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01 Jan, 1970

Lantau 50 has become a new spotlight arousing interest

Lantau 50 has become a new spotlight arousing the interest of Skyrunners to discover the beauty of HK trails

HONG KONG SAR, China - 24 Nov. 2015 – From running in the snow at 5am and getting back in time for breakfast with 3 children before working, it’s all in a day’s work for the past French World trail running champion Maud Gobert (Adidas) as she’ll be one of the favorites to look out for at the upcoming MSIG Lantau 50 – race 2 of the MSIG HK50 series.

“I enjoy this season 2015 with my victory at French Championship 2015, it was not easy but it was a great moment to win this title, I have 3 daughters and I want one title for each one…it’s done ! I know that I’m not in good shape at start of the season because I’m tired after Ski season (I’m ski teacher in French Alpine), world Championships were difficult for me with the high level.” Asked about training with children, Maud Gobert replied, “It’s not so difficult, it’s a question of organization. In winter I wake up at 5am to practice ski mountaineering before working. I’m back at home for the breakfast. After the ski season, I’m just mountain guide in summer, I’m just working few days. So I have time for training and for recovering. I do some bike in summer and mountain”. On the MSIG Lantau 50 event coming she replied “I enjoy discover new places and spots for trail running. I went in 2012 in San Francisco, and 2 weeks ago in Rodrigues Island. Trail Running is also an opportunity to meet people to see new races and have new challenge. I’m very happy to come to Lantau” said Gobert who was French Champion Trail Running 2015, 7th at the trail world Championship 2015, 4th at the Skyrunning Ultra World Championship 2014, 5th Skyrunning Ultra world cup 2012, World Champion Trail Running 2011, French Champion Trail Running 2011, 2nd French Championship Trail Running 2010, French Champion Trail Running 2009.

Joe Gray (Scott Running) from Colorado Springs, USA and current 2015 Mountain Trail running champion and record holder of MSIG Lantau VK 2014 will be back to try to defend his title and hopefully break his record. “I’m really excited about coming back to Asia as the people are so friendly and there is such a vibe in the Hong Kong trail running community as love it and hope to do my best at lowering the Lantau Peak record” said Gray who smoked last year’s Vertical Kilometer (5km from sea-level to summit of Lantau Peak) in an astonishing 37 minutes 45 seconds.

Francois D’Haene (Salomon) winner of the UTMB in France and UTMF in Japan will be one serious contender to keep an eye out for in the 50km & VK. But he’ll face competition from Sweedish Inov8 runner Anders Kleist (7 European uphill wins, Fjallmarathon winner, 1:05 half marathon / other victories in Swedish trail races) and another Swede Edvin Karlsson (nr 5th Kilian classic), together with Australian Vlad Ixel (North Face, Compressport) who grabbed 2nd recently at the MSIG HK50, and Kenyan Haron Kiprugut Bor (3rd MSIG HK50 and 4th MSIG Singapore 50) and Nepalese Bed Sunuwar who grabbed 2nd place HK100 & 2nd place at Trailwalker in 2013, Gregory Vollet (Salomon) of France who grabbed 4th Lantau 2 Peaks just to name a few that will be at the starting line together with many others just looking to a beautiful day out in the mountains doing what they do best. Punishing themselves and loving it.

The events could not have happened without the support of MSIG Insurance (Hong Kong) Limited, the ActionX Store, OtterBox, Bonaqua, Salomon, Key Sun Zinke, C3fit, Kitsound, Salonpas, Herbalgy, Pearl’s, Oldham Li & Nie Lawyers, AroundDB, the China Skyrunning Association, the Action Asia Foundation, Del Monte, Suunto, Redback, Berrytime, Herbalgy, Oregon Scientific, ITRA, AroundDB, UTMB Qualifying Race 2016 and VR2HAM Hong Kong.

Race Info
Event Name   MSIG Lantau VK
Date   Dec 5, 2015 (Saturday)
Start Time   9:00 am
Start Location   Tong Fuk Beach, Lantau, Hong Kong
Finish Location   Lantau Peak - then awards Ngong Ping campsite area near bottom of stairs (not far from Bhudha)
Distance   5 km (+934m)
Category   Trail Running and Hiking
Website   www.actionasiaevents.com

Event Name   MSIG Lantau 50 - HK50 Series
Date   Dec 6, 2015 (Sunday)
Start Time   7:00 am: 50 km
7:30 am: 27 km (going over Lantau Peak & Sunset Peak, contour of ridge to Pak Mong - Olympic Trail back to Tung Chung)
7:45 am: 16 km (no major peaks - contour of ridge to Pak Mong - Olympic Trail back to Tung Chung)
Start& Finish Location   MAN TUNG ROAD PARK NEXT TO NOVOTEL, BEHIND CITYGATE SHOPPING CENTRE,
Tung Chung, Lantau, Hong Kong
Distance   16km, 27km, 50km
Category   Trail Running and Hiking
Registration   Only less than 100 quota left for MSIG Lantau 50
Registration Website    www.actionasiaevents.com

About MSIG
With a network of operations dating as far back as 1855, MSIG Insurance (Hong Kong) Limited (“MSIG”) has been providing general insurance solutions and products to customers in Hong Kong for more than 150 years.
MSIG is backed by the solid foundation and rich heritage of Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Company, Limited, an established insurer that has received strong financial ratings from leading rating agencies, including Standard & Poor’s and Moody’s. Today MSIG is one of the few foreign-based general insurers to have representation in every ASEAN country, a testament to its strength and reach. MSIG also benefits from being a member of MS&AD Insurance Group – one of the largest general insurance groups in the world.
Leveraging on the multi-channel distribution, strong partnerships with intermediaries and extensive geographical network, MSIG offers a wide range of insurance solutions across personal and commercial lines. MSIG builds and nurtures enduring relationships, forging close partnerships, through good times and bad.