A new finish and a strong starting field for Marcialonga 2023
Tomorrow it is time for Marcialonga 2023. A new finish and a strong starting field is making the 50th anniversary edition an interesting one.
Tomorrow it is time again for Marcialonga! The Italian Worldloppet race is tight to amateurs since the beginning, once called “bisonti” and still (wrongly). Participants are now flying over 7000 for this year’s 50th anniversary edition. That makes 263.889 registered skiers in 50 editions.
But also for the professional athletes Marcialonga is one of the most important races because year by year, the traditional marathon between Moena and Cavalese brings the best skiers specialised on (not only) long distances on the starting line. Also the 35 Pro Teams of the Ski Classics series take part. Their athletes might come from the traditional World Cup, World Championships and Olympic games to confront with the double poling ‘festival’.
The track of Marcialonga is famous: From Moena, it climbs to Canazei, then a long and endless downhill to Molina and last, the final hard uphill to Cavalese. This year with the ‘Mur de la Stria’ (wall of the witch), athletes have to use all their energies along its 583 meters.
Top favorites for Marcialonga 2023
There are many suitors for Marcialonga, even far from the general ranking first positions. Watch out for the yellow bib Persson, but stay close to his followers. Because Max Novak and Kaspar Stadaas aim, with many possibilities of succeeding, to victory. There is also the “climber” Morten Eide Pedersen, or the strong Andreas Nygaard, far in the ranking but dangerous. Thomas Ødegaarden showed great climbing performances, as for his team captain Tord Asle Gjerdalen, the man with the RayBan. Italy, who plays at home, is a little late in this championship. Team Robinson Trentino covers the 9th position in the Ski Classics Pro Team ranking.
Among women, it is a different story, but likely difficult to bet. Ida Dahl conquered many ski marathons this season. Sceneries are wider among women: there are also Emilie Fleten, Jenny Larsson and Magni Smedås.
Yet, Marcialonga is complex and due to important participation and personal goals, bets can be done only on papers. It’s hard that someone might run away from the head group before Molina. It’s hard that someone can light a fire under the final climb. We can only be certain on Sunday, around 11 am, looking at the brand new finish line in Cavalese.
