Giuliana Werro from Zernez won her second Engadin ski marathon. The Norwegian Magne Haga won the men. Heavy snowfall made the 54th Engadin a tough race; the start had to be postponed from Maloja to Silvaplana.
Since the start was moved to Silvaplana, the 54th Engadin Ski Marathon was a good three kilometers shorter than usual. However, heavy snowfall set in an hour before the start and made for an exhausting race. “The fresh snow not only made the race harder, it also made it easier, because it was possible to create a tactical race,” said Norwegian winner Magne Haga. “The Swiss did almost all the work.” Haga hinted that the young Fabrizio Albasini and Nicola Wigger, but also Dario Cologna, had taken on a lot of leadership work in the leading group of six.
Haga and his compatriots Thomas Bucher-Johannessen and Filip Fjeld Andersen took part and were fresher in the final phase.
When Haga stepped up the pace three kilometers from the finish line, Albasini and Wigger had to stop. Swiss hopes for a podium finish were now based on Dario Cologna. The four-time winner had already shown himself to be very active in the first phase of the race and wasn't too sorry to take on leadership work. The crowd favorite ran an intelligent race and was able to keep up with the Norwegians until the final phase.
In the “Golan Heights” after Zuoz, they then had better legs and left Cologna in thankless fourth place; Albasini was fifth, Wigger sixth. “It was my hardest Engadin so far,” said Dario Cologna at the finish line. “This fourth place surprises me, I'm very satisfied.”
Positive fluorine test for the fastest
For women, Zernezer Giuliana Werro was able to repeat her victory last year. Although she had arrived in second place, Frenchwoman Maelle Veyre, who was ahead of her, was disqualified due to fluorine wax on her skis. Italian Federica Sanfilippo finished second behind Werro, Scuoler Carla Wohler, in previous years a school colleague from Werro, was a very good third. She was already very happy about the second place, said Werro at the finish line. The second victory at the Engadin Ski Marathon makes them very happy.
The fact that the alleged winner of the race had to be disqualified due to a growth offense surprised and disappointed him, said FIS technical delegate Janis Lindegger. The FIS examined 50 skis for fluorine wax. 12 of the test results were positive and led to disqualifications. Frenchwoman Maelle Veyre was the only top ten runner who stuck in control of fluorine waxes.
The marathon of big changes
In the two weeks before the race, almost two meters of snow had fallen in Maloja. They had prevented the trail across Lake Sils and later also across Lake Silvaplana from being prepared. The entire starting area, which was ready in Maloja, was dismantled again and rebuilt first in Sils and then a third time in Silvaplana.
On marathon Sunday, the almost 13,000 registrants did not have to miss out on anything. “We owe our full thanks to the more than 1,000 volunteers, the communities of the Engadin and everyone who contributed behind and in front of the scenes to make this race even possible,” said a satisfied CEO Menduri Kasper after the race. “We have once again achieved our ultimate goal of offering runners a unique experience this year.”
Results
54th Engadin Ski Marathon, Silvaplana — S-chanf, 40.5 km
women
- Werro Giuliana (SUI) 1:59.26 ,7
- Sanfilippo Federica (ITA) +1,13.5
- Wohler Carla (SUI) +1.25.3
- Dolci Flora (FRA) +1.27.3
- Hutter Sara (SUI) +2,06.2
- Gaillard Margaux (FRA) +2,24.1
- Lechner Sophie (GER) +2.32.6
- Bredal Mariah (USA) +3,07,5
- Boner Seraina (SUI) +3,09,0
- Bull Emilie (FRA) +4,09,3
men
- Haga Magne (NOR) 1:44.42 .2
- Bucher-Johannessen Thomas (NOR) +7.8
- Andersen Filip Fjeld (NOR) +35.9
- Cologna Dario (SUI) +38.6
- Albasini Fabrizio (SUI) +1.15.2
- Wigger Nicola (SUI) +1.33.5
- Altimiras Irineu Esteve (AND) +3,04.1
- Riebli Janik (SUI) +4.11.6
- Bing Thomas (GER) +4.16.4
- Agnellet Gerard (FRA) +4.16.6
Started: 11'029
Media release of the Engadin Ski Marathon dated March 10, 2024.
Christian Gartmann has been Communications and Media Officer at the Engadin Ski Marathon since 2014 and advises organizers on crisis management and crisis communication.