MARCIALONGA STORY

47th Marcialonga of Val di Fiemme and Fassa on Sunday in Trentino
Today Marcialonga ‘Story’ with many former champions including Albarello, Confortola, Wyatt, Volpati
The Russian Anton Zaikov won ahead of Matteo Giovanelli and Angelo Andreola
This afternoon Marcialonga Stars, Minimarcialonga and Marcialonga Young

The 8th Marcialonga story was a real success with many former champions at the start and a lot of people along the course. The 300 bibs for this vintage parade had been sold out well in advance. This non-competitive Marcialonga side event (the 47th edition of the long-distance race is scheduled for tomorrow) has been won by the Russian Anton Zaikov ahead of Matteo Giovanelli and Angelo Andreola. But the most important thing in today’s race was to use old clothes and vintage skis. The 11km Marcialonga Story started from the Cross-Country Stadium in Lago di Tesero and finished in the heart of Predazzo. A large crowd welcomed the athletes who had to equip themselves with skis used before 1976, with bindings of 75mm, shoes, poles and clothing corresponding to that period. Many foreign participants took part in Marcialonga Story, in particular athletes from Russia (Ovcinnikov was the most common surname today, the same surname of the former goalkeeper of the Russian national team with his famous ponytail), from Norway, Poland, Sweden, Switzerland, Germany who participated in today’s Marcialonga story before, perhaps, taking part in the ski-marathon tomorrow. As far as football is concerned, this Marcialonga Story saw also Domenico Volpati take part in the vintage parade. He is a former midfielder who won the Italian Championship in 1984-85 with Hellas Verona, the last success of a provincial team in Serie A, and who now lives in Cavalese.
The former Olympic and world champion Marco Albarello competed on skis of the 20s, which belonged to his uncle who participated in 10 editions of the Marcialonga and in four Vasaloppet editions: "I love this crowd; they always come to the side events and cheer the skiers on during the Sunday’s race. I'm always happy to come back here because I'm welcomed as a resident. Marcialonga is a fantastic event known all over the world. Tomorrow I will be the TV-Commentator of Marcialonga, I hope I can help Sky that believes in this sport". Andreola, Albarello's former teammate, finished in third place: "I have a Marcialonga cap from 1975-1976, while my skis are from 1974, the first ones we used. It's nice to keep them and continue the tradition, but today I used the wrong wax!"
Zaikov won ahead of Matteo Giovanelli from Primiero: "I started from behind, then I saw that I could gain ground and I crossed the finish line in second place. Very tough with these Boninsegnas’ skis that I inherited".
At the start there was also the Olympic bronze medallist Antonella Confortola and her husband Jonathan Wyatt, a world-class mountain runner, who was beaten by his wife on the finish line in Predazzo: "I started too fast! This is a unique event, we never miss it". Last year, Antonella was missing for the birth of her daughter Dorothy, who will participate in the "mini" Marcialonga events in a few years.
Colonel Sergio Giovanni Lancerin celebrated the 100th anniversary of the Scuola Alpina Guardia di Finanza: "This event is a way to celebrate our fathers and those who preceded us. This is our patrol uniform to which we are very attached". The Councillor of the Province of Trento Pietro De Godenz, the former Councillor Mauro Gilmozzi, the President of Comunità di Valle Giovanni Zanon and several local mayors did not miss the event. This afternoon in Lago di Tesero there is the Marcialonga Stars with the Ambassador Marco Melandri and the events for the very young skiers.

 

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