Roman Furger from Uri won the Engadin Ski Marathon for the fourth time. Dario Cologna finished second in his last international race, Frenchman Tom Mancini third. Nadja Kälin shone among women. St. Moritzerin won ahead of Frenchwomen Céline Chopard and Enora Latuillière. The race in the best conditions was very animated, but the expected record times did not materialize.
It was Dario Cologne's last international race as a professional and expectations were correspondingly high: Not only had the audience and the media bet on his victory, he himself soon showed that anyone who wanted to win this race had to get past him. Cologna quickly realized that Roman Furger was one of his toughest opponents.
“Roman is always a lucky bag, but when I saw how active he was in Stazerwald and kept closing the holes, I knew that I had to reckon with him.” The Stazerwald was also decisive for eventual winner Roman Furger: “Here we were able to shake off the strong sprinters so that it became a bit easier at the finish line,” he told the media. It was a nice, fair and quiet race. At the finish line, Furger was somewhat surprised by his victory.
He hadn't competed since the Olympic Games and a cold had disrupted his training plans. Frenchman Tom Mancini's third-place finish was no surprise: already considered the favorite in advance, he was active throughout the race and was never too sorry to take on leadership work. So he was at the top of the race until the end. In the sprint, Roman Furger had a bit more reserves and was able to push him and Dario Cologna to places. The expected record time did not materialize, but the announced tailwind would have had to be stronger.
Surprised winner and emotional Dario Cologna
The women's winner was surprised at the finish line: “I've never even run over 42 kilometers,” said Nadja Kälin. She also had a corona infection after the Olympic Games and was only able to train to a limited extent. “I had to suffer quite a bit in Stazerwald and at Bever, but I still managed to always keep myself in the top ranks.”
In the sprint, however, the young local was able to push Frenchwomen Céline Chopard Lallier and Enora Latuillière to the seats. At the award ceremony, race director Adriano Iseppi said farewell to Dario Cologna with emotional words and thanked the retiring Münstertaler on behalf of all Swiss cross-country skiing friends: “What you have done for Swiss cross-country skiing is indescribable.” It was too much for Cologna and he could no longer hold back the tears.
He didn't want to rule out another start at the Engadin Ski Marathon in the end, but he probably shouldn't have too high hopes for a fifth victory: “The home straight gets a little longer every year,” he grinned in his honor at the end of the small ceremony. The 52nd Engadin Ski Marathon took place in the best outdoor conditions. The sun was shining right at the start of the elite and the trail was in excellent condition. “I'm thrilled,” said managing director Menduri Kasper about the event. “The new wave start worked very well and brought the expected relief into the field.
The smaller starting groups have ensured that almost only equally strong participants converge. This has reduced the hustle and bustle in the field. The new sections of the route between Pontresina and Samedan have also proved their worth.”
52nd Engadin Ski Marathon: Maloja — S-chanf, 42 km
Women's result, overall ranking
- Kaelin Nadja, St. Moritz GR, 1:46.31 ,1
- Chopard Lallier Céline, France, +1.8
- Latuillière Enora, France, +4,0
- Brocard Elisa, Frankrijk, +8.3
- Boner Seraina, Davos Place GR, +1,50.7
- My Susi, Boltigen BE, +2,23.3
- Øyre Slind Silje, Norway, +3.33.8
- Löschke Jessica, Germany, +3,52.0
- Feldman Katie, USA, +3,52.7
- Zampa Maria Adele, Carona TI, +4.33.6
Men's result, overall ranking
- Furger novel, Schattdorf UR, 1:35.59 ,5
- Cologna Dario, Davos village GR, +1.7
- Mancini Tom, Frankrijk, +2,7
- Baumann Jonas, Davos Village GR, +4.0
- Gaillard Jean-Marc, France, +6.1
- Agnellet Gerard, Frankrijk, +11,6
- Capelli Marino, Davos Place GR, +18.4
- Raetz Curdin, Sils/Segl Maria GR, +26.9
- Pfäffli Gian Flurin, Pontresina GR, +1.30.7
- Perruche Simon, France, +1.31.0
13th Engadin half marathon: Maloja — Pontresina, 21 km
Women's result, overall ranking
- Klimpel Janna, Germany, 56,54.2
- Rüegg Celia, Hinwil ZH, +4.29.1
- Rey Sophie, Icogne VS, +5.29.8
- Strecker Teresa, Germany, +6,36.7
- Arquint Tania, Ardez GR, +8.20.4
- Barmettler Daniela, Lucerne LU, +15.54.4
- Heggli Ruth, Root LU, +17,02.2
- Leonardi Nora, Zurich ZH, +17,56.6
- Schellenberg Simona, Pontresina GR, +17,58.2
- Zala Renata, Chur GR, +18,09.5
Men's result, overall ranking
- Laurent Bastien, Frankrijk, 51.00,0
- Becker Manuel, Germany, +28.3
- Selter Benjamin, Germany, +1,21.7
- Krüger Reto, Maloja GR, +2.54.9
- Zisler Constantin, Illnau ZH, +6,03.4
- Vetsch Robin, Ebnat-Kappel SG, +8.11,8
- Neumeier Frank, Germany, +9,50.6
- Happy Mario, Chur GR, +10,06.2
- Fankhauser Nils, Finsterwald LU, +10.24.1
- Maes Gabriel, Vättis SG, +10.24.3
The Engadin Marathon Week 2023:
22nd Engadin Women's Run:
Samedan — S-chanf, 17 km; Sunday, March 5, 2023
37th Youth Sprint:
Samedan; Wednesday, March 8, 2023
5th Engadin night run:
Sils — Pontresina, 17 km; Thursday, March 9, 2023
1st St. Moritz Supersprint:
St. Moritz Kurpark; Friday, March 10, 2023
53rd Engadin Ski Marathon:
Maloja — S-chanf, 42 km; Sunday, March 12, 2023
14th Engadin Half Marathon:
Maloja — Pontresina, 21 km; Sunday, March 12, 2023
Christian Gartmann has been Communications and Media Officer at the Engadin Ski Marathon since 2014.