FIS Worldloppet Cup 2018 about to kick off at Dolomitenlauf
World Champion, overall winner of the FIS Worldloppet Cup and former winners of the Dolomites will be in for the weekend at the 44th Dolomitenlauf, the opening stage of the FIS Worldloppet Cup 2018.
Many World Cup athletes in East Tyrol are tackling the first of seven competitions for the FIS Worldloppet Cup, the official and therefore the most important cross-country marathon event. A snowy, idyllic winter landscape and perfectly groomed trails at the Dolomitenlauf Festival wait for the the numerous top and hobby runners coming weekend. More than 1500 participants from more than 30 nations will be expected. The “Dolomite Sprint” on Friday (19th January) at the Biathlon and Cross-Country Skiing Center in Obertilliach will be followed by the Dolomite Classic Race on Saturday, January 20th. This event, just like the 44th Dolomitenlauf on Sunday, both Worldloppet gold races.
Goal of all competitions in Obertilliach
This year there is an innovation for the “Dolomite Classic Race” (42 km) and the “Dolomite Run” (20 km). After the start at the biathlon and cross-country center Obertilliach at 10:00 clock on both competition days, the finish will take place in each case in the centre of Obertilliach, one of the most characteristic villages of Osttirol. “We grant a special flair to all participants in the snow-covered Obertilliach. This year we have largely avoided difficult climbs with regard to less well-trained cross-country skiers.” According to the organizer Franz Theurl the last 200 meters of all events lead to the finish slightly up.
Many top favorites at the start
One of the top favorites to win the 44th Dolomitenlauf race is Norway’s Anders Gloersen, Team World Champion of Falun 2015 and bronze medalist over the 15 kilometers. The Czech Petr Novak, who won the Dolomitenlauf 2014, finished second in the following year and also dominated the overall ranking of the FIS Worldloppet Cup! The Italian federation will be present in Osttirol with as strong runners as the former Dolomitenlauf winner Sergio Bonaldi, who was able to secure the FIS overall ranking in 2013. Thomas Bormolini a strong biathlete, who is also represented in the World Cup, will take part in the race as well as 2 athletes with worldcup experience, Enrico Nizzi and Giacomo Garieli. Three strong runners have been registered with the Norwegian brothers Petter and Marten Skinstad and with the German Max Olex, who surprisingly won the König Ludwig Lauf last year. From the Austrian point of view Marco Pichlmayer, a former nordic combined athlete is one of the local favorites in the Dolomitenlauf.
France with a strong secondment
The French “Jobstation Rossignol Team” has dominated the FIS Worldloppet Cup and
the Dolomitenlauf in recent years. At the weekend, Bastien Poirrier, winner of the 2016 Dolomites and fourth in the FIS Worldloppet Cup in the previous year, as well as Adrien Mougel number 5 of the FIS last year, will compete the team. Mougel has already finished third in East Tyrol in 2015. A regular guest is Benoit Chauvet, who finished second in the FIS Worldloppet Cup two years ago. The best athlete in the adidas XCS Team is the multiple Worldloppet winner and vice-European ski marathon champion Toni Escher from Germany. Two years ago he was second in the Dolomiten Classicrace over the short distance. This year he nomintates for the Dolomitenlauf!
World’s best ladies in East Tyrol
In the women’s race of the 44th Dolomitenlauf, the world’s best marathon runners will their matche: the big favorite is 29-year-old Aurelie Dabudyk. The Frenchwoman won the FIS Worldloppet Cup in the last two years and also won the Dolomitenlauf. The US-American Caitlin Gregg unfortunately had to cancel her attendance in the last moment, but she is going to compete in the cup in 2018. The Swede Maria Graefenings and the Swiss rider Rahel Imoberdorf are also represented on the podium of last year’s FIS Worldloppet Cup.
See here the whole
BACK
