15/04:Ski-mountaineering: on sunday the world cup final :Switzerland and France vs. Italy

-The World Cup final will take place on the Brenta Dolomites

-The route confirmed with its 1864 metres of vertical ascent in 16.5 km

-Italian skiers are the favourite for the Cup but will have to beware of Swiss and French

Weather forecasts for Sunday are encouraging for the Trentino region (Italy). Maybe they are more favourable for a trip than for a ski-mountaineering competition, but the organisers of the Sporting Club Campiglio, who next Sunday 15 April will organise the ski-mountaineering World Cup final on the Brenta Dolomites are confident that the 33rd Ski Alp Race Dolomiti di Brenta will be held as scheduled.

At an altitude of over 2,000 metres snow conditions are excellent in the morning and the competition will certainly be exciting. The choice to start from Boch (2,085 m.), at the arrival of ski lifts, was right. At 2,000 metres of altitude there is snow enough and even if ski-mountaineering competitions often begin with participants running with the skis on their backs, on Sunday in Madonna di Campiglio they will start with their skis on and sealskin underneath, as required by a World Cup competition that will be decisive for the title.

The start will be at 8.30 a.m. and competitors will climb over 800 metres of vertical ascent in 4 kilometres, going through Passo Grostè and then reaching Cima Grostè, where they will arrive along a gully that forces them to constantly zigzag. Adrenaline will further increase in the following descent from Cima Grostè, 3 km on untouched snow, with a 800 metres drop to the Tuckett path. New sealskin change for the ascent to Castello di Vallesinella, with a 700 metres vertical ascent in about 2 kilometres. Competitors will then go down to the Tuckett path again and the ranking will probably be defined, even if the last climb to Corna Rossa (2,400 m.) might still change things. The final part of the track will pass near the Graffer hut, to end in Boch.

Today the first foreign participants arrived and immediately inspected the track. There is much at stake. The fact that Italians are in the lead in the World Cup and will compete “at home” cannot be forgotten.

Italian skiers are the favourite for the victory in the competition and in the overall World Cup standing. Among men, Dennis Brunod currently leads, followed by Swiss Troillet who will try to overcome him, and Reichegger (Italy). However, they will have to beware of Guido Giacomelli too, who will not compete for the title but could win the competition.

The ladies title will go to one among Gloriana Pellissier and Roberta Pedranzini. They are both in the lead and the Cup is practically in their hands, but for the competition attention must be paid to French Laetitia Roux as well.

The verdict will be made by the beautiful snows of Madonna di Campiglio. Unexpected “spectators” might be present: the bears living in the Adamello Brenta Nature Park came out of hibernation and a few weeks ago the bear Jurka with her cubs was seen on the ski slopes….

Info: www.campigliosport.com

Mario Facchini - Ufficio Stampa Newspower