Dolomiten Lauf

New year, same question: Is it possible to start Austria’s biggest cross country race, the Dolomitenlauf, at Lienz, the traditional venue or is it necessary to remove it to higher altitudes?

This week the Organizing Committee and its chief, Franz Theurl, came to a decision for this year’s edition: Due to lack of snow, a not promising forecast and in order to guarantee the best conditions for the starters, the venue of the 42nd Dolomitenlauf on the weekend around the 24th Jan, is going to be changed from around 650 m alt. in Lienz to Obertilliach. This mountain village in the Dolomites lies on 1500 m alt. and has for years ensured good conditions for cross country skiing. Many races like Austrian Championships, FIS-races, local races, etc. both in Biathlon and Cross Country are hosted in Obertilliach’s Biathlon-stadium every year. 

In this stadium will be located the start- and finish-area of the Dolomitenlauf and the track preparing team implemented a second loop, which leads the skiers two times through the stadium and the spectators. This should give more motivation to the athletes and more excitement to the audience. It will also be easier to take care of the skiers during the race with food and drinks.

“The warm winter with little snow has resulted in less registrations for Skimarathons all over Europe, the same counts for this year. We have to make sure that we will overcome this lean period!”, says Franz Theurl, the OK-chief. However, better times are in sight: cross country skiing is in line with the trend and the number of marathon skiers is rising.