Sellaronda Skimarathon 2022 won by Katia Tomatis - Elena Nicolini, Matteo Eydallin - Michele Boscacci

2 hours 56 seconds and 59 miliseconds set by Filippo Barazzuol - William Boffelli is still the time to beat on the four Dolomite passes of Campolongo, Pordoi, Sella and Gardena. The dynamic Italian duo who race for the CS Esercito, Michele Boscacci from Albosaggia, Valtellina together with Matteo Eydallin from Sauze, Piedmont, won the 2022 edition finishing one of the most popular night time ski mountaineering races over 42 kilometres and with a vertical height gain of 2700 metres in the time of 3h03’03”.

Theirs was an amazing race due to the fierce competition in which teams such as Alex Oberbacher - Davide Magnini (second in 3h05’51”) and Jakob Herrmann - Christian Hoffmann (third in 3h06’02”) stood out. The race’s top five was completed by Daniel Ganahl-Paul Verbnjak fourth in 3h07’49” and Filippo Beccari – Martin Stofner fifth in 3h16’14”. Right from the start the strongest couples pushed the unsustainable pace which enabled the leading group to move away from the rest of the pack. Half way through the race the two army athletes extended their lead to to secure victory.

FEMALE RACE
There was a dramatic turn of events. Spending most of the race catching up the win goes to the expert athletes Katia Tomatis-Elena Nicolini (3h46’56”) who won over the favourite duo Alba De Silvestro - Alessandra Schmid (3h47’31”). Way ahead up to the half way mark, the queen of 2022 night time racing Alba De Silvestro did not manage to win the historic trio (this year she won the Monterosa SkiAlp in Vallée d’Aoste and Mountain Attack in Austria). Up the last ramps the Swiss athlete Alessandra Schmid started to struggle. Her Italian partner  from Veneto, clipped her into the cord and pulled her up, but this did not stop the strong comeback of the Piedmont-Trentino duo. Third place was made up by the Austrian Sarah Dreier - Victoria Kreuzer (3h50’14”).

MIXED RACE
In the special mixed couple race it was the duo Lukas Hiemer (GER) and Johanna Hiemer (AUT) who won with the time of 3h45'53. In second position  Mirco and Paola Pervangher (SUI). And the podium was completed by Martin Kaschmann and Stephanie Kroll (AUT).  Their time was 3h57'00''.

AN ALLURE WITH NO EQUAL
The itinerary? Adrenaline filled, especially on evenings like this one where the clear sky offers priceless sceneries and emotions. The start from Corvara (1535 asl) and the first ascent towards Passo Campolongo and Bec de Roces (2080m asl) is tackled under the natural light of the sunset. Pity that the sustained pace forces the athletes to keep their head down low. Once the first pass has been climbed head lamps are switched on and down towards the second transition area situated right in the centre of Arabba (1605 m asl). The journey continues towards Passo Pordoi (2239 m asl), Canazei, Passo Sella (2174 m asl) and Selva Gardena. From here with tired arms and with energy running low, the difference is made thanks to all the metres of hard training accumulated throughout the season and with the strong wish to end the race. The last ascent towards Passo Gardena (2298 m asl) needs to be tackled before flying down towards the finish line and  glory which will be shared between victors and finishers.

RACE RECORDS
In the male race the time to beat is 2h56’59’’  by Filippo Barazzuol - William Boffelli while in the female race the time to beat is still the  3h32’37’’ established by Laetitia Roux and Martina Valmassoi.

Info: www.sellaronda.it