CORSICA... OF COURSE !

Kilian sets his sights on the most mountainous Mediterranean island and the mythical GR20.

The GR20 was created in 1972 and attracts thousands of hikers every year, eager to discover the spectacular inland scenery of the Corsican Nature Reserve. Running hard along this roughly 200km trail, with a high point at 2,225m and a total elevation gain of around 12,800 metres, is a true test of endurance and technical ability at speed. 15 peaks, with 6 over 2,000m, stand between Kilian and the record, not to mention all the imponderables that can dog any outdoor sporting exploit. Running from North to South, Kilian will have the luxury of daylight to take on the first rugged peaks of the Northern section, which is considered the most difficult part because of its steep and rocky paths but, as night falls, he will have to stay extremely focused as he races through the dark with a waning moon for company. Running through the night isn’t the only thing that preoccupies Kilian; the final southern section may comprise fewer peaks but the fairly long downhill sections will present a serious challenge to his knees. Current record holder, Piero Santucci, allowed himself several years of stringent preparation for his blistering romp along the backbone of the “Island of Beauty” and Kilian won’t even come close to that – but the record should be another story…