MARCIALONGA STORY WITH KRJUKOV AND ALBARELLO

46th Marcialonga of Fiemme and Fassa tomorrow from Moena to Cavalese
Today the Marcialonga Story – a “walk” on cross-country skis of the past
The Olympic champions Nikita Krjukov and Marco Albarello took part in the event
In the afternoon Marcialonga Stars and Minimarcialonga

Tomorrow’s Marcialonga of Fiemme and Fassa will be one of the most "Olympic" ever with many Olympic champions including Cristian Zorzi, Paolo Bettini, Jury Chechi and Antonio Rossi. But today’s Marcialonga Story has been no less “Olympic”: at the start there was the champion Nikita Krjukov - three world gold medals and one Olympic medal - who will also participate in the 46th edition of the ski-marathon. The Russian cross-country skier did not want to miss the historic 11 km “walk” from Lago di Tesero to Predazzo with skis and clothing of the past; a friend recommended the beautiful side event of Marcialonga to him: "A nice excuse to test the track of Marcialonga before the official event. The organizing committee gave me the skis, while the clothing was lent to me by a friend. Now I am a retro-athlete in all aspects. I've trained well, let’s see what happens tomorrow”. The "Story" is a non-competitive event, it is a reminder of the cross-country skiing of the past. Krjukov managed to win the seventh edition without too much effort. Italy’s Olympic champion Marco Albarello took part in the race too: "I have to quote De Coubertin: It's not the winning but the taking part that counts! Truly a unique experience and a perfect side event of the traditional Marcialonga. Tomorrow I will report the race live on TV". The women's Marcialonga Story was won by Sofia Zorzi.
At the start from the Cross-Country Stadium of Lago di Tesero there were cross-country lovers, including Mario Piva - who was born in 1928 and is a ‘master Worldloppet’ -, sixteen-year-old athletes (age limit to participate) and competitors from Estonia, Russia and from many other countries. The skis had to be produced before 1976 with 75mm-wide bindings. Cross-country shoes and poles, as well as cross-country clothing had to be of the past. For those who did not have the appropriate equipment - as in the case of Krjukov -, the organizing committee provided equipment for hire thanks to the collaboration with Giuliano Boninsegna. His personal collection of Nynsen skis, which have been produced between the '70s and '80s by him and his brothers in Imer, in the Primiero valley, was also exhibited for the cross-country lovers. This "sold out" edition was won by an Olympic champion: Marcialonga Story could not have gone any better.
In the afternoon there was the Marcialonga Stars that was organised to support LILT (Italian League for the fight against cancer). Riccardo Lucianer won the men's cross-country category getting also the prize dedicated to his father, Lorenzo, who died a few years ago. Claudia Paolazzi won the women's cross-country category. The women’s race with snowshoes was won by Chiara Molinari while the men’s race with snowshoes was equally won by the provincial councillor Luca Zeni, Don Franco Torresani and Marco Corradini. Good news also from the Minimarcialonga, which was attended by 450 young athletes. Liam Sangalino from Valle d'Aosta and Anastasia Morandini, second overall, won the race.

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