The 55-kilometer Engadin La Diagonela, this Saturday, January 22, is the sixth event of Season XII and the fourth race of the four-weekend five-races stretch that ends with Marcialonga, in Italy, on January 30.
Engadin La Diagonela has been a pivotal part of the Visma Ski Classics Pro Tour since the event’s birth in 2014. Back then, the Engadin La Diagonela replaced a canceled Jizerska50, and the organization put together a race in a few days. It turned out to be a success, and the event has grown into the largest cross-country ski race in classic technique in Switzerland. That was the organizers’ goal as they wanted to revive the classic Nordic skiing tradition in the spectacular location of the Engadin Valley.
Stunning Views In High Altitude
For Season XII, the course has been shortened from 65km to 55km. It partially follows the same beautiful track as the popular freestyle technique race – Engadin Ski Marathon, the first-ever skating event in Visma Ski Classics Season IX.
The course runs from Pontresina via Celerina to the lake of St. Moritz, then over the lake of Staz to Pontresina, the Engadin airfield, and down the valley to Zuoz. There is a great final hill up to the finish line, which is in the middle of the town on the historic market square.
Engadin La Diagonela has three distinctive characteristics: stunning scenery, high altitude skiing (above 1.800 meters above sea level), and a unique atmosphere.
There is more than 220km of groomed tracks in the area, which makes the valley a perfect place to spend some relaxing time before or after the event. There are also several glaciers in the valley; Morteratsch Glacier, the longest glacier in the Engadin at around seven kilometers, Roseg, Tschierva, Sella, and Pers, and they all offer an equally striking display of nature, and some of them can be accessed by skiing.
A Fascinating Place
The Engadin valley is famous for its grand scenery, sunny days, and beautiful towns that give it its distinct look and feel. Many international events are arranged in the area, such as the FIS Alpine Ski World Cup competitions, the annual White Turf horse race on a frozen lake near St. Moritz, and the traditional winter horse-drawn sleigh ride involving the inhabitants of the valley.
Engadin truly stands for exquisite experiences where the past is as alive as the present, and Swiss nature is simply spellbinding.
Engadin La Diagonela
- Date: Saturday, January 22
- Place: Zuoz, Switzerland
- Distance: 55km Classic Technique
- Start Times: 8:55 CET Men / 9:00 CET Women
