The countdown has begun for the 21st edition of the Sellaronda Skimarathon: just hours remain until the starter’s gun sends 1,200 ski mountaineers off across the four Dolomite passes of Campolongo, Pordoi, Sella, and Gardena.
On Friday evening, the 600 two-person teams at the start line will tackle 2,800 meters of elevation gain across the 42-kilometer course in ideal conditions. The forecast calls for mild temperatures even late in the evening, and a nearly full moon will illuminate the skin tracks and, above all, aid competitors on the descents.
The villages of the four Ladin valleys—Corvara (Alta Badia), Arabba (Fodom), Canazei (Val di Fassa), and Selva (Val Gardena)—are making final preparations to welcome athletes from across the Alpine arc, numerous European countries, and even several teams from overseas.
Corvara, which hosts both the start and finish this year, is setting up the starting area at “Burjè” near the ski lift base station, while the finish line will be located inside the ice stadium.
On Friday evening starting at 7:30 p.m. on the official website sellaronda.it, supporters and fans will be able to follow the race via live stream, with live footage and real-time commentary making this 21st edition truly spectacular.
Regarding the expected split times, the race leaders will crest Passo Campolongo just 25 minutes after the start, while the back of the pack will pass through around 7:00 p.m. After passing through Arabba around 6:40 p.m., the leaders will climb Passo Pordoi around 7:15 p.m. The time cut-off in Arabba is set for 7:20 p.m.
In Canazei, in Val di Fassa—site of the halfway point—the leading teams will pass through at 7:20 p.m., with the cut-off time set for 8:55 p.m.
The leaders are expected to pass Lupo Bianco around 7:35 p.m. and crest Passo Sella at 8:00 p.m. By 8:10 p.m., the contenders for overall victory will reach Selva di Val Gardena, with just one pass remaining before the final descent into Corvara. Climbing toward Passo Gardena, teams will pass near Rifugio Panorama at 8:35 p.m., where the cut-off time is 11:20 p.m.
The final transition at Passo Gardena is expected at 8:50 p.m., with the winning teams estimated to cross the finish line around 9:00 p.m. To be included in the official standings, all teams must cross the finish line by 12:15 a.m.
Among the top contenders for overall victory in the men’s race, Tadei Pivk–Lorenzo Holzknecht and Christian Hoffmann–Philip Götsch will go head-to-head for first place. In the women’s race, all eyes will be on the team of Raffaella Rossi and Bianca Balzarini.
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