WHAT A JOY: LA SGAMBEDA WILL BE HELD!
Last night's big snow fall has cancelled any doubt: the organizing commitee confirms that the race will be held, and everybody is getting ready to fix the course and the whole supporting organisation.
Press Release
Livigno (SO) 11th December 2006 – The landscape looks completely different today in Livigno. After having waited for a long time, finally the snow has covered Livigno and its valley: the season is open! The snowfalls began last night, and went on for almost the whole day. La Sgambeda organizing committee feels now released: on Sunday 17 December the first FIS Marathon Cup race of this season, a World Cup for long distance cross country races, will be held for the 4th time. With more than 30 cm of new snow, the official programme of the competition has been confirmed. The race will be held on two different courses: the marathon, 42 km, and the shorter track of 22.5 km: the less trained skiers will be able to feel the spirit of a high calibre competition too. In addition, the registration deadline has been postponed until Thursday 14 December, online service on the official webpage www.lasgambeda.com.
All cross country skiers can now take out their gear, and plan a long weekend on the snow in Livigno: the highlight will be at 11 on Sunday morning, the official start of the 17th Sgambeda. Many specialists of the long distance are expected here in Livigno: first of all Marco Cattaneo, last year's FIS Marathon Cup winner, who will wear the red number of current leader of this circuit. Another Italian champion is his team colleague Pierluigi Costantin with Roberto De Zolt, who won twice here in Livigno. Among the winners also the carabiniere Tullio Grandelis, last year's champion ex-aequo with Biagio Di Santo. Among the women, the Olympic champion Gabriella Paruzzi, who after having left the italian national team is now a specialist of the long distances: she won the Marcialonga in 2004, followed by Lara Peyrot, second behind Cristina Paluselli last year, this one now fully focussed on her university studies.
Many other international cross country skiers: from Norway Jorgen Aukland and Anders Hallingstad, from Estonia Raul Olle, Meelis Aasmae and Priit Kajari, eleven big champions from Russia, with the team captain Igor Glushkov (ski roll gold medal) and his colleagues Yurj Komlev, Alexey Palekhov, Vladimir Beloy and Victor Popov. Among the Russian women: Svetlana Shtapkina, second place at the Trasjurassienne last year and 6th at Sgambeda 2005, and Natalia Zernova. From Finnlad, the cyclist Susanna Nevala, 31, who won one edition of the race Dobbiaco-Cortina and became third at the Finlandiahiitto. From Austria Thomas Steurer, 29.
Source: La Sgambeda
