Michele Meridio and Sophie Maschi won the seventh edition of the Delicious Trail Dolomiti, with times of 4:33:37 and 5:46:20 respectively.
43 kilometers for 3,100 meters of positive difference in altitude, with a start at 7.30 this morning, in the historic center of Cortina d’Ampezzo, in the shadow of the bell tower. And then off quickly following a route that wound between Pocol, Croda Da Lago, 5 Torri, Nuvolau, Lagazuoi and Passo Falzarego. With the crossing of the largest open-air museum of the Great War fought at high altitude in the Dolomites, followed by the passage through the Lagazuoi tunnel at an altitude of 2,647 metres. And with the arrival in Pocol.
A demanding competition that put the competitors who came from all over Italy and the world to the test, capable of providing strong emotions and great beauty. But also “taste”, with the refuges and restaurants involved which at high altitude and upon arrival offered the trail runners the best traditional dishes from Ampezzo and South Tyrol.
THE RACE – Michele Meridio, a twenty-five-year-old athlete from Vicenza with his mother Federica competing in the Medium, immediately started strong with Luca Pescollderungg. They covered the first 10 kilometers together, then his direct opponent increased the pace, but at that point something changed because the Vicenza native unexpectedly found himself first, a position he maintained until the finish line, as he himself said. «I ran the first 10 kilometers with Luca, then he went a little further, probably taking the wrong path. When I reached the refreshment point at the fifteenth kilometre, I asked how far I was from the first kilometer and they told me that I was in the lead, and it was a nice surprise. At that point I decided to increase the pace up to the Averau refuge to create a bit of a gap; I knew that later I would have to face the Lagazuoi tunnel, a very tough uphill stretch of the race, and I was aware that my pursuer was very strong uphill.”
The women’s race was also a solo event, with the athlete from Lodi who lives in Bolzano Sophie Maschi who, having started with her husband Andrea, increased the pace along the way, remaining alone in the lead. Her words at the end of the race: «It was my first competition this year after recovering from an injury. The idea was to run it together with my husband, but the agreement was that if one of us had more energy to expend, he would be free to continue and so it was. I suffered through the Lagazuoi tunnel, in that section I eliminated the advantage over the other athletes. For this reason, when I reached the refreshment point and saw the second woman arriving, I thought I’d grit my teeth and push to the finish line.”
In addition to the Delicious Trail Dolomiti, the Medium Delicious Trail Dolomiti of 35 kilometers also started this morning, starting at 9.30 in the center of La Villa in Alta Badia and arriving in Pocol, and the Short Delicious Trail Dolomiti of 22 kilometers starting at 10.30 from Pocol and always arriving in Pocol. Both with a spectacular route that developed in the Dolomites, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The event organized by L5T SPORT ASD, Consorzio Delicious Cortina and Municipality of Cortina d’Ampezzo, with the patronage of Regole d’Ampezzo, Natural Park of the Ampezzo Dolomites, CAI section of Cortina, Cooperativa Turistica Alta Badia and Alta Badia was a success Brand, and the Municipality of Badia, which this year was sold out with almost 1400 participants for 25 nations, the most represented of which, in addition to Italy, were: United States, Austria and Slovenia.
MEN’S PODIUM DELICIOUS TRAIL DOLOMITES
Michele Meridio, 4:33:37
Luca Pescollderungg, 4:40:22
Samuel Majoni, 5:02:31
WOMEN’S PODIUM DELICIOUS TRAIL DOLOMITES
Sophie Maschi, 5:46:20
Linda Menardi, 5:54:37
Martina Testarmata, 6:10:54
2023-02-10 00:00:00
#DELICIOUS #TRAIL #DOLOMITI #Sportdimontagna.com
