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Press Release 12 January 2017

TOP XC SKIERS POINT AT MARCIALONGA
GJERDALEN LEADS A PARADE OF STARS

The 44^th Marcialonga di Fiemme e Fassa in Italy is in full sight. Despite the lack of natural snow, the glorious 70k-long track from the town of Moena to the finish line set in Cavalese is getting well prepared by the local OC led by president Angelo Corradini and general manager Gloria Trettel. Around 45 kilometers have been already whitened with artificial snow and almost 8.000 skiers are about to enjoy the entire event next Sunday 29 January.
'Being part of Marcialonga, sliding across the many villages where people never stop cheering, is something that you remember for the whole life', 2003 Marcialonga winner Lara Peyrot said in a recent interview, and many big XC skiing names have planned to enjoy the Italian ski-marathon this year.
Tord Asle Gjerdalen aims at his third success in a row, though compatriots Petter Eliassen and Anders Aukland – right behind 'The Man in Ray-Ban sunglasses' in recent times – will do all they can to beat him and grab the gold medal this time. The three times winner Jerry Ahrlin and his countryman Jörgen Brink will be at the start as well as Stanislav Řezáč, Lukas Bauer, Toni Livers, Italy's Bruno Debertolis and the Vancouver Olympic champ Øystein 'Pølsa' Pettersen.
On the women's side, reigning Marcialonga champion Britta Johansson Norgren will fight a group of strong skiers such as 2011 and 2013 winner Seraina Boner of Switzerland, Lina Korsgren and Sara Lindborg of Sweden and 2015 winner Kateřina Smutná.
Among the several side events of this year's Marcialonga, president Corradini explains what Marcialonga Experience is about: 'There are 10 skiers who always have taken part into our ski-marathon, the so-called 'Senators'. Their experience will be shared with 10 sport celebrities who will join one of the Marcialonga events, namely Stars, Story, Light or the 70k long-distance race on Sunday 29 January. The best duo at the end will get a special award that will go to Alex Zanardi's charity organisation named Bimbi in Gamba.  Zanardi himself will receive the prize during next Marcialonga Cycling Craft on 4 June 2017. 
Info: www.marcialonga.it