MARCIALONGA, IT'S ALL ABOUT FEELING

The 53rd Marcialonga starts at 8 a.m. on Sunday, 25. The course is ready
Around 230 Ski Classics athletes at the start in Moena, Riege and Alnæs in the lead
Italians are aiming high with Patscheider, Nöckler and many more
Lots of side events and extensive TV coverage of the race on Sunday

The appointment with the Marcialonga on Sunday, January 25, is now just a matter of hours. The atmosphere in the Fiemme and Fassa valleys is already buzzing, the race course is in perfect conditions and ready to showcase another unmissable challenge that promises to be for the strong of heart and the strong of leg: 70 km of strenuous effort and beauty throughout the enchanting villages, starting from Moena, passing through Canazei, and ending in Predazzo, where the 45 km Light version ends. All others continue to the legendary and feared Cascata ascent and the iconic Mur de la Stria, completing the race at the finish line in Cavalese.
The traditional starting gun in Moena will officially kick off the 53rd edition of Marcialonga, a true stage for the pacific army of the ‘bisonti’ (bison), but also for the élite athletes of the Ski Classics Pro Tour circuit, who will be the first to set off at 8 a.m. The Ski Classics circuit is considered a sort of World Cup for long distances, and Marcialonga is the fourth event of the season, as well as the first on the Grand Classics calendar. It will also be a matter of feeling, with artificial snow laid along the 70 km and double poling, especially on the challenging final climb.
There are 230 Ski Classics team members at the start, five of whom will be in front row. Leading the group is the Norwegian Amund Riege (Team Aker Daehlie), born in 2000, who will wear the yellow bib as the overall ranking leader and is considered a serious contender to be the first to cross the finish line in Cavalese. Alongside him will be Ole Jørgen Bruvoll (best climber) and the best young skier Simon Vuillet of the Team Slavia Pojistovna Robinson Trentino. Pole position will also go to Vebjørn Moen (Team Eksjöhus) as best sprinter, as well as to Andreas Nygaard (Team Ragde Charge), winner of last year's edition, who celebrated together with his Norwegian compatriot Emilie Fleten (Team Ramudden). A few minutes after the men's start, Norwegian Anikken Gjerde Alnæs (Team Engcon), leader of the ranking, Swedish Stina Nilsson (Team Ragde Charge) as best climber, and Swedish Louise Lindström (Team Eksjöhus) as best young skier will start. Silje Øyre Slind (Team Aker Dæhlie), instead, will wear the green sprinter's bib. It is difficult to say who will come out on top among the big names, as surprises are always just around the corner along the 70 km course.
Marcialonga is also a race that has rarely smiled on Italian athletes in recent years. To find the last Italian victory, we have to go back to 2006 with Cristina Paluselli, and to 2000 for the men's race with Fulvio Valbusa. Team Slavia Pojistovna Robinson Trentino will be represented by Michaela Patscheider, who, after a good start of the season, is just outside the top 10 in the rankings, and the prospects for improving on her 15th place in last year's Marcialonga are all in her favour. There are also a number of athletes ready to make a good impression in the men's race, such as Mattia Armellini, winner of the Worldloppet China at the beginning of the year, Giacomo Ponti and Stefano Mich, as well as Lorenzo Busin of Team Internorm Trentino. Dietmar Nöckler is back, and certainly not in a supporting role, while the Team Slavia Pojistovna Robinson Trentino roster also includes “the Ray-Ban man”, three-time Marcialonga winner Tord Asle Gjerdalen.
Alvar Myhlback, the young Swede who rewrote the history of the Vasaloppet at just 18 years of age, will also be there. He has decided not to miss the Trentino ski-marathon event, despite his commitment to the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Games in two weeks' time; some call it “madness”. However, the big names are also outside the Ski Classics circuit, such as the two Norwegian Olympic medallists Odd-Bjørn Hjelmeset and Thomas Alsgaard.
The prospects for the 53rd edition of Marcialonga are excellent. All that remains now is to enjoy a weekend that will start with numerous side events such as Friday's Marcialonga Story, as well as events dedicated to children on Saturday with the ‘Baby’, ‘Minimarcialonga’ and ‘Young’ races, and the ‘Stars’ charity initiative, all scheduled to take place in Val di Fassa. Then, on Sunday, it will be showtime, which can also be enjoyed on TV thanks to live coverage on Sky Sport and RTTR, as well as extensive highlights on Rai Sport.

©Newspower.it