A record field with world-class runners from Norway, Sweden, France, Russia and Switzerland starts the 50th Engadin Ski Marathon on Sunday. The more than 14,000 participants expect demanding weather conditions with snowfall, mild temperatures and tailwinds.
Roman Furger from Schattdorf is the only double winner to start the 50th Engadin Ski Marathon on Sunday. The man from Uri won the “Engadin” in 2012 and 2016 and is once again just as much a favorite as the winners of 2015, Ilia Chernousov (RUS), and 2014, Anders Gløersen (NOR).
The field is very well filled: Eight of the top ten in the Worldloppet standings are at the start, including a traditionally strong group of Frenchmen with current Worldloppet leader Ivan Perrillat Boiteux and last year's Worldloppet winner Candide Pralong. Konrad “Koni” Hallenbarter (65) will probably not be running for first places: The former top runner won the Engadin Ski Marathon three times in 1984, 1986 and 1990 and is therefore probably the most decorated starter of the anniversary run.
Hallenbarter's female counterpart is Riita-Liisa Roponen. The Finn won the “Engadin” in 2013 and 2014 and is now aiming for the third title. However, Mari Eide (NOR) will try to repeat her victory last year. The Worldloppet leader and overall winner in 2016 and 2017, Aurélie Dabudyk (FRA), also has an open mind with the Engadin: She has never gone beyond second place so far.
The current Worldloppet runner-up Maria Gräfnings is also highly rated. The Swede won the Engadin Women's Run in 2017 and finished fifth in the marathon. The winner of last Sunday's women's run, Rahel Imoberdorf from Münster (VS), is also aiming for a podium finish.
The trail from Maloja to S-chanf is in excellent condition, and thousands of cross-country skiers train on the original route every day.
However, the weather forecasts for Sunday do not bode well: A disturbance and strong southwesterly winds will result in very mild temperatures and strong tailwinds, but also snowfall, which may even turn into rain in the afternoon.
14,200 men and women had already signed up for the anniversary run from Maloja to S-chanf in January. In order not to jeopardize the quality and safety of the Engadin Ski Marathon, registration had to be closed at this maximum number.
Demand, however, was unabated: Several hundred were entered on a waiting list where start numbers could be exchanged by prevented participants.
Live broadcast on the Internet from 8:00
The Engadin Ski Marathon is being broadcasted directly on the Internet for the third time. Starting at 8:00 a.m., the live stream will provide impressions from the start room and race pictures from the top and the popular runners.
In addition to the latest live images of the Engadin Ski Marathon, the broadcast also features reports from the women's run last Sunday, the night run on Thursday and the night sprint on Friday, as well as interesting information about the event. The live stream is available on the Engadin Ski Marathon website and on Facebook. It can also be seen on mobile devices.
It is commented in German and English. In addition to the live stream and the website, the Engadin Ski Marathon also offers results, impressions and pictures via the social networks Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. At www.liveimage.ch, you can also regularly see a current picture gallery, which is fed by photographers directly from the track.
Channels and links
- Site:www.engadin-skimarathon.ch
- Facebook:www.facebook.com/engadin.ski marathon
- Instagram:www.instagram.com/engadinskimarathon
- Twitter:www.twitter.com/skiMarathon
- Photo gallery:www.liveimage.ch