MARCIALONGA: TRACK CHANGES CONFIRMED

Italy’s Marcialonga shortens the race track due to lack of snow and warm weather
Start (9am) from the village of Mazzin and finish in Cavalese after 57 kilometres
Marcialonga goes on TV all around Europe
Plenty of XC superstars at the start. Masako Ishida confirmed her presence


Marcialonga: business (almost) as usual. Sunday’s ski-marathon in Italian Val di Fiemme and Val di Fassa (Trentino region) will get on track as scheduled, but on a 57k-long shortened track. After the last meeting yesterday evening, the very last decision was taken by OC President Angelo Corradini along with General Director Gloria Trettel. “No doubt about having this year’s race on Sunday – claimed Corradini – however we must cut the track by a few kilometres due to mild weather and lack of natural snow.” Trettel added that ‘we’ve been trying to do almost the impossible and want to thank local communities, institutions, volunteers and many others involved. We hope all participants will appreciate our efforts to guarantee the usual, beautiful event.’ The new start will be set in the tiny village of Mazzin as it was in 2007 and the rest of the course will run through both valleys closing in Cavalese as always, as said, after 57 kilometres. The Marcialonga Light event has also been confirmed on a 33k-long track from Mazzin to Predazzo city centre.   
The 42nd Marcialonga will go on TV live or delayed plus highlights in many countries including Norway (TV2), Sweden (SVT), Finland (YLE), Denmark, Russia, Czech Republic, Baltic States and Greece. Eurosport channel will broadcast a one hour delayed show on Tuesday night and RAI national broadcast will cover the entire event live.
Plenty of long-distance superstars will be joining Sunday’s Marcialonga at the foot of stunning Dolomites, as the Italian ski-marathon is part of the Swix Ski Classics series, FIS Marathon Cup and Worldloppet circuits. After winning last Saturday’s La Diagonela in Switzerland, Masako Ishida completed her registration at the 42nd Marcialonga and will be challenging Boner, Lofstroem, Smutna, Tikhonova and Confortola amongst the many. On the men’s side, last year’s winner Simen Østensen will attempt to once again jump on the first step of the podium, but the long list of opponents reads the Aukland brothers on the top, followed by La Diagonela’s winner Øystein Pettersen plus Dahl, Alsgaard, Bauer, Rezac, Di Centa, Morandini, Debertolis, Soedergren, Berdal, Dammen, Kjølstad, Gjerdalen, Jauhojaervi, Eliassen, Pedersen, Ahrlin, Svaerd and Brink amongst the many.