ALL THE CLASSIC STYLE OF MARCIALONGA

The “Mur de la Stria” will decide again Marcialonga games
On 28th of January in classic style for 70 or 45 km in Fiemme and Fassa Valleys
More than a race for ‘bison’ from all over the world and Ski Classics “pros”
Marcialonga Arctic Ski Race launched: 9th March in Bodø (NOR)

Marcialonga celebrates its 51st edition on 28th January and will do so again in grand style. The classic “monument” of the cross-country skiing sends cross-country enthusiasts, professionals and especially the public into a frenzy along the track to follow the race at the most iconic points of the course.
The ski-marathon between the Fiemme and Fassa Valleys is the first Grand Classics Event of the XV season of Ski Classics. Exactly Grand Classics because, together with Jizerskà 50, Vasaloppet and Birkebeinerrennet, is part of the four events characterized by a long and peculiar tradition of history and success and which also earn the most points for the general ranking of the world long-distance circuit.
The two show courses are confirmed for 2024: the traditional 70 km with the double ‘sprint points’ in Canazei and Predazzo, and the 45 km of the “Light”. In Predazzo, therefore, the efforts of the cross-country skiers of the shortest race will end, while the more daring ‘bison’ will have only one goal in mind: the “Mur de la Stria”, the last sprint of the Cascata hill, included just last January in occasion of the Marcialonga ‘fifty edition’.
The punishing 583 metre-long climb with an average gradient of 9.90% but with points up to 20% was very popular: a brutal climb, according to the Norwegian Andreas Nygaard, third at the finish line in Cavalese, who was attacked by the Swede Emil Persson, the strongest man of the day.
The Mur de la Stria’…bewitched even girls, and the winner Magni Smedaas gave it her all in the last meters of her most important race of the season. Anikken Gjerde Alnaes, second, judged the finish most “fair” towards athletes, also appreciating the fact that they can keep an eye on the opponents during the entire climb. The “wall” will be once again the judge and whoever crosses the finish line first will truly be the strongest athlete.
The commitments of Marcialonga staff certainly do not stop in January, and for the intrepid Marcialonga competitors at the beginning of March there will be another delicious opportunity. In fact, in the Ski Classics Challengers will enter the Marcialonga Arctic Ski Race, a 42 km race in Bodø, in Norway. It is the 'little sister' of the Marcialonga as it takes up many of its characteristics. On 9th March, it will be an authentic cross-country skiing festival in classic style open to athletes of all ages, and the race will also be preceded by numerous side events.
Marcialonga will organise the trip for cross-country skiers interested in the expedition to Norwegian soil. Everyone will be welcome!
For the “bison” from all over the world, just wearing the bib is an immense achievement. At the Marcialonga cheers, shouts and applause are perhaps directed more at them rather than the long-distance champions. The most special applause, as always, will however be dedicated to the last competitor who will close the great Marcialonga party late in the evening.
The magic of Marcialonga strikes deep inside and on the last week of January in the Fiemme and Fassa Valleys the passion for cross-country skiing will overwhelm everyone.

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