THE SNOWSHOE | Sportdimontagna.com

On the podium, together with the class of 1993 from Borgo Lares, two other mountain running specialists stood, two athletes who in the past had also already raised their arms to the sky at La Ciaspolada, namely the native Alex Baldaccini (winner of three editions ) and Alberto Vender, the latter starting as reigning champion after the success of 2023, he who had also triumphed in 2020.
The surprise, however, came in the women’s race, won by the thirty-year-old Giulia Marchesoni from Vigolo Vattaro, in her first participation in the Noneso event. Second to Catalan Celia Balcells Serra, defending champion, third to thirty-year-old Desirée Michelon.

The snow that fell on the day and night before the event gave the long-awaited touch of white and the well-deserved scenery to the mother of snowshoe running races, allowing the organizing committee led by Gianni Holzknecht to propose a route of 5 kilometers entirely on snow, as per tradition for the None event.
The over 2,200 participants took their places in the welcoming Pradiei plain, with the arrival point in the heart of the village of Fondo. After an initial covered section at controlled speed, the official start was given, with Cesare Maestri immediately taking command of the operations. The highly decorated mountain running champion took advantage of the first ramps of the route, which were particularly congenial to him, to take off, urged on by the other two expected protagonists of the day, Alex Baldaccini from Bergamo and Alberto Vender from Trentino from Pieve di Bono, who were chasing the fourth and third respectively in the Alta Val di Non race. However, one of the other candidates for the podium, Marco Filosi, was left out of the running for the victory even before the start and was forced to withdraw due to a problem with one racket.

Maestri managed to clear the air and showed up at the entrance to the town of Fondo with a more than reassuring margin. The strong Trentino runner, competing in the colors of Amorini Tsl Team Italia Molinari, was thus able to enjoy a well-deserved catwalk, welcomed by the applause of the public in the finish area. For the Giudicariano it was the fifth victory at «La Ciaspolada», after those achieved in 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2022. A success that allowed Maestri to match Luigi Pastore, who until today was the king of the gold with five affirmations (1988, 1993, 1994, 1996 and 1997).
Maestri finished with a time of 17’16” and preceded Alex Baldaccini (Gs Orobie) by 21”, with Alberto Vender (Amorini Tsl Team Molinari – Atletica Valchiese) third at 52”. Fourth place for another La Ciaspolada “aficionado”, the Venetian Filippo Barizza (at 1’55”), with the Catalan Oriol Ferré Canellas completing the top 5, 2’05” behind.

The women’s race was more competitive, which rewarded the thirty-year-old Giulia Marchesoni, her first participation in «La Ciaspolada», as well as her absolute debut in a race with snowshoes on her feet. The runner from Vigolo Vattaro, a skyrace specialist, followed up on the excellent results achieved in 2023, triumphing in Fondo at the end of a close distance duel with the reigning champion Celia Balcells Serra and Desirée Michelon.
Having become familiar with snowshoes, Marchesoni took advantage of the first uphill stretch to take command of the operations and then continued straight to the finish line. The thirty-year-old, who for the occasion was defending the colors of Amorini Tsl Team Molinari Sport, completed her effort in 23’01”, with the Catalan Balcells Serra second at 13″ and Desirée Michelon third at 58″. Fourth was the other Catalan Georgina Gabarro Morente, fifth was the Tuscan Annalaura Mugno, who boasts three victories in La Ciaspolada in her career (2019, 2020 and 2022), having recently returned to competitions after half a year.

The winners of the junior and veteran categories were also awarded. In the junior men’s category, Filippo Simoni (Amici del Prosecco) won in 27’34”, ahead of Michele Endrizzi from Trentino (29’44”) and Samuele Marini (31’20”), while among the male veterans the best was Venetian Filippo Barizza (19’11”), followed in the special ranking by the German Marco Sturm (19’48”) and by Christian Paolazzi (20’34”). Among the veterans, however, success was achieved with a time of 25’15” for Isabella Morlini from Reggio Emilia (winner of three editions in 2013, 2014 and 2016). Second Simonetta Menestrina (25’56”), third Mariagrazia Roberti (27’10”), who won the classic Nonesa for four consecutive years, from 2008 to 2011.

2024-06-01 00:00:00
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