Jon Albon is the 2019 World Trail Champion!

Jon Albon was crowned Iau Trail World Champion on Saturday with an awesome performance in Portugal, leading the men’s GB team to a silver medal too.

Albon (handicap 20.8) was fourth at these championships in 2018 and improved to the top of the podium this time around in Miranda do Corvo, taking the lead after the halfway point of the 44km course.

Despite been a minute and half behind the leader after 22km, by the 33km mark, Albon had taken command of the race, leading his rivals by over a minute. In the end, he crossed the line in 3:35.34, over two minutes ahead of France’s Julien Rancon.

“I’d run out of water with about 10 / 15 km to go, but I decided to just go for it and try and hang on. I dipped my cap in the rivers on the way down to keep me cool. I think if I'd had another 5 or 10km to go, I’d have been in trouble, but fortunately, I held on.”

Albon also led the men’s team to the overall silver medal behind France. Carl Bell (handicap -2.7) and Andrew Davies (handicap -4.7) were the next to follow in 13th and 16th respectively.

In the women’s race, world long distance mountain running champion Charlotte Morgan (handicap 4.2) once again was the highest placed British athlete at a major championship, placing 13th in 4:26.43.

Georgia Tindley (handicap 4.4) and Katie Kaars Sijpesteijn (handicap 17.6) were the second and third finishers for the British team in 25th and 32nd.