ITALY'S FIEMME AND FASSA READY TO CYCLE

 Marcialonga Cycling Craft road race next May 26 on the Dolomites

Di Salvo, Kairelis, Cunico and Bertuola among the many competitors

Prizes for firsts, teams and KOM winners

Minicycling Under 16 event on the eve of the race

 

 

Marcialonga in Italy is like saying sport for all seasons. After long-distance cross country event – the 40th running took place at the end of January – now it’s time to jump on the saddle and enjoy the 7th Marcialonga Cycling Craft road race through the notorious Val di Fiemme and Val di Fassa alpine valleys.

Over 2000 cyclists from all over the world already registered for the race, and Lithuanian Dainius Kairelis, Russian Nikita Eskov andItaly’s Cunico, Bertuola, Muraro and Di Salvo are among them. Cross country skiers Cristian Zorzi and Fulvio Scola also completed the race entry form and sent it to the OC, as ladies Schartmüller, Zogli, Sonzogni and Vaccaroni did.

The 2013 Marcialonga Cycling Craft event offers two renewed courses that will suit all different kind of competitors. Both medium (66k) and long (116k), will be starting and closing in Predazzo city centre and for the first 20k there won’t be difficulties as the route profile appears to be quite flat.

The following 10k up to Capriana and Anterivo (Craft Intermediate Sprint) little villages represent the first real challenge of the day. A 10k downhill will follow and once San Lugano Pass is reached, the 7k climb (over 17% gradient) toPampeagoPasswill be waiting everybody. An epic climb surrounded by majestic Dolomites that will certainly mark the long race, as those competing in the medium route will turn back to Tesero and Predazzo, before this climb. After the pass ( ‘Val di Fiemme Obereggen’ KOM), there is a 12k steep downhill, riders will enter the South-Tyrol area and climb the Costalunga Pass (up to1752 metersa.s.l. – ‘ITAS’ KOM), before descending back to Val di Fassa and Predazzo.

One of the strengths of the Italian road race is certainly represented by its awards. Prizes will be handed out to absolute winners – first 10 competitors both male and female and both routes – but also to the first three of each age category and to the ten teams with the highest number of participants. Craft Intermediate Sprint and KOMs’ winners will also be awarded, and the Sprint in Anterivo will award the 100th, 200th, 300th and so forth.

A group of people who received organ transplants, members of the Transplant Sport Club Alto Adige, will be at the start of the Marcialonga Cycling Craft road race next May 26.

The first ever Minicycling event for children and youngsters (7-16 years) will take place in Predazzo on Saturday May 25.

Info: www.marcialonga.it