Alta badia: Maratona dles Dolomites-enel a marathon of humanity, community and emotions of infinite beauty

A peloton that exudes humanity, in perfect harmony with the theme chosen for the 36^th edition of the Maratona dles Dolomites – Enel and the invitation that Michil Costa, president of the Maratona dles Dolomites- Enel, addressed to all the participants: „Be human among humans, become human again. In this inhuman world, finally open your eyes and free them from the display of numbness, and pedal together towards that place inside us that is made up of beautiful humanity. Today and forever”.

The race took off immediately, thanks in part to the presence of Vincenzo Nibali, who inspired the usual favourites, Stefano Stagni and Tommaso Elettrico, to do well. But it is the passes that are closed to traffic that will allow the peloton to enjoy, albeit with fatigue, the wonderful roads that wind up and down between the peaks of the Dolomites: Campolongo, Pordoi, Sella, Gardena, Giau, Falzarego and Valparola. In addition to the 138-kilometre long course with a 4,230-metre difference in altitude, there is also the 106-kilometre medium course with a 3,130-metre difference in altitude and the 55-kilometre Sellaronda with a 1,780-metre difference in altitude. The live television coverage has been entrusted to the Italian TV-channel RAI 2, which have broadcasted from 6.15 a.m. to 12 noon, showing not only the exploits of the thousands of runners scattered along the roads of the Dolomites, but also the spectacular scenery that frames the race.

On the long course, as always, it was the Giau that made the difference: in a group of eight, the Belgian Frederic Glorieux was the first to cross the line at the top of the pass, caught on the Valparola by the Frenchman Loïc Ruffaut, chased by Tommaso Elettrico and the Austrian Patrick Hagenaars. After the Mür dl Giat, the Frenchman went for the sprint and nobody was able to stop him. The solo rider crossed the finish line in 4 hours 30 minutes. Ruffaut’s words shortly after the finish: „It’s incredible to have won today, I still haven’t realised it. On the Giau I noted I had good legs and after the Mür dl Giat I tried to pull away from everyone. It went well for me, crazy.” Behind him, about ten seconds behind, came Tommaso Elettrico and the Austrian Patrick Hagenaars.

Among the women, the winner was Samantha Arnaudo from Piedmont, who finished in 5 hours and 5 minutes, just 36 minutes behind the first men. A great result. Marta Maltha, last year’s winner, and Martina Trevisiol finished second and third, twenty minutes behind. It was a great achievement for Samantha Arnaudo, who expressed her joy as follows: „For me it was my first participation and I didn’t know until the last minute whether to do the medium or the long route, but when I knew that I was five minutes ahead of the chasers at the Falzarego crossroads, I decided to do the Giau and choose the more demanding route. I am overjoyed.”

In the middle course the men’s podium was made up of Mattia Gaffuri, Stefan Kirchmair and Giuseppe Orlando in first, second and third place respectively. The women’s podium was made up of Olga Cappiello in first place, Alessia Bortoli in second and Ilaria Lombardo in third. The winners of the Sellaronda were Thomas Hintner, Wilfried Wisthaler and Gunnar Streblow for the men and Giulia Soffiati, Caroline Doucet and Harriet Martin for the women.

This is how the Maratona dles Dolomites – Enel comes to an end on a day that was fortunately free of rain, not forgetting that the bikes of the winners and some of the participants were checked to ensure that no electronic aids had been used. And tomorrow, a group of forty volunteers will comb the seven Dolomite passes and the entire marathon route to collect the rubbish left by passers-by throughout the year. This is just one of the many initiatives promoted by the Maratona, an event that for years has been committed to combining sport and respect for the environment, with concrete initiatives such as the purchase of 16,000 reusable dishes and glasses for the final refreshment stop. An important investment that has led to a 70% reduction in the use of plastic.

However, it is time to turn our thoughts to the next edition, which will take place on Sunday 7 July 2024 and whose theme is Mutatio, metamorphosis. An invitation to transform ourselves in a world where the climate is changing drastically: „Will we be able to transform ourselves at the speed at which the world’s technologies are changing? Will we humans have the capacity to change, or will we suffocate in fear, in cynicism? If there is no permanent state of metamorphosis, we will come to a bad end, what the caterpillar calls the end of the world, the rest of the world calls the butterfly,” says Michil Costa, quoting Lao Tse. And with an invitation to all of us to change for the better, we look forward to the 37^th edition of the Maratona dles Dolomites-Enel. See you next year.