The first double vertical race in Lombardia, that as usual had really many top athletes on the starting list, has attracted this morning 205 athletes representing 10 different nations on the spectacular and challenging course in Bassa Valtellina. 

The format of this 6th edition was the same of all the previous editions, with start in the centre of Talamona, and finish line at the top of Monte Pisello, after 2000 m of pure struggle on a 9 km long course, with an incline that goes from 22% till 45%. Delorenzi was able to break the previous record of Michele Boscacci (1h 18’ 03’’) with the new time to beat: 1h 16’ 22’’. In the female category, none of the athletes were able to break the incredible record that Andrea Mayr got last year (1h 24’ 46’’). 

THE PROTAGONISTS: it was hard to make a prediction, considering that at the start there were some of the current best vertical runners. Many expectations were obviously placed on the skyrunning World Champion and new European champion Roberto Delorenzi, but there were many other athletes fighting for a place on the podium, such as the Slovenian Timotej Bacan, the Austrian Christof Hochenwarter, the Swedish Martin Nilson, and all the Italian team members: Marcello Ugazio, Lorenzo Rota Martir, Alex Rigo, William Boffelli, Alex Oberbacher, Luciano Rota and Andrea Elia. Many top athletes were also present on the starting list of the female category, such as Camilla Magliano, Corinna Ghirardi and Benedetta Broggi, with the Japanese Yuki Ikegami as a sort of outsider.

THE RACE: already from the beginning, Roberto Delorenzi tried to push the pace, going immediately at the head of the competition. At the passage in Pedroria his gap towards the first chaser, Andrea Elia, was already quite high, but in order to break the record of Michele Boscacci it was necessary to push even harder on the snowy steep part that leaded to the last passage and to the crest before the finish line. The winner in the end was an extraordinary Roberto Delorenzi (1h 16’ 22’’), second place for Andrea Elia (1h 20’ 07’’), third place for the Slovenian Timotej Becan (1h 20’ 41’’). Top five completed by Alex Oberbacher 4th place, and Marcello Ugazio, 5th position.
 

The female competition was decided immediately after the intermediate point of Madrera, when Corinna Ghirardi took the lead, increasing her pace constantly, coming as first on the finish line in 1h 37’ 23’’; second place for Benedetta Broggi (1h 38’ 57’’) and third place for Camilla Magliano (1h 41’ 57’’). Good performance also that of the Romanian Ingrid Mutter, 4th place, and of Barbara Sangalli, in 5th place.

NOT ONLY COMPETITION: K2 Extreme Valtellina, as usual, is extreme not only for the steep uphill, but also for the amazing after party. All the athletes, volunteers and supporters came down after the race and gathered at the big tent in order to enjoy the lunch with some delicious products typical of Valtellina, the award ceremony and the party that continued until late at night.

CLICK HERE  for the results!!