Today in Trento, in the Boardroom of Cassa Centrale Banca, the 42nd edition of the Marcialonga of Fiemme and Fassa was presented, set to take place on January 25 at the foot of the Trentino Dolomites. Despite the whims of an exceptionally mild winter, the tremendous work of the volunteers and organizers of the Marcialonga committee has ensured that the race was never in doubt, and everything is now ready ahead of Sunday’s big event.
The course has been shortened by a few kilometers, with the start moved from Moena to Mazzin and the distance going from the classic 70 km to 57 km. As always, the race will have its finale in the traditional setting of downtown Cavalese, while the Marcialonga Light will finish in Predazzo and measure 33 km.
The press conference opened with remarks by Angelo Corradini, president of the Marcialonga committee. “It is important to be here today and feel the support of the provincial councillors and the cooperative movement, who have always stood by our side together with the municipalities of Val di Fiemme and Val di Fassa and our many national and international sponsors. We are pleased because we have secured major agreements with foreign sponsors that now account for 30% of total sponsorship revenue, confirming the international standing of Marcialonga. All these partners and the Alpine Schools of the State Police and the Guardia di Finanza are essential to the existence of Marcialonga, as are the volunteers, who are indispensable for preparing a perfect track and staging the event. Over 100,000 cubic meters of snow have been produced and spread to “create” the course, a major effort well worth making for the economic, social, and media benefits that Marcialonga brings to Val di Fiemme and Val di Fassa. On Sunday we will be broadcast live for four hours on Rai Sport and in many other European countries, including Scandinavia and beyond. In addition, 25 foreign channels will broadcast highlights and delayed coverage, with international broadcaster Eurosport airing a one-hour delayed broadcast on Tuesday evening”.
The Councillor for Tourism of the Autonomous Province of Trento, Michele Dallapiccola, then highlighted the benefits of cooperation and volunteering in staging an event like Marcialonga. “Marcialonga is no longer just a race, but has become a true trademark, a “brand” and a showcase for the territory. In a difficult winter like the current one, Marcialonga has brought out two distinctive traits of Trentino and our people. Thanks to volunteering, determination, and a spirit of cooperation, the organizers and the Valleys of Fiemme and Fassa have succeeded in staging the event, attracting athletes from all over the world to Trentino and ensuring a major economic spin-off for the local areas”.
The president of the Trentino Consumer Cooperative Consortium, Renato Dalpalù, also dwelt on the importance of volunteering and the commitment of Val di Fiemme and Val di Fassa alongside Marcialonga. “Thanks to Marcialonga and the other international events held in our territory, we have managed to build an international network and collaborate with our foreign partners such as Coop Norway. Credit goes to the people of Fiemme and Fassa, who over the years have created an ideal environment to welcome our Norwegian partners, with whom our relationship has been cemented precisely during the events in Val di Fiemme and Val di Fassa”.
Gloria Trettel, general manager of Marcialonga, gave an update on the “new” start, the many top names at the starting line on Sunday, and the programme of side events: “Only on Sunday did we decide to start from Mazzin, and the final efforts of our great work have been dedicated to the new starting area. As always, the weekend will be very intense, featuring the Marcialonga Story and its vintage charm, followed by the Marcialonga Stars, a charity event organized together with LILT of Trento. On Saturday we will prepare a huge cake to celebrate the thirtieth anniversary of the Minimarcialonga in style, while the older kids will be busy in the Marcialonga Young with races on both Saturday and Sunday. On Saturday evening in Piazza Verdi in Cavalese, the presentation of the top athletes will take place. We are delighted because, alongside the usual Scandinavians, this year there will be stars from other nations such as Japan’s Ishida, America’s Brooks, and our own Giorgio Di Centa. There is great anticipation among the athletes, and with the 57 km course there will certainly be a fierce battle before the Cascata climb, which will undoubtedly prove decisive. For us, organizing the Marcialonga is an important duty we did not want to shirk. We committed ourselves to holding the race at all costs, for the benefit of the athletes and the two Valleys of Fiemme and Fassa. Our commitment is focused above all on the social benefits of the Marcialonga and the other two races, the “Cycling Craft” and the “Running”.
The Councillor for Sport and Culture of the Autonomous Province of Trento, Tiziano Mellarini, closed today’s conference. “Civil Protection technicians confirm the snowfall of 10-15 cm that tomorrow and the day after tomorrow will certainly affect Val di Fiemme and Val di Fassa, giving the Marcialonga an almost perfect atmosphere”. Following the good news, the councillor spoke about the value of Marcialonga for sport and culture in Trentino: “Marcialonga is a true celebration of sport and a great meeting point between different cultures, with a huge number of foreign participants. Anyone who loves sport cannot fail to appreciate the physical and mental effort of Nordic skiing, of which Marcialonga is the perfect example. It will also be an important weekend for the charity initiative with LILT, demonstrating the importance of sport as a vehicle for conveying positive values. We have seen how Marcialonga promotes friendship and cooperation on an international level as well, and this event reaffirms once again how effective sport is for our territory from a social, educational, and above all economic standpoint. As a Province, we will always pay special attention to Marcialonga and to these events that contribute to the prestige of Trentino both nationally and internationally”.
Mario Cristofolini, president of LILT of Trento and one of the founders of Marcialonga, then presented Marcialonga Stars: the charity event aimed at promoting physical activity as a prevention tool in the fight against cancer and raising funds for the pediatric Proton Therapy center in Trento. Also present at the conference were Stefano Murari, head of the Alpine School of the Guardia di Finanza in Predazzo, and Dr. Maurizio Auriemma, head of the State Police Alpine School in Moena, as well as the Soreghina, ambassador of Marcialonga, Giulia Pastore.
For more information on the event, visit the official website: www.marcialonga.it
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