Dolomites Skyrace, skyrunning world championship
Canazei (Tn), 24 July 2005
Photo Mario Facchini©
On Sunday, July 24, it has taken place the eight edition of the
Dolomites Skyrace, the famous mountain running competition in
Canazei, Val di Fassa, in the heart of the Dolomites. 1,720 meters
elevation gain, more than 400 participants, the record time of
the course that was standing up since 1998. The report of the
competition thorough the collaboration of Mario Facchini, press
office of the event.
Oscar Durbiano
The competition
The snow fallen during the night on the Dolomite summits of the
Val di Fassa let people fear about the regular course of the Dolomites
Skyrace, third leg of the “Buff® Sky Runner World Series”
2005, the world championship of running in high elevation. Luckily
early in the morning the weather has improved and a pale sun has
followed the 400 “sky runners” along the 22 kilometers,
in a unique and fascinating scenery. A snow fall that has surprised
even the mountain goats, that have often crossed the path of the
sky runners, but not the tactician Michele Tavernaro, orienteering
champion and member of the La Sportiva Mountain Running® Team.
Tavernaro has competed only twice in the “sky races”
and for two times he has reached first the finishing line. To
tell the truth last year in Canazei the fotofinish placed him
third, although with the same time of the winner; this year he
has had the satisfaction of beating the leader of the world ranking,
Englishman Rob Jebb, but the important fact is that he finally
broke the competition record, that belonged to the mythical Fabio
Meraldi, and that was established in 1998. Now the reference time,
stopped on the chronometer of Tavernaro, is of 2h08’30”,
ten seconds of really great worth for Tavernaro.
And exactly the Englishman, leader of the World ranking, has put
in the turbo gear straight after the start, with a very selective
rhythm. Tavernaro has remained in sight of the English champion,
has let him lead to the Forcella Pordoi and Piz Boè, then
downhill he has taken advantage of his orienteering technique
that has “disoriented” Rob Jebb. Exactly in Val Lasties,
where the drop becomes frightening, the Englishman has been reached
and surpassed with big leaps. Jebb hasn’t managed to stick
behind the Italian and several times he has chosen the wrong trajectory,
then in the final he has even been reached by compatriot Simon
Booth, who was seventh on the Forcella Pordoi, and then unbelievably
second at the finish line in Canazei, crowded with more than 2,000
spectators. Remarkable also the crowd along the course, with 1,720
meters elevation gain concentrated in the first 10 kilometers.
Impressive also the recovery of Fabio Bonfanti of Bergamo, slower
during the first part of the competition, but very fast later
downhill, so that he finished at the fourth place.
Among the women a very fast Corinne Favre, ski-mountaineering
champion, has led the competition from the start, dragging behind
her the cross-country skiing champion Cristina Paluselli at the
beginning, later Emanuela Brizio, current leader of the World
Championship. Downhill Paluselli chose not to risk and left the
pace to Brizio and the reigning World Champion, Catalan Anna Serra.
On the finishing line the French woman has been cheered by the
crowd, also her time has been remarkable, 2h44’27”,
although not a record time.
The organizers of the Dolomites Skyrace this time have really
performed miracles, with a competition that seemed to have been
mined by the snow fall. A competition that has pointed out the
passion for the mountains of the 400 brave competitors who on
the Piz Boè (3,152 m.) had to run with a temperature near
zero degrees. Now the leader of the World Championship ranking
is Englishman Jebb (266 points) in front of Bonfanti (216) and
Dapit (196). Among the women Corinne Favre has made a leap forward,
but the leader is always Italian Emanuela Brizio.
Course
The competition follows trails, slopes and talus: the total length
is 22 kilometers (10 km uphill, 12 km downhill). Start and arrival
near the swimming pool of Canazei, 1,450 m, maximum elevation
Piz Boè, 3,152 meters, and elevation gain 1,702 m. The
course is marked with little flags. Checkpoints: Passo Pordoi
(2,239), Rifugio Forcella Pordoi (2,829), Rifugio Boè (2871),
Pian Schiavaneis. Official cutoff time: 1h05’ Passo Pordoi,
1h50’ Forcella Pordoi from the time of the start.
Men’s results
1) Tavernaro Michele (GS Fiamme Gialle) 2.08.30; 2) Booth Simon
(GB) 2.10.08; 3) Jebb Rob (GB) 2.10.20 ; 4) Bonfanti Fabio (Skyrunning
San Pellegrino) 2.10.40; 5) Ratti Carlo (A.S Falchi) 2.13.16;
6) Ezpeleta Iturbe Zuhaitz (Euskadi Basque Country Sele) 2.13.21;
7) Larger Paolo (G.S. Hartmann) 2.14.02; 8) Girardi Ettore 2.14.14;
9) Clementi Carlo 2.14.23; 10) Becerra Walther (Federaciòn
Venezolana de Mo.) 2.14.50
Women’s results
1) Favre Corinne (FRA) 2.44.27; 2) Brizio Emanuela (Skyrunning
Valsesia 2000) 2.46.18; 3) Serra Salame Anna (CAT) 2.46.35; 4)
Taylor Sharon (GB) 2.54.31; 5) Pickwance Ruth (G.S. Oretiella
Garfagnana) 2.54.37
The winner’s shoes
Michele Tavernaro won using one of La Sportiva® Mountain Running
shoes, the model Cardiff
Here following a short technical description of the model.
Cardiff
Multi-purpose and lightweight trail running shoe. It features
a slightly softer midsole than the Rajas and a sole with comfortable
AT compound. The special upper construction, combined with the
precise lacing system, makes the shoe very technical and stable
on any kind of terrain. Multi-purpose model, suitable also for
leisure time activities.
Upper: synthetic leather + Air Mesh with molded reinforcements
Colour: rust/grey - grey/blue
Lining: Mesh, only in the back
Midsole: Super Trail Light Suspension
Sole: FriXion® AT, with Super Trail Tread
Sizes: 38 – 47,5 including half sizes
Weight: 600 gr. per pair
Per altri dettagli consultare il sito www.dolomiteskyrace.com
