Date: January 18, 2020
Active years: 7
Record number of participants: 900
Distance: 65km
Number of VSC sprints/climbing points: 1 sprint at Samedan and 1 hill climb at Lej Da Staz
Service stations: 8
Website: www.ladiagonela.cn
The 65-kilometer La Diagonela is the largest cross-country ski race in classical technique in Switzerland. It partially follows the same beautiful course as the famous Engadin Ski Marathon, which was the first ever skating event in Visma Ski Classics this season.
The organizers of the event had a clear goal in mind when they started the race. They wanted to revive the classical Nordic skiing tradition and have a perfect long- distance race in the spectacular location of the Engadin valley.
According to the organizers, they have three main selling points; stunning scenery, high altitude, above 1,800 meters a.s.l., and uniquely nice atmosphere. And there are more than 220 km of groomed tracks in the area, which makes the valley a perfect place to spend some time before or after the event.
The course runs from Zuoz via La Punt and Celerina to the lake of St. Moritz, then over the lake of Staz to Pontresina, the Engadin airfield back 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. New for this year is that the climb position are removed and that there is a second sprint after 44 km at Engadin Airport.
