January 31, it’s time for the 48th edition of Maricalonga. Marcialonga already has 6,500 registered skiers. This winter is also 50 years since the first edition of Marcialonga.
“We are happy that so many have already signed up despite the special times it is now. We have a positive attitude and look forward to welcoming all skiers at the end of January,” says Marcialonga president Angelo Corradini.
Participants from Scandinavia have long been an essential part of Marcialonga. Corradini hopes and believes that it will be the same this winter.
“There is no limit to the numbers of participants in sports events in Italy at the moment. For today there is a maximum of 1000 spectators,” Corradini informs.
A couple of weeks ago, the Marcialonga Organizing Committee arranged the 18th edition of Marcialonga Running Coop,
“All the runners were thrilled and positive,” says Corradini and continues;
“The special situation forced us to review and reorganize many aspects of the event. Participants, volunteers, co-workers, institutions, sponsors and authorities showed us once more the meaning of and the affection for Marcialonga. They gave us the chance to realize an event with a different format but maintaining its essence.”
“Sky TV had a 45-minute summary of the race. They have shown it seven times.”
There are 50 years since the first edition of Marcialonga back in 1971. The race was canceled three times; 1975, 1989 and 1990.
“We have two possibilities to celebrate and of course we do that. This winter, we celebrate 50 years of Marcialonga Organizing Committee and in 2023, we will celebrate the 50th race, says Corradini.
The idea of the Marcialonga goes a long way back. In 1969 Italian athletes took part in Vasaloppet in Sweden for the first time. Giulio Giovannini and Roberto Moggio managed to cross the finish line and the year after Nele Zorzi and Mario Cristofolini followed them. As enthusiasm mounted, there came the idea of creating something similar in the two valleys of Fiemme and Fassa. The name “Marcialonga” the Long March was chosen.
Read more about how it all started here.
January 31, 2021 its time for the 48th edition of Marcialonga. It will also be the first race in the first season of Visma Ski Classics Grand Classics.
The Grand Classics events are the four largest and most prestigious events in the Pro Tour: Marcialonga, Jizerska Padesatka, Vasaloppet, and Birkenbeinerrennet.
No one has won all four races in the same year before, completing a Grand Slam. Who will be the first?
