MARCIALONGA: WHEN THERE'S A WILL, THERE'S A WAY

The organising committee and its staff are working hard to ensure that the event will take place on 31st January
Social distancing, masks, responsibility – everything will be done in perfect safety
Food stations will be arranged differently and potentially dangerous situations will be avoided as much as possible, but it will be a great event anyway
The race will be held behind closed doors, sport enthusiasts can watch it live on Sky Sport

Marcialonga 2021? The President of the organising committee wants to hold it on Sunday, 31 January. The popular cross-country ski marathon will take place in full compliance with the strict protocol drawn up by the committee together with the health authorities and sports experts.
Nothing is normal nowadays, and Marcialonga 2021 in Val di Fiemme and Val di Fassa will be no exception: it will be special, but that doesn’t mean it will be different. “Marcialonga 2021 will have an atmosphere very similar to the Marcialonga Running one,” said President Angelo Corradini. “We’re incredibly grateful to all participants. During the Marcialonga Running, people would come to us in tears and thank us: ‘Thank goodness we can run, at last!’. Taking part in a race is an opportunity to do sport. Who would go skiing without a motivation, without a goal to train for? I was astonished to see how excited everyone was, including the volunteers”.
The CEO Davide Stoffie has been living behind his desk lately, constantly working on his computer and talking on the phone. Italian Prime Minister’s Decrees are being issued frequently these days, so they have to be studied, checked, discussed, mediated and interpreted so that the best solutions for the health and safety of all the participants and staff members can be found.
Any activities that could lead to people gathering together and/or are difficult to keep under control have been cancelled. The course will avoid urban areas whenever possible, so it will not cross Moena (on the way back) and Predazzo. Awards ceremonies and other side events have been cancelled, as well as Mini Marcialonga, Marcialonga Baby and Marcialonga Stars.
This year, instead of the usual pasta party held after the race at the Palacongressi in Cavalese, some Red Cross volunteers will give a hot sandwich to anyone who crosses the finish line to alleviate their hunger.
The start area has been carefully reorganised. As usual, a transponder timing system, which registers the start time of the athletes as soon as they cross the start line, will be used for the race. The first two groups, with the athletes of the Ski Classics Pro Teams, will start from the football pitch in Moena. Social distancing will be guaranteed thanks to the 1.5-metre distance between the tracks and the ski length that will keep the athletes two metres apart. All other competitors will be divided into four groups and will gradually access the start area with their skis and masks on. Masks can only be taken off right before the start.
But president Corradini has a conviction, founded on the experience with the Marcialonga Running Coop: “Sportsmen and people in general are used to keeping their distance, to using masks. Everyone is very responsible. Therefore, I’m convinced everything will run like clockwork. Cross-country skiers are here to have fun, there will be fewer people and so there will be less stress along the course too”.
Angelo Corradini, who participated in many editions of Marcialonga serving different roles, concluded: “We at Marcialonga are trying our best to ensure continuity. We can’t just stop, lockdown or not. We all need to continue to eat, to live, to do sport. Sport can be practised in many ways, even at home, when we feel like it. Skiing in our snow-covered, wonderful valleys gives anyone great satisfaction. We are deeply convinced that we are going to make it and that it is good to do so. Obviously, we have taken any possible preventive measure, we have drawn up an anti-Covid plan to the last detail”.
Except for sudden normative changes or worsening of the current situation, Marcialonga will take place on Sunday, 31 January with the elite women starting at 7.50 a.m. and the men at 8 a.m. The event will be broadcast live through many broadcasters all over the world, in Italy on Sky Sport. Those who have not been able to train, those who have problems reaching Val di Fiemme or those who do not feel up to taking part can keep their registration for the 2022 edition. They have until 20 January to decide.

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