January 31, 2027 08:00
Champions, athletes and amateurs take part in Italy's most famous cross-country ski race, from Moena to Cavalese, along a 70 km route
On the last Sunday in January, in Val di Fassa and Val di Fiemme, cross-country skiing leaves the sports centres and runs right through the villages. Since 1971, this has been Marcialonga day, home to one of the world's best-known long-distance cross-country ski races in classic technique.
At 8:00 am, on the Moena plain, the long day begins for over 6,000 "bisonti". This is the affectionate nickname given to Marcialonga participants, many of whom come from Scandinavia, particularly Norway. Ahead of them are 70 km in classic technique, from Moena to Cavalese, or the shorter course finishing in Predazzo.
From the start, the skiers head up Val di Fassa, following the Avisio river as far as Canazei. Here they turn around and begin the long journey south, passing through Campitello, Pera, Pozza and back through Moena, before leaving the valley and continuing towards Predazzo and Cavalese. And it is in the villages that Marcialonga reveals one of its most distinctive sides: the course runs past houses and through village streets, bringing spectators within just a few metres of the skiers. They cheer those fighting for victory and, many hours later, those still chasing their own finish line. The final kilometres hold one last major challenge. In Cavalese comes the "Mur de la Stria", the notorious final climb, with gradients approaching 20%. Once that's behind them, the finish line on Viale Mendini awaits. The fastest finish in just over two and a half hours. Others take much longer. But at Marcialonga, the stopwatch tells only part of the story.
Programme on Friday, 29 January 2027:
- at 4 pm in Lago di Tesero - Marcialonga Story, vintage ski race with old style equipment
Programme on Saturday, 30 January 2027:
- at 10 am in Predazzo - Marcialonga Baby, initiative for children up to 6 years old
- at 1 pm in Lago di Tesero - Marcialonga Stars, race reserved to VIPs with snow-rackets in collaboration with the Italian association for cancer research
- at 2 pm in Lago di Tesero - Minimarcialonga, 3 km classic technique cross-country skiing race cross for children aged 6 to 12
- at 3 pm in Lago di Tesero - Marcialonga Young, 4 km cross-country race for the teenagers category aged 14 to 16
- at 3 pm in Cavalese - Marcialonga Baby, initiative for children up to 6 years old
- at 5 pm in Canazei - Marcialonga Baby, initiative for children up to 6 years old
Programme on Sunday, 31 January 2027:
- at 8 am in Moena - start of the Marcialonga di Fiemme e Fassa
- at 11 am in Cavalese: arrival of the first competitors and prize giving ceremony
On Sunday morning, the state road no. 48 "delle Dolomiti" will be temporary closed between the Ski Jumping Stadium in Predazzo and the crossroad to Costalunga Pass in San Giovanni di Fassa (from 7:30 am to 8:30 am). The public transport could therefore be subject to delays.
