MARCIALONGA...' CYCLING IN THE DOLOMITES

Next May 29th the Marcialonga Cycling Craft celebrates its 5th birthday

Two exciting courses to choose from and three Alpine passes to cross 

Entertaining activities for everyone in Predazzo town centre

 

 

While the 2012 Marcialonga ski marathon keeps collecting registrations for next year’s race, Marcialonga Cycling Craft prepares to celebrate its 5^th birthday next May 29^th.

The cycling event is the youngest of the Marcialonga family, as the long distance XC ski race will be turning 39 next January, and the Marcialonga Running event will be on next September for the ninth time. However, it seems Marcialonga Cycling Craft learned quite well from its “sisters” how to charm its fans, since over 1.400 cyclists from 7 nations already booked their bibs, more than a month ahead of the race.  

The 2011 Marcialonga Cycling Craft will offer two different courses that will start and finish in the heart of Predazzo in Val di Fiemme. Spectators and fans will easily reach the new finish area and have the chance to visit the town centre while waiting for the cyclists to arrive. In previous years, the start/finish area was set beside the ski jumping stadium just outside Predazzo. This venue is now being refurbished and renewed for the Nordic World Ski Championships Val di Fiemme will be hosting in 2013.

The Short race (80 km total length, 1.894 meters total climb with maximum gradient 18,2%) will only cycle the Lavazé pass, while the Long course (135,4 km total length, 3.279 meters total climb – max. height 2.038 meters on Valles Pass – with maximum gradient 19,2%) will go through the three alpine passes of Lavazè, San Pellegrino and Valles.

From Predazzo, all participants will cycle for about 20 km through Val di Fiemme towards the village of San Lugano. Once this little village is passed, the 7km wide down-hill will take them to the first climb towards Aldino – Monte S. Pietro, where they will find the first refreshment stand. Then, the next fast down-hill will take to Nova Ponente and to the first steep up-hill of the day, namely the 9 km long way to Lavazé Pass (1.805 meters a.s.l.) and the Craft Mountain Grand Prix.

The next fast down-hill will take all categories back to Tesero and Predazzo, and the Short race athletes will cross here the finish line. Those who picked the Long course will now face the other two passes, namely San Pellegrino and Valles. The first one is well known to Giro d’Italia fans, as it hosted the famous Italian race more than once in the past. After Predazzo, participants will go through Moena, in Val di Fassa, and straight afterwards will “attack” the 11 km steep climb (14% max. gradient) towards the very top of San Pellegrino pass (Itas Assicurazioni Mountain Grand Prix). The following fast and challenging down-hill will take the cyclists to the last climb towards the Valles pass, which is the highest point reached by the 2011 Marcialonga Cycling Craft: 2.038 meters a.s.l. Once the top is reached, the only thing left is the long down-hill to Predazzo town centre.

An exciting and colourful Expo area plus food and beverage stands, and the Bicycle Fair will be open all day for visitors and… athletes, once the race is over!

The Olympic XC Ski champion Cristian Zorzi and the 2009 race winner Antonio Corradini have already booked their places for the 2011 Marcialonga Cycling Craft.

Entry fees vary by the time of registration, namely €28 (by May 1st), €33 (May 2nd – 27th) and €40 (on Saturday May 28th only). Online entry forms, course details and times, and race rules are available on the Marcialonga official website: www.marcialonga.it   

Along with last January’s Marcialonga XC ski race and the Marcialonga Running scheduled on September 4th, Marcialonga Cycling Craft forms the Combined Event ‘Punto3 Craft’.

Info: www.marcialonga.it