The Grisons Dario Cologna won the Engadin Ski Marathon for the third time. In the final spurt, he outstripped Anders Gløersen (NOR) and Ilia Chernousov (RUS). In the women's race, Mari Eide (NOR) won ahead of Rahel Imoberdorf (Münster/VS) and Caitlin Gregg (USA). The race took place in the best external conditions under bright sunshine; with 1:27.46 0.0, the winner remained a good three minutes above the record time.
After 2007 and 2010, Dario Cologna won the classic from Maloja to S-chanf on Sunday for the third time. As expected, the race was fast and Cologna always ran in the best positions. Nevertheless, the two young Swiss men, Dayan Danuser and Beda Klee, managed to break out and gain a lead of over 100 meters at times.
“We Swiss knew right from the start that Danuser and Klee would try to pull out. That's why we didn't do any management work for the field,” Cologna told the media at the finish line.
It was no surprise to Cologna that the two youngsters were unable to save their lead all the way to the finish line. “Such actions are bold but unfortunately rarely rewarded.” After the merger, the pace was increased under the dictates of Anders Gløersen and Cologna moved into the top three for the final.
In the last small climb to the finish stage, the Grisons then launched the final spurt; on his neck was the Norwegian Anders Gløersen and the Russian Ilia Chernousov, the winners of 2014 and 2015. It wasn't until the finish line that he knew he had won.
The defeat in the final spurt only hurt Anders Gløersen briefly: The Norwegian was able to congratulate his partner Mari Eide on her victory in the women's race. She had been able to stay at the helm of the men for a long time. In Pontresina, she missed out on food and then had trouble keeping up a fast pace after Samedan.
She also didn't know whether she was leading: “I saw the leading snowmobile with me, but I wasn't sure until I asked if I had won,” laughed the Norwegian, who had already won the Engadin night sprint in St. Moritz on Friday.
Rahel Imoberdorf from Münster and American Caitlin Gregg were behind Mari Eide. Imoberdorf was third in the women's run a week ago and made it to the final race in the sprint from Friday. Although she stayed close to Mari Eide, she ended up around 100 meters or a good 17 seconds behind the Norwegian.
Successful Engadin Marathon week despite bad weather
With almost 15,000 participants in six races, the Engadin Marathon Week was very successful. After a women's run in picture-perfect conditions last Sunday, it rained on Wednesday and Thursday, and the first Engadin night run turned into a race in the rain.
The preparation of the trail required everything from those responsible and their helpers, but the excellent conditions on Sunday rewarded them for their effort and many a night shift.
“The volunteers and cross-country skiers did a first-class job,” enthused managing director Menduri Kasper, who had been responsible for the Engadin for the first time. “It was a tough week and the rain really challenged us. But everyone pulled together and managed to organise a first-class run for our runners.”
The marathon week 2017 was also a success for the president of the Engadin Ski Marathon Association: “The transition to the new organization worked well, the new management team found excellent cooperation with the existing staff of organizers, helpers and experts from specialist companies,” said Urs Pfister.
“The newly launched night run was a great success despite rainy weather and the women's run and marathon on the two Sundays were real highlights for Engadin and cross-country skiing. We were able to maintain the high level of this extremely popular event and are now really looking forward to the 50th Engadin Ski Marathon anniversary next winter.”
49th Engadin Ski Marathon 2017: Results
Marathon men's jumpsuit
- Cologna Dario, Davos village SUI - 1:27.46 ,0
- Glöersen Anders, Oslo NOR - +0.00,6
- Chernousov Ilia, Lantsch/Lenz RUS - +0.00,7
- Manificat Maurice, FRA - +0.02.0
- Jay Renaud, Saint Martin de Belle, FRA - +0.02.1
- Gaillard Jean-Marc, FRA - +0.02.7
- Mougel Adrien, La Cure FRA - +0.02.8
- Goalabre Paul, Abries FRA - +0.03.1
- Pralong Candide, Orsieres FRA - +0.03.2
- Livers Toni, Davos place SUI - +0.03.3
Marathon women's jumpsuit
- Eide Mari, Oslo NOR - 1:34.18 ,1
- Imoberdorf Rahel, Munster VS SUI - +0.17.6
- Gregg Caitlin, Minneapolis USA - +0.23.8
- Boner Seraina, Davos place SUI - +1.19.7
- Gräfnings Maria, SWE - +1.50.0
- Staver Tuva Toftdahl, Trondheim NOR - +1,50.1
- Jean Aurore, Lamoura SUI - +2.47.5
- Schicho Elisabeth, Ruhpolding GER - +2.48.0
- Dabudyk Aurelie, St. Sixt FRA - +3,45.6
- Vulliet Constance, FRA - +3,47.2
Half Marathon (Maloja-Pontresina) men, overall
- Alraun Tobias, Rosenheim GER - 46,13.4
- Epp Gael, Grendelbruch FRA - +0.28.2
- Barannikov Aleksey, Moscow RUS - +0.28.8
- Nufer Cla-Ursin, Rueras GR SUI - +1.41.7
- Pralong Marc, Orsieres SUI - +2,114.6
Half Marathon (Maloja-Pontresina) women, jumpsuit
- Moen Anita, Trysil NOR - 53.10.4
- Ketterer Lara, Titisee-Neustadt GER - +0.39.9
- Sledge Sana, Felsberg GR SUI - +3.10.0
- Arquint Tania, Scuol GR SUI - +4.43.0
- Riedener Nina, Balzers LIE - +4,46.0
Total started: 12'211
links
- Site: www.engadin-skimarathon.ch
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/engadin.ski marathon
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/engadinskimarathon
- Twitter: Twitter.com/skiMarathon
- Photo gallery: www.liveimage.ch
Contact for more information
Engadin Ski Marathon
Menduri Kasper/Catherine Fischer
+41 81 850 55 55
presse@engadin-skimarathon.ch
Media support on the day of the event
Christian Gartmann
+41 79 355 78 78
Logo and free press photos from the Engadin Ski Marathon
www.swiss-image.ch
Username: skimarathon
Password: engadin