IT IS MARCIALONGA TIME!

It all began on 7 February 1971 and a new, incredible chapter of the Italian Marcialonga will be written on Sunday 29 January 2017 by 7.523 snow lovers and XC skiing athletes from all over the planet.
'I want to thank all the people who did a fantastic job this year – claimed OC President Angelo Corradini during the official presentation press conference yesterday. 'The partners in particular who helped us in setting the 57k-long track with artificial snow only due to this crazy winter season. Everyone will be enjoying this year's event, that's for sure'. The 2017 Marcialonga will be aired by Italian TV RAI and 13 other national channels.
Participants from the country are 2.662, the Norwegian 'squad' counts 2.154 people and Swedes are 1.440. The total amount of people who took part into the Italian ski-marathon since the very beginning is 234.748 skiers of any age.
'Other than the race – said General Manager Gloria Trettel – there are several side events such as the Marcialonga Story, Stars, Young, Mini and Baby. Plus, the main event on Sunday which is the icing on the cake'. 'Marcialonga Stars is a solidarity event that aims to raise money for a child cancer center in Trento', added during the conference one of the Marcialonga's founder Mario Cristofolini who is also LILT (Italian Cancer League) President.  
Several XC skiing champions and past Marcialonga winners are about to jump on track on Sunday. Tord Asle Gjerdalen aims to win the third Marcialonga in a row, but he will be facing tough opponents such as Petter Eliassen, Anders Aukland, Jerry Ahrlin, Lukas Bauer, Ilya Chernousov, Andreas Nygaard, Jörgen Brink, Toni Livers, Stanislav Rezác, Oystein Pettersen, Stian Hoelgaard and home boys Bruno Debertolis and Mauro Brigadoi.
On the women's side, Seraina Boner of Switzerland will fight against Britta Johansson Norgren, Lina Korsgren, Barbara Jezersek, Olga Rotcheva, Katerina Smutná e Sara Lindborg.