CROSS-COUNRTY SKI. n the night cross-country skiing race on the Alpe di Siusi, the Italian Nicola Morandini beat his fellow citizen Fabio Santus and the Czech Stanislav Rezac. Success for Antonella Confortola in the women’s category.

16/01/2014 Alto Adige Moonlight Classic 2014, photo COMetaPRess/Brena/CanonDigital

Over 350 cross-country skiers from 15 countries were on the starting line last night, in a race with two circuits of 15 and 30 kilometres. Alpe di Siusi (BZ) 17.01.2014 - In the darkness of the night on the Alpe di Siusi, with a full moon concealed behind the clouds, it was Nicola Morandini to dominate the Alto Adige Moonlight Classic, the cross-country skiing race at night, which took place last night with over 350 participants (representing 15 countries) on two circuits of 15 and 30 kilometres to be covered with the classic technique.

16/01/2014 Alto Adige Moonlight Classic 2014, photo COMetaPRess/Brena/CanonDigital

Making his debut in the South Tyrol competition, the Italian cross-country skier set the pace of the race from the very beginning, keeping a check on his strongest adversaries such as the Italians Fabio Santus and Cristian Zorzi and the best of the foreigners, the Czech Stanislav Rezac.

16/01/2014 Alto Adige Moonlight Classic 2014, photo COMetaPRess/Brena/CanonDigital

At the 18th kilometre, the Italian Riccardo Mich (who was to finish in fifth place overall) greatly accelerated, followed only by Morandini, who after this exploit continued his race, stringing out the leading group even more and becoming the leader of the pack in the race once and for all. Morandini took a few risks in the last part of the 30-kilometre circuit, when on the last climb the strong wind blew the snow, covering the tracks and slowing down his final sprint. Fabio Santus took advantage of this as unlike his direct adversary, he used skis with grip wax and in the climb, he shortened the gap so much as to get dangerously close to Morandini, but a last effort by the latter in sight of the finish line allowed him to win the eighth Alto Adige Moonlight Classic Alpe di Siusi.

16/01/2014 Alto Adige Moonlight Classic 2014, photo COMetaPRess/Brena/CanonDigital

“I am delighted with this victory because I feel that after a month at high altitudes my body now reacts positively” commented Nicola Morandini “and I would say that this result is an excellent sign in view of the important meeting of the season, the Marcialonga”.

THE OTHERS ON THE PODIUM
Another aspirant to the final victory and a real long-distance specialist in the classic technique was the Czech Rezac. Although he fell, losing his bib, he was able to keep third position just 12 seconds after the winner. Cristian Zorzi closed in eighth position, again penalized by slow skis in the descents, whilst the Swede Jerry Ahrlin, with his partner Laila Kveli, was not at the starting line as announced.

16/01/2014 Alto Adige Moonlight Classic 2014, photo COMetaPRess/Brena/CanonDigital

In the women’s category, success was “foretold” for the Italian Antonella Confortola, who raced on her own, leaving the other two places on the podium to the Czech skiers Adela Boudikova and Clara Moravcoca. The Swiss Ursina Badilatti finished fourth.

HOW IT WENT ON THE SHORT CIRCUIT
The victory in the 15-kilometre circuit went to the twenty-one-year-old Czech Pavel Ondrasek, who beat his fellow citizen Viktor Novotny in the sprint whilst the Italian Paul Oberbacher came third. Mention must be made of Ulrich Kostner (born in 1946), winner of the first Marcialonga in 1971, who finished in thirteenth position. The women’s podium for the short circuit had another Czech skier on the highest step, Kamila Knopova, whilst the place of honour was for Alice Andreoli and Silvia Mozzi finished third.

ECOLOGICAL TRACKS
It was an ecological Moonlight race because the snow cat Husky E-motion, developed by Prinoth has been active on the Alpe di Siusi cross-country circuits for a few days now. This innovation implements an electric diesel transmission, which replaces hydrostatic propulsion for the additional functions. This means a 30% increase in performance and a 20% reduction in consumption, which all goes to benefit the environment and the eco-sustainable activities developed on the largest plateau in Europe.

SEE YOU IN 2015
There was satisfaction all round for the organizers of the Alto Adige Moonlight Classic Alpe di Siusi at the close of the eighth edition: “This event grows season after season and word about the uniqueness of the Moonlight has spread beyond Italy” commented Robert Santer, head of the organizing committee. The Alpe di Siusi race therefore has a long future ahead of it and represents the high point in the cross-country skiing season of one of the most renowned destinations for cross-country skiing. In fact, the Alpe di Siusi is considered a “second home” for the Norwegian cross-country skiing team, who have chosen the plateau in the province of Bolzano for their summer and winter retreats. In the meantime, the Alto Adige Moonlight Classic Alpe di Siusi 2015 is scheduled for Wednesday 4th February: it’s just over a year away but many cross-country skiers already wanted to put their names down yesterday!

Alto Adige Moonlight Classic 2014 Results

30 KM MALE
Pos    Cognome        Nome        Naz      Team     Tempo
1         Morandini        Nicola         ITA       G.S. Castello di Fiemme/ Teem Coop      1:27:44.35
2        Santus              Fabio          ITA       CS Carabinieri                                          1:27:47.95
3        Rezac               Stanislav    CZE     TEAM CENTRIC                                       1:28:16.10
4        Rocarek           Jiri               CZE     Fischer racing team                                  1:28:53.40
5        MIch                 Riccardo     ITA       Team Rossignol                                        1:29:07.40
6        Krska               Jan              CZE     SK Nove Mesto na Morave                       1:29:12.60
7        Seifert              Benjamin    GER      Fischer Racing Team                                1:29:28.25
8        Zorzi                 Cristian       ITA        Fiamme Gialle Team Rossignol                1:30:54.35
9        Sikora              Jakob           CZE     Ski club Jablonec                                      1:31:44.85
10      Keplinger         Markus         AUT     Union Bad Leonfelden                              1:34:07.55
                                            
30 KM FEMALE
Pos    Cognome           Nome         Naz      Team     Tempo
1        Confortola            Antonella    ITA       corpo forestale dello stato                      1:43:24.20
2        Boudikova            Adela          CZE     Fischer racing team                               1:45:39.45
3        Moravcoca           Clara           CZE     Ski club Jablonec                                   1:48:30.60
4        Badilatti             Ursina            CH        TG Hütten                                             1:48:43.40
5        Kasslatter            Elisa             ITA       S.C.Gröden-Saslong                             1:52:53.75
                                            
15 KM MALE
Pos    Cognome         Nome     Naz    Team     Tempo
1         Ondrasek          Pavel      CZE    Atlas Czech Republic                 0:36:51.35
2         Novotny             Viktor      CZE    Fisher Ski Team                         0:36:54.65
3         Oberbacher       Pauli        ITA      GS Team Hartmann                  0:38:20.35
                          
15 KM FEMALE
Pos    Cognome          Nome     Naz    Team     Tempo
1         Knopova            Kamila    CZE    Ski club Jablonec                      0:45:26.05
2         Andreolli            Alice         ITA     Gs Bretonica                             0:57:29.80
3         Mozzi                 Silvia        ITA                                                      1:01:00.90