CROSS COUNTRY SKI. The international challenge of the cross country skiing Long Distance Race starts next Sunday in Czech Republic and the Italian Winter Sport Federation lines up a team made of ten athletes. Among these stands out the Olympic Cristian Zorzi, but also Fabio Santus and Marco Cattaneo, who aim to reconfirm the podium in the general ranking of the past two editions.

With the new year, the world of the cross country ski long distance races, is ready to welcome FIS Marathon Cup, the challenge that links in a unique event elite athletes with thousands fans of this discipline. FIS Marathon Cup is seen by the federations and private clubs such as an extraordinary opportunity to lined up at the start line high levels cross-country skiers but also athletes specialized in this agonistic formula that lives under the aegis of the Worldloppet.

Italy can be considered among one of the protagonist countries. In 2012edition of Long Distance Race“world cup”, FISI (the Italian Winter Sport Fed) sets up a team of ten athletes.

To lead the Italian expedition there is the duo made up by Fabio Santus and Marco Cattaneo, who maturated a long experience in this kind of competitions: Santus was the winner in 2010, and he closed the last year with a second place in the final ranking, while Cattaneo conquered the crystal award in 2009 and 2006.

To their side there will be Bruno Carrara, Sergio Bonaldi, Florian Kostner and Simone Paredi (winner of Rollerski World Cup 2011) and for the first time in the “dream team” of the long distance the Olympic Cristian Zorzi. For the women Antonella Confortola and Sabina Valbusa are confirmed, together with Stephanie Santer, the new entry.

“Our aim is to collect more points as possible in the free technique races in which we are the favourites - commented Fabio Santus – and considering that the classic technique race are 7 out of 10 we have to pay attention to Scandinavians skiers”.

FIS Marathon Cup normally started with La Sgambeda in Livigno (ITA) as the opening race in December but this year it had to be cancelled, so the calendar 2012 is going to officially start this Sunday with the Jezerzka Padesatka, a 50 km classic technique race in Czech Republic, and after a break of 15 days the circuit will continue with an event every weekend until the 17th March 2012.

Team Stuff:
Team manager Silvio Fauner has assigned to Corrado Vanini and Michele Vairoli all the activities linked to technical assistance, while Simone Diamantini is taking care of the training of the athletes. Silvano Bettineschi deals with the companies that support the XCSki Long Distance Italian Team: main sponsor Molinari, and Scame, Neuberg, Officine Meccaniche di Ponte Nossa, Gech Bingo as special partner.

Press Release
COMeta PRess
January 04, 2012

FIS Marathon Cup 2012
Date                 Race                                   Country     Km     Techn
08.01.2012    Jizerská Padesátka          CZE            50 km     CT
22.01.2012    Dolomitenlauf                    AUT           60 km     FT
29.01.2012    Marcialonga                      ITA             70 km     CT
05.02.2012    Koenig Ludwig Lauf         GER            50 km     CT
12.02.2012    La Transjurassienne          FRA             76 km     FT
19.02.2012    Tartu Maraton                  EST              63 km     CT
25.02.2012    Finlandia Hiihto                 FIN              50 km     CT
04.03.2012    Vasaloppet                        SWE            90 km     CT
11.03.2012    Engadin Skimarathon     SUI               42 km     FT
17.03.2012    Birkebeinerrennet             NOR           54 km     CT

More information on www.worldloppet.com

The first FIS Marathon Cup race on the doorstep!!! Jizerská Padesatka to take place this Sunday!

Even though also Bedrichov and the Jizerská Padesatka track were caught by the mild temperatures and the rain which hangs over Middle Europe at the moment, conditions are still very good. The weather forecast looks very good - colder temperatures as well as some snowfall are announced for the next days!!!

In total, 93 elite skiers have entered the race from the men's side while they are 16 women who will fight for the first FIS Marathon Cup points this winter! After La Sgambeda had to be cancelled due to lack of snow middle of December, the FIS Marathon Cup season will finally kick off this coming weekend with the 50km classic style race in the Iser Mountains, above Liberec, the host town of the 2009 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships.

Both last year's top 3 - Anders Aukland, Oskar Svaerd & Stanislav Rezac on the men's side and Sandra Hansson, Seraina Boner and Susanne Nystroem on the women's side - have anounced their coming. They will be fighting other big names such as Matthias Fredriksson, Martin Koukal, Simen Östensen, Fabio Santus, Jerry Ahrlin, Thomas Alsgaard, Cirstian Zori, Marco Cattaneo, Antonella Confortola Wyatt, Sabina Valbusa, Stefanie Santer, Seraina Mischol and Jenny Hansson.

The race will start at 9am in Bedrichov, the prize giving ceremony is scheduled for 12.15am!

More information on the race: www.jiz50.cz

worldloppet.com
Jizerská Padesatka
02.01.2012