Despite cold temperatures of these days in Northern Italy, the excitement and the great anticipation for the 37th ‘Marcialonga di Fiemme e Fassa' are warming up the entire world of cross country skiing. The famous Italian long distance cross country ski race through the Fiemme and Fassa valleys, is ready to get its show on the road, better yet, on its 70 km of ‘tracks', on Sunday. Two days to go then, and to see once again some of the world's top athletes competing against each other, in what is considered the absolute top event of the season in Italy.
Norway's Aukland brothers and Thomas Alsgaard, along with Sweden's Ahrlin, Svard and Tynell, plus Czech Rezac, Austrian Steurer, Estonian Mae and Italy's Cattaneo, Carrara and Santus, will all surely be lined up on the start line at 8.30am in Moena.
Among women, the 2009 Marcialonga winner Hilde Pedersen withdrew from the competition due to a cold. Therefore, the strongest candidates to the final victory are Sweden's Nyström, Lintzen and Hansson.
More than 6.500 skiers from 28 countries will take part in the Sunday's race, which will also offer a shorter 45 km course from Moena to Predazzo. This race will be valid as a step of Italy National Cup, and some of the best Italian cross country skiers - such as Confortola, Scola and Vanzetta - will be competing on this course.
Marcialonga - which literally means ‘Long March' - is included in the 2010 FIS Marathon Cup and in the Worldloppet circuit.
The opening ceremony will take place tonight in Canazei. Tomorrow at 1.30pm, inside the cross country ski center in Lago di Tesero, the ‘Marcialonga Stars' will be on, with some famous sports men and women in a solidarity race for cancer research.
At 2.30pm, the ‘MiniMarcialonga' for children aged between 6 and 12 years will be taking place in the same ski center.
Contributed by: www.marcialonga.it
