The following press release provided by the World Mountain Running Association highlights the next World Cup race which will take place on Saturday, September 30, at the Primiero Dolomiti Trail Race, a Silver Label stage of the Valsir World Cup.
An exciting competition is expected this weekend in Fiera di Primiero (IT), featuring some of the best mountain runners of this season. It will be an intense show both for the athletes competing to challenge their strength, endurance and agility, and for the public who will enjoy a first-rate international event.
Scenic views abound at Primiero Dolomiti Trail Race. Photo: LOC
The Region
The territory of Primiero, in the Italian Province of Trentino, in the heart of the Nature Park of Paneveggio Pale di San Martino, Dolomites – Unesco World Heritage, is hosting the first edition of Primiero Dolomiti Trail Mountain running event, organized by Unione Sportiva Primiero ASD.
The passion for mountain running and the desire to host a great international event have led to the creation of this new race. Also, to promote the area as a great location to stay and train as far as running is concerned is one of the objective of the event.
The Course
The course is a panoramic Classic Mountain trail on a loop on the slopes of Mount Bedolè, starting and ending in the center of the charming village of Fiera di Primiero and facing the beautiful Dolomites peaks of Pale di San Martino (also known as Pala Group).
Primiero Dolomiti Trail Race course profile.
Running mainly on paths, the first stretch of the course crosses the park of Vallombrosa and then climbs to the characteristic alpine farms at the locations of Sante Caterine and Guastaie.
The course then descends, on its second stretch, along the mule track of Ampezan, passing first by the chapel of Colaor and then by Melas, arriving in the picturesque historic center of Fiera di Primiero, characterized by monuments such as the Gothic archpriest’s church, the 15th century Palazzo delle Miniere and the Romanesque-style church of San Martino.
The loop has its start at 710 m and it is 3.4 km long (230 m climbing).
• 3 laps, Senior W/M, Promesse W/ M, e Senior Master W (SM55 and younger).
Total distance: km 10.2, 690 m climbing.
• 2 laps, Junior W/M., Senior Master M (SM60 and older), Senior Master F. (SW35 and older). Total distance: km 6.8, 460 m climbing.
• (Senior Master W from SF35 to SF55 may choose if they wish to compete on the 3 laps race).
Race Program on September 30
Live stream available here.
09.30AM – Junior W/M, Senior Master M (SM60 and older), Senior Master W (SF35 and older)
11.00AM – Senior W, U23 W
11.10AM – Senior M, U23 M, Senior Master M (SM55 and younger)
Cesare Maestri at the finish line of a previous edition of the Primiero Dolomiti Trail Race. Photo: LOC
Race Favorites
The competition is really heating up for the World Cup with points available in two silver races before the Finalissima at Sky Gran Canaria. In the Primiero Dolomiti Trail, second “Silver Label” stage of the calendar, the level in the women’s field will be really high with the Kenyans Joyce Muthoni Njeru (KEN), current World Cup ranking and also Lucy Wambui Murigi (KEN), who comes from an excellent weekend in CanfrancCanfranc, the Finn Susanna Saapunki and Australian Emma Kraft.
In the men’s category, Remi Leroux (CAN) will try to get some points to help him climb up the World Cup classification before the Finalissima, and international names like Liam Meirow (USA) and Lengen Lolkurraru (KEN) will definitively fight together with many, including Cesare Maestri, Xavier Chevrier, Alex Baldaccini, Henri Aymonod and Luciano Rota, for the top places and to take some valuable points in this race that will make them enter for the fight on the TOP10 of the final Valsir World Cup standings.
Also confirmed many Italians including Isacco Costa from Belluno, winner of the 46th international Snowdon Race, while the women’s team includes Alice Gaggi, with 9 gold medals between World and European Mountain Running Championships, Vivien Bonzi, overall Italian Mountain Running Champion 2023, and Beatrice Bianchi.
View the Valsir World Cup standings here.
