It was a first major individual mountain running gold for the 28-year-old from Tione, who won European silver in 2018 and world silver in 2019.

Maestri finished in 44min 48sec in what was the inaugural edition of these Championships, which combine mountain and trail running.

Aymonod would have been one of the favourites, but was ruled out by injury.

Silver went to Switzerland's Dominik Rolli in 45:19, with Daniel Osanz of Spain completing the podium places in 45:26, 29 seconds ahead of compatriot Miquel Corbera.

Britain's defending champion Jacob Adkin, who only emerged from quarantine yesterday after an untimely COVID-19 infection, finished 29th in 49:56.

Maude Mathys of Switzerland earned her fourth victory in the senior women's uphill event, holding off the challenge of Austria’s 42-year-old Andrea Mayr, who has six world and four European world mountain running titles.

Mathys won in 51:41, with Mayr clocking 52:15 ahead of bronze medallist Christel Dewalle, who recorded 52:32, 22 seconds clear of Britain’s Scout Adkin, sister of the defending men's champion Jacob.

Lukas Ehrle of Germany won the men's Under-20 uphill title in 30:14, with Spanish runners Jan Torella and Marcos Vaillamuera taking silver and bronze respectively in 32:07 and 32:23, while Britain's Finlay Grant finished fourth in 32:37.

The women's Under-20 uphill title went to Ida Waldal of Norway, finishing in 37:02 from Axelle Vicari of Italy in 37:30 and Charlotte Rawstron of Britain in 38:57.

Tomorrow will see the senior men's and women's trail races being contested over a distance of 47 kilometres, or just over 29 miles.

The final day of competition on Sunday involving four events - the men's and women's Under-20 and senior versions of the up-and-downhill mountain race.