MARCIALONGA OFFICIALLY UNVEILED

The 39th edition at the start next January 29th

7000 skiers will take part in the 2012 race including bigs

Ahrlin, Aukland, Svärd, Hansson, Northug jr. and Koukal are the tip of the iceberg

Marcialonga week-end reads other events

 

 

Winter would not be the same in Italy’s Val di Fiemme and Val di Fassa without Marcialonga. The so-called ‘Queen of the Italian ski marathons’ was officially presented in Milan yesterday, during an unusual talk-show led by notorious sport journalist Ivana Vaccari. Cross-country skiing athletes Cristian Zorzi, Antonella Confortola and Gaia Vuerich, and Italy’s XC head coach Silvio Fauner were among the guests.

The renowned 70 km long distance CT race runs from Moena to Cavalese, and next 29th January it will be welcoming 7.000 skiers (friendly nicknamed ‘Bisons’) from all over the planet. Among them, there will be some of the world’s best long distance XC teams (Sweden’s team Exspirit and team Tynell, and Norwegian team XtraPersonell), the Italian long distance ski team (including abovementioned Zorzi and Confortola), and big names such as Petter Northug Jr., Jens Arne Svartedal, Thomas Alsgaard, Valentina Shevchenko, Nina Litzen and Martin Koukal.

‘Apart from impressive figures and names’, said Marcialonga OC President Alfredo Weiss, referring also to the fact that entries to the 2012 race were closed seven months ahead of the start, ‘Marcialonga has always been a means of collaboration between Val di Fiemme and Val di Fassa, whose people voluntarily and passionately work together before, during and after the event itself.’

Regarding the course, the last part named Cascata Hill is undoubtedly the most demanding stretch, especially due to the fact that it comes after over 67 km of race.

The 2011 Marcialonga was won by Sweden’s Jerry Ahrlin and Swiss Seraina Boner. On the women’s side, Boner secured the 70 km title, followed by Sweden’s Sandra Hansson and Susanne Nyström, who climbed the podium in this order. Ahrlin was the first to cross the finish line on the men’s 70 km race, followed by yet another Swede, Oskar Svärd, and Czech Stanislav Rezac.

Italy’s Andrea Zattoni and Antonella Confortola won the ‘light version’ of the race, the 45 km long competition from Moena to Predazzo.

Marcialonga’s roots date back to 1971 and the 39^th chapter in 2012 will be part of the FIS Marathon Cup, and included in Worldloppet and Ski Classics series. Next year’s race will once again be the first of the three competitions, along with the summer events Marcialonga Cycling Caft and Marcialonga Running, that forms the Combined Event ‘Punto3 Craft’.

During the 2012 Marcialonga weekend, other events will be staged in Val di Fiemme and Val di Fassa, such as Mini Marcialonga for kids, Marcialonga Young for future champions and Marcialonga Stars, a charity event with famous personalities.

Info: www.marcialonga.it

 

 

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