The 41st Pustertaler ski marahon went to the Emilia Francesco Ferrari
The 41st Pustertaler ski marahon went to the Emilia Francesco Ferrari

Francesco Ferrari is the 41st edition of the Pustertaler ski marathon, the most traditional granfondo in South Tyrol, played on Saturday, January 13th on the 60 kilometers (which the competitors have traveled in classical technique) that meander by Braies (the way from the fraction of Ferrara), Villabassa, Dobbiaco (Nordic Arena), Landro (here the turning point, with a splendid view of the Tre Cime di Lavaredo), San Candido and Sesto. Over 400 competitors, representing 15 countries.

The Emiliano of Frassinoro, class 1994, has prevailed in the sprint, preceding the sprint Evgenij Dement’ev, the Russian cross-country that at the Olympic Games in Turin won the gold in skiathlon and silver in the 50 kilometers. To complete the podium, the trentino of Masi di Cavalese, Simone Bosin. The three characterized the race starting from the fortieth kilometer, when they left together with Riccardo Mich. Left in three, the sprint victory was played, with Ferrari prevailing.

“A wonderful victory, for me that I am new of the granfondo – so the winner, ex Fiamme Oro now in force to the Team Robinson – I wanted to do well, but I did not expect to win. On the last, difficult uphill section of Val Fiscalina I lost contact but then I managed to come back. At that point I told myself that I could do something good. So it was and I enjoy this victory, already thinking about the upcoming events ».

The women’s race, characterized by various disqualifications (disqualifications that also affected the men’s area, based on Article 343.8 of the Fis’s legislation on the maximum length of the poles), saw the success of the German Franziska Müller, already winner in 2016 and second last year.

“Finally this year, thanks to the abundant snowfalls of the last few weeks, we are able to restore the 60-kilometer route – says Alfred Prenn, president of the organizing committee – we worked hard to set up everything at best, an important job made possible by the availability of over 150 volunteers and many associations of the territory ».

In the race also the three faithful of the Pustertaler ski marathon, those athletes who participated in all editions of the classic Alto Adige: Giorgio Peretti, of Cortina d’Ampezzo, Giancarlo Vettorel, of Feltre, and Karl Walder of Dobbiaco. The fastest of the three was the latter. “The Pustertaler ski marathon is life – says Walder, class of 1954, at the finish line in 3h29’27” – gives me motivation to continue to be active and fit. Cross-country skiing has changed so much in these forty years but the passion of those who practice it is always the same ».