In Livigno, a solo performance from the five-time Olympic medalist, who claims victory for the third consecutive year, while a sprint finish decides the men’s race. Great international presence in this 34th edition.
The BWT Sgambeda was, as usual, an adrenaline-packed start to the season, the traditional cross-country skiing event that kicks off the winter season in the Little Tibet. It’s a historic event that continuously renews itself, thanks to the massive collective effort of the entire organization, always able to provide athletes with a competitive, spectacular, and scenic racecourse. The huge, meticulous work carried out throughout the week allowed participants to enjoy a track of rare beauty today.
The beauty of the track was met with clear enthusiasm from the nearly 400 skiers at the start, who gave the audience along the town and at the finish line an exciting race. Two races with excellent technical and athletic content, and, especially in the men’s race, a thrilling finish decided only in the final meters, after a long group breakaway. The perfect conclusion to a flawless day, which began with 15 centimeters of fresh snow and continued with the involvement of the entire community.
A particularly noteworthy performance came from Polish athlete Justyna Kowalczyk Tekieli, a world-class competitor, as evidenced by her five Olympic podiums. For the third consecutive year, she claimed victory, outpacing the competition with a time of 01:09:25. In excellent physical shape and with a deep knowledge of the course, Kowalczyk, who races for Team Robinson Trentino, finished ahead of German Sigrid Mutscheller, who was second, about a minute behind, and French Maya Even, who placed third. The best-placed Italian was Sara Hutter of A.S.V. Prad Raiffeisen Werbering, finishing sixth.
The BWT Sgambeda was more hotly contested in the men’s race, where a small group of athletes, led by Italian Paolo Fanton, from Team Futura A.S.D. White Fox, made the day exciting with a long breakaway, which proved decisive midway through the race. The group gradually split as the finish line approached, with Fanton and Kazakh Denis Volotka battling for the win. In the end, Volotka triumphed by a very narrow margin, crossing the line in 01:03:31, just a couple of seconds ahead of Fanton. Meanwhile, not far behind, German Jakob Walther from Ski-Willy Marathon Team overtook Frenchman Gaspard Meyer for third place, showcasing the great international character of the event.
The weekend was made even more engaging by the successful MiniSgambeda and the post-race lunch featuring Felicetti pasta and Vallespluga rooster, which framed a key moment in the Livigno calendar, combining high-level sport, tradition, cultural promotion of the area, and community participation perfectly.
