lead in the end. Inform us about that second.
Kipngeno: After we had been in round 17, 18 kilometers, I used to be at my facet, I used to be saying that I need to be within the podium after which reaching 20 kilometers, there was a junction the place we acquired a bit misplaced there. Then we come again and we began operating very quick towards the ending line.
iRunFar: And also you had a glance of reduction on the end line. Is that the way you felt?
Kipngeno: Yeah, yeah. I used to be very completely happy to develop into a champion.
iRunFar: Champion of this race, champion of the 2024 Mountain Working World Cup. Now subsequent weekend is the Golden Path World Sequence Finals. You compete once more there?
Kipngeno: Yeah, I can be there, and I’m going to battle to be within the podium facet additionally.
iRunFar: You’re going into these finals second within the collection, so one other battle is forward.
Kipngeno: Yeah, one other battle is forward and it is vitally powerful.
iRunFar: Better of luck to you within the Golden Path World Sequence subsequent weekend, and congratulations in your win of the 2024 Mountain Working World Cup.
Kipngeno: Thanks, thanks a lot.
iRunFar: Asante sana.
Kipngeno: Karibu.
iRunFar: I do know you need to go to the airport, so go!
Kipngeno: Thanks.