January 28

SKIMO WORLD CUP 2019, FONT BLANCA: Robert Antonioli and Alba De Silvestro won the individual, Werner Marti and Victoria Kreuzer won the vertical race

Posted by adefrutos on January 28, 2019 in fedme, FEDME 2019, ismf, ismf world cup, ismf world cup 2019, ski mountainering, skialp, skimo 2019 | Leave a comment

A new stage of the 2019 ISMF World Cup was held in Andorra this weekend, it was dominated by a double victory of Italy in the Individual race. Robert Antonioli and Alba De Silvestro reached the top step of the podium, respectively with a time of 1h23’30” and 1h43’35”.
Double victory for swiss Werner Marti and Victoria Kreuzer in the Vertical Race.

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SKIMO WORLD 2019: INDIVIDUAL RACE REPORT

In the ski area of Arcalís, situated few kilometres above Ordino, a copious snowfall forced the Local Organising Committee to modify the original plans, opting for a new race course. After a first ascent, the competitors faced twice a spectacular and very beautiful circuit for the large audience present. The Senior Men category had a difference in height of 1700 metres, while the Senior Women and the Junior Men confronted 1500 metres in uphill and the same in downhill. Instead the Junior women competed on a route with 1010 metres of difference in altitude.

This new track has given rise to some hard-fought challenges. In the first ascent, the Swiss Werner Marti started immediately at full throttle and left Robert Antonioli (ITA) and Michele Boscacci (ITA) behind him. Then, at a later stage, the competitive battle was a two-way between the two Italian Robert Antonioli and Matteo Eydallin. The first has maintained the top position with strength and stubbornness preventing the race for the victory of Matteo Eydallin. The winner finished the contest with a time of 1h23’30”. Behind him, with only 16 seconds of delay, Matteo Eydallin proved to have a timeless class. The French Xavier Gachet reached the third position of the podium with a time of 1h25’49”, while in the fourth and fifth places arrived the Italian Davide Magnini (winner of the Espoir category) and the French William Bon Mardion. Among Senior Women Alba De Silvestro (ITA) crossed the finish line first with a time of 1h43’35”. It was the first victory in a World Cup for her. The second place of the podium was for Claudia Galicia Cotrina (ESP) in 1h44’13” and the third for Lorna Bonnel (FRA), while Marianna Jagercikova (SVK) closed in fourth position and Victoria Kreuzer (SUI) in the fifth place. The Italian Giulia Murada won among the Espoirs Women. In the Junior category the Swiss Aurélien Gay (with a time of 1h30’53”) was the leader, before the Italian Sebastien Guichardaz (2° place) and the Swiss Patrick Perreten (3° place). Among Junior Women Ekaterina Osichkina (RUS) won the race, followed by Emilie Farquet (SUI) and Samantha Bertolina (ITA).

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SKIMO WORLD 2019: VERTICAL RACE REPORT

Michele Boscacci (ITA) and Robert Antonioli (ITA) tried to force the pace with Werner Marti (SUI) and Rémi Bonnet (SUI) immediately on his heels. About half way Werner Marti stopped the delay and with arrogance took the first position. Behind him the two Italians outdistanced, while the winner’s compatriot Rémi Bonnet tried to get back on the teammate. When the two athletes saw in the distance the arrival arches were by now shoulder to shoulder and sometimes they turned to check the advance of Robert Antonioli. Despite the incessant gusts of wind, Werner Marti (SUI) jerked forward in the last 100 metres, leaving the teammate Rémi Bonnet on the spot and crossing the finish line with a time of 27’39”. At the end the Swiss Rémi Bonnet confirmed the second position with only 4 seconds of delay. Instead the Italian Robert Antonioli arrived third with a time of 28’07”.

Concerning the Senior Women, the predictions of the eve were widely respected with the winner Victoria Kreuzer (SUI) who asserted her skills as a “verticalist” and her athleticism. She got some important points for the final success of the specialty with a time of 34’24”. The second place has been for the Spanish Claudia Galicia Cotrina, while the Italian Alba De Silvestro closed in third position.

Lastly, as regards the Junior category, Aurélien Gay (SUI) and Ekaterina Osichkina (RUS) reached the top step of the podium. Among Juniors, the Italian Sebastien Guichardaz and the Swiss Patrick Perreten took respectively the second and the third position. In the Junior Women’s ranking the second place has been for Samantha Bertolina (ITA) and the third for Malaurie Mattana (FRA).

Among Espoirs, the Italian Giulia Murada and the Belgian Maximilien Drion Du Chapois were the winners.

The Andorran leg has just ended, but the ISMF World Cup circuit does not stop here. The next event is scheduled for the next weekend on the snows of Le Dévoluy (France) where the skimo athletes will have to face two races: Individual and Sprint race.

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SKIMO WORLD 2019: PHOTO GALLERY