Furger snatches victory from Cologna at 52nd Engadin Skimarathon
Roman Furger takes his fourth win at the Engadin Skimarathon while Swiss superstar Dario Cologna finished in second place at his last international race.
It was Dario Cologna’s last international race as a professional athlete, driving up expectations ahead of the race: not just the public and the media had banked on his victory, he, too, made it clear from the start that whoever wanted to take the win had to go past him. The realisation came early on that Roman Furger would be one of his most serious contenders. “Roman never ceases to surprise, and when I noticed how energised he was in the Stazerwald, incessantly closing the gaps, I knew I had to watch out.”
The Stazerwald turned out to be decisive for the winner-to-be Roman Furger: “On this stretch, we were able to shake off the strong sprinters, which would make life a bit easier at the finish,” he told the media.
Tom Mancini’s third place alos took an active role during the entire race, never sparing the effort to lead and managing to stay in the group at the front until the end. However, in the final spurt, it turned out to be Roman Furger who could summon up the extra energy, crossing the finishing line ahead of Dario Cologna and Tom Mancini.
Results Engadin Skimarathon 2022 Men
- Furger Roman (SUI) 1:35.59,5
- Cologna Dario (SUI) +1,7
- Mancini Tom (FRA) +2,7
- Baumann Jonas (FRA) +4,0
- Gaillard Jean-Marc (FRA) +6,1
- Agnellet Gerard (FRA) +11,6
- Capelli Marino (SUI) +18,4
- Räz Curdin (SUI) +26,9
- Pfäffli Gian Flurin (SUI) +1.30,7
- Perruche Simon (FRA) +1.31,0
A surprised winner in the women’s race
The winner in the female category expressed surprise at the finishing line: “It was my first 42-kilometre-race ever,” said Nadja Kälin. Moreover, she had come down with Covid-19 following the Olympic Games and was forced to reduce her training intensity. “It was tough going both in the Stazerwald and in Bever, but I still succeeded in holding my position in the leading group throughout.” The young local athlete took the lead in the final spurt and finished first ahead of Céline Chopard and Enora Latuillière from France.
Results Engadin Skimarathon 2022 Women
- Kälin Nadja (SUI) 1:46.31,1
- Chopard Lallier Céline (FRA) +1,8
- Latuillière Enora (FRA) +4,0
- Brocard Elisa (FRA) +8,3
- Boner Seraina (SUI) +1.50,7
- Meinen Susi (SUI) +2.23,3
- Øyre Slind Silje (NOR) +3.33,8
- Löschke Jessica (GER) +3.52,0
- Feldman Katie (USA) +3.52,7
- Zampa Maria Adele (SUI) +4.33,6
An an emotional Dario Cologna
At the awards ceremony, race director Adriano Iseppi gave Dario Cologna a heartfelt farewell, expressing thanks to the athlete from Val Müstair in the name of all Swiss cross-country skiing enthusiasts: “Words fail me to describe your contribution to the sport of cross-country skiing in Switzerland.” Dario Cologna, overcome by the warm words of praise, had tears welling up in his eyes. He would not exclude taking part again in the Engadin Skimarathon in future years, but it would be amiss to hope for a fifth victory, he concluded at the end of the small ceremony in his honour. “The finishing stretch seems to be getting longer every year,” he finished with a grin.
Ideal conditions for the 52nd Engadin Skimarathon, with the sun appearing on the dot of the elite start and tracks in perfect conditions. “I am overjoyed about the outcome of the event,” expressed Menduri Kasper, the organizer’s managing director. “The new starting format in waves worked very well and, as we had hoped, managed to ease up tensions in the field. Having participants start in smaller groups sees them in direct competition within groups of comparable strength, reducing the hustle and bustle among the racers. The changes to the route between Pontresina and Samedan proved to be a good choice too.”
