Competing in Summer on a beautiful real snow track, warmed by the numerous public and in the heart of the town center, is something that you can't find everywhere. In Livigno it is possible, and has been happening for many years now with the Palio delle Contrade and for three editions with the biathlon and cross-country skiing race 1kShot which took place yesterday. Over 500 partecipants for the Palio Delle Contrade, to represent the Livigno districts, a nice group instead of athletes that competed on the distance of one kilometer and above all with the guys from Team Livigno and the two world biathlon queens, Dorothea Wierer and Lisa Vittozzi with lots of of world medals and World Cups on display in the parterre.
There were many medals to celebrate the great sporting day, such as the Olympic and golden one of Michela Moioli (snowboardcross), like to seal the assignment of the 2026 Olympic competitions of snowboard in Livigno together with the freestyle, and the bronze medal of the short track by Katia Zini.
Obviously many arrived in Livigno to witness the match between the two world biathlon queens, and the two Italians have not disappointed the expectations in this atypical competition, with infrared shooting and qualifying time, with semi-finals and finals compared direct. To celebrate on the highest step of the cross-country skiing podium the Swiss Fabiana Wieser and Mirco Bertolina, in the biathlon podium Saverio Zini from Livigno Team, and among women, repeating last year's success, Lisa Vittozzi.
The rain threatened and then pardoned the organizers, who with perfect punctuality had laid out over 80 cubic meters of snow with the help of 100 trucks stored from last winter witht he snowfarming technique, and which will be used to open the cross-country track on the 19th October 2019. So just a light rain and then the race started, with lots of people applauding the participants.
The qualifications didn't offer surprises, all the favorites managed to get over the first step, only Thomas Bormolini, late, risked his qualification in biathlon. In the women's cross-country skiing the two Swiss Wieser and Heuberger dictated the rhythm, with the very young Anna Rossi following them, both in qualifying and in the final stages. Fabiana Wieser's time was inappellable, and she gained the first step of the podium with
1’22”176, with compatriot Heuberger at almost 2”and Italian at 11”
In cross-country skiing Mirco Bertolina, finally in shape after his back problems, set the fastest time in qualifying with 1’10”935, with the Slovenian Vili Crv at 2”, surprise of the day. The final was a catwalk for Bertolina that then granted the public its special somersault on skis, but only when it was certain of victory in his hands. The Slovenian still paid almost 2”, while the final was a heads-up between Francesco Manzoni and Matteo Ferrari, with the first to complete a family podium with his uncle Bertolina. For Ferrari the wooden medal.
The male biathlon offered interesting show with the athletes of the Livigno Team. In the end it was Saverio Zini who won, and did not even need to sprint, instead Luca Ghiglione in the shooting was not as precise as the livignasco, removing the suspense that everyone expected. The final was more balanced, with Rudy Zini excelling on Thomas Bormolini on his bad day.
Obviously the most awaited race was the female biathlon. In the semifinals the clash was uneven. Marianna Bradanini and Daniela Gaglia have had to challenge with the two worldcup champions. So the two young biathletes competed for the third step of the podium, with the Bradanini more precise on the shot and therefore third. Lisa Vittozzi was the first to go to the shooting range and it took only a little to repeat the success of 2018, amid the applause of the large audience. Dorothea Wierer had to settle for second place, but if the script will be like that of the past season - 2nd in Livigno at 1kShot and then 1st in the World Cup - then the"defeat"is well accepted. For Lisa Vittozzi the victory among the friendly public is always an injection of confidence for the coming season. What is certain is that the Livigno Team is already at the top!
“I am happy to be here in Livigno”- the winner said - “among friends and the people who support us throughout the year. The preparation is continuing at its best, the victory in the City Biathlon of Wiesbaden was a good injection of confidence, if in Germany I had good responses from the shooting range, tonight I must say that the feeling with snow and skis has been immediately great. I am supported by a good shape, studied with the coaches at the table to have the peak during the world championship of Anterselva. Personally, my goal is to start well in the World Cup, it's not a secondary aspect for me than the World Cup”. Great work then for the two champions, along with Michela Moioli, Giorgio Rocca and Katia Zini to sign autographs and take selfies with Olympics and Worldcup medals.
And as for the Olympics, there was Antonio Rossi, who last year in the same event said he was certain that the candidacy of Olympics 2026 would be successful. Now he will pull the strings of the complex Lombard organizational machine. Then the evening continued late into the night with the Palio delle Contrade, with the districts' members dressed in typical costumes and with skis from the past in a mix of sport,
goliardery and team spirit.
In Livigno we are already thinking about the next season, with the cross-country skiing opening its doors on 19th October 2019 and with alpine skiing on the 30th of November, when La Sgambeda cross-country race will also be staged with its 30th edition, in the calendar of Visma Ski Classics.
1K SHOT – men's cross country ranking
1 Bertolina Mirco 1:09.812; 2 Crv Vili 1:11.295; 3 Manzoni Francesco 1:11.295; 4 Ferrari Matteo 1:12.159
1K SHOT – women's cross country ranking
1 Wieser Fabiana 1:22.176; 2 Heuberger Carine 1:24.029; 3 Rossi Anna 1:33.270
1K SHOT – men's biathlon ranking
1 Zini Saverio 1:59.069; 2 Ghiglione Luca 2:29.737; 3 Zini Rudy 1:58.551; 4 Bormolini Thomas 1:59.027
1K SHOT – women's biathlon ranking
1 Vittozzi Lisa 2:02.520; 2 Wierer Dorothea 2:11.059; 3 Bradanini Marianna 2:18.157; 4 Gaglia Daniela 2:43.843
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