VIBEKE SKOFTERUD JOINS MARCIALONGA

Norway’s Skofterud at the start of the 70k Marcialonga in Trentino region on Sunday

Almost 8000 skiers registered from 30 nations. Hard to predict winners

Marcialonga Story promo race, opening ceremony and much more on Saturday

 

 

Five days to go. Marcialonga set to fire up.

Latest news from Italy’s most important and crowded ski-marathon have been unveiled at the presentation press conference held in Trento today. According to the updated entry list to the 70k long-distance CT race on the Italian Dolomites, an intense and spectacular battle might be predicted on Sunday 26 January, both on men’s and women’s side.

Olympic gold medallist and 2012 Vasaloppet winner Vibeke Skofterud of Norway registered to the Italian event, and will be facing 2013 and 2011 Marcialonga’s winner Seraina Boner of Switzerland who recently won La Diagonela race at home. Further strong competitors certainly are Laila Kveli – second place at last Marcialonga and 2013 Vasaloppet winner – Sweden’s Lintzen, Hansson, Grafnings and Nyström, Russian Shaidurova, Zernova, Jambaeva and Italian Stephanie Santer. Legendary Bente Skari Martinsen of Norway will also be part of the event.

On men’s side, Scandinavians aim to the umpteenth gold. It would be the ninth time in a row and main candidates are the Aukland brothers – Jørgen has recently suffered shoulder injury but should be as announced – Sweden’s Brink, Svärd and Tynell, Russia’s Dementiev and Sorin, Norway’s Dahl, Østensen, Berdal, Alsgaard, Svartedal and Kjølstad, Stanislav Rezac, Petr Novak and Martin Koukal of Czech Republic, and recent winner at Dolomitenlauf CT last Sunday Jerry Ahrlin. Italy will be at the start with Bruno Debertolis – best Italian athlete at last year’s race - Morandini, Bonaldi, Carrara, Santus, Kostner, Paredi and Martinelli.

Past Olympic and World champions will be racing on Sunday, such as Per Elofsson, Terje Langli, Italy’s Zorzi, Piller Cottrer and Fauner, plus above mentioned Skofterud, Dementiev, Skari Martinsen and Alsgaard.

Marcialonga is part of the Swix Ski Classics series, Worldloppet and FIS Marathon Cup.

On the eve of the race, next 25 January, the Marcialonga Story vintage event will get on track at the XC stadium in Lago di Tesero and will run along 11k course up to Predazzo city centre. Minimarcialonga, Marcialonga Stars and Marcialonga Young are also scheduled, while the opening ceremony will take place in Cavalese town centre at 6pm.

Info: www.marcialonga.it