News / 21.07.2018

STRALIVIGNO - AGOSTINI’S SPRINT PAST EPINEY SWEDISH RUNNER STARFELT WAS QUEEN OF THE RACE, FOLLOWED BY MARIANNA LONGA

Despite the rain, the 19th half trail was a huge success. Side by side during the entire race, Agostini then broke ahead with a sprint to the finish to win a second time. Marianna Longa was seen again, but Swedish runner Starfelt had something more.


Livigno is increasingly more often the homeland for every kind of sport and a real mecca for runners.

The rain, although annoying, did nothing to dampen the enthusiasm of the one thousand runners  at the starting line of the 19th Stralivigno event, the half marathon which exalted the talents of Francesco Agostini, who has won the race in Livigno twice in a row and came in brilliantly in front of Swiss runner Epiney and Finnish runner Varis.

The women's race celebrated the success of Swedish runner Malin Starfelt, with the indestructible champion from Livigno, Marianna Longa, coming in second, just ahead of Franzini from Brescia.

Runners had to cover 21km, setting off from the Aquagranda Active You complex to run an impressive 360° around Livigno. The village was packed with tourists, intrigued by the long snaking line of runners, all of whom had the aim of reaching the finish line right back at Aquagranda. The route was truly charming, an out and out trail featuring stretches over which runners covered the popular cycle-pedestrian track of Livigno, forest roads and some highly technical paths that really  made the difference, especially amongst the strongest runners.

Ready, steady, go! A huge number of runners chose to challenge the rain, taking a quick initial run around the Aquagranda complex before glancing at the lake and heading onto the cycle path. From the first few metres, last year’s winner and nephew of, Andrea (the very first winner in 2000) Francesco Agostini, tried to break free from the group  but Swiss runner Epiney marked him tightly. The two alternated in first position along the initial few kilometres of the race running side by side, and then halfway through the race Epiney launched the challenge by lengthening his step and gaining about ten seconds over Agostini who replied and took first place again along a stretch over a slight slope. Over the last few kilometres the two leading figures were still together to set the pace. Behind them for a large part of the race was Manuel Molteni. In the final stretch, however, the Finn Kari Varis currently in Livigno to prepare for the winter cross-country skiing season, took the upper hand and checked the situation arriving in third place a full minute in front of the others.
The podium was, therefore, drawn up at the very last minute, and indeed only near the finish line was there the epilogue with Agostini who drew on all his energy to set off on an amazing sprint. He finished with a time of 1h17’34, just a hundredth over the Swiss runner. Behind them, the situation had already been decided, with Kari Varis stepping up on the podium with a reasonable margin over Manuel Molteni and Simone Peyracchia. Sportsmen on all fronts, the cross-country skiing twins Thomas and Nicolas Bormolini defending the colours of Livigno did very well coming in 19th and 21st, respectively.

The women’s race, on the other hand, had no story to it. Swedish runner Malin Starfelt set off at a rapid pace and nobody behind her saw her again. Starfelt, in Livigno to prepare for the autumn marathon season immediately impressed everyone by setting a remarkable pace. Emilia Landberg kept an eye on her from afar, although in the race in the special relay ranking, whilst Marianna Longa was effectively in second place throughout the entire race. She defended this position tooth and nail right through to the finish line where her children were waiting to cheer her. The former cross-country skier from Livigno now enjoys running and was really looking forward to Stralivigno. Indeed, she won the very first event and has come in first at a further four since then. The Swede stopped the stopwatch at 1h29’22”, Marianna Longa at 1h37’45”, over a minute faster than the athlete who was third in the ranking, Nadia Franzini. “I didn’t expect this at all,” Marianna Longa said at the end of the race. “It was a great result, and I was really enthusiastic about and proud to take part in Stralivigno. Indeed, I’ve always liked running and since I stopped skiing, running is what helps me stay in shape in order to feel good. It’s a kind of relief valve for daily life. I trained two to three times a week for this race.”

The relay race classified Saverio and Giovanni Steffanoni first in the men's ranking (1h21'52 "), with Cristina Rizzi and Marco Colombo as leading figures in the mixed relays, and Laura Caduff and Veronica Silvestri the fastest in the women's relay.

It was a shame about the rain and low cloud which “darkened” the beautiful view Livigno is able to offer guests, although the runners were able to compete along a really demanding trail. Now, all that’s left is to say is see you all - with some sunshine hopefully - at the 20th event which will be really special, together with Livigno tourist board to welcome all sportspeople!

Tomorrow it’s the turn of our littlest runners who’ll set off on the MiniStralivigno at 9.30a.m..

 

Men’s ranking

1 Agostini Francesco Brixia Atletica 2014 Ssd ITA 01:17:34; 2 Epiney Lucien Run Card Sui 01:17:34; 3 Varis Kari Joensuun Kataja Fin 01:18:40; 4 Molteni Manuel G.S. Villa Guardia Ita 01:19:25; 5 Peyracchia Simone A.S.D.Podistica Valle Ita 01:19:50; 6 Mascherpa Francesco Calcaterra Sport Asd Ita 01:21:37; 7 Paredi Simone Carlo Gruppo Bolettone Ita 01:21:42; 8 Pasini Fabio R.A.S. Courmayeur Ita 01:21:45; 9 De Bernardi Massimiliano Run Card Ita 01:21:54; 10 Zugnoni Graziano G.P. Santi Nuova Olonio Ita 01:24:30

Women’s ranking

1 Starfelt Malin Runacademy If Swe 01:29:22; 2 Longa Marianna Marathon C.-Alta Quota Ita 01:37:45; 3 Franzini Nadia Atl. Paratico Ita 01:39:01; 4 Arcuri Alessandra G.S.A. Cometa Ita 01:40:36; 5 Sonzogni Cristina Elle Erre Asd Ita 01:42:58; 6 Sirtori Antonella A.L.S. Cremella Ita 01:43:08; 7 Zernova Natalia Rus 01:46:09; 8 Confortola Monica Marathon C.-Alta Quota Ita 01:47:45; 9 Giana Marcella G.S.A. Cometa Ita 01:48:59; 10 De Lorenzi Sara Sf Run Card Ita 01:49:01

Relay ranking

1 Steffanoni Saverio/Steffanoni Giovanni 01:21:52; 2 Gilardi Alessandro/Bertolina Mauro Team Lario Valtellina 01:23:57; 3 Canclini Fabio/Barilani Carlo G.P. Santi Nuova Olonio 01:24:01; 4 Sella Manuel/Melesi Marco Affari & Sport 01:24:18; 5 Colangelo Mirko/Villa Andrea Gruppo Ethos Running Team 01:27:57; 6 Cusini Nicolo'/Rodigari Mattia 01:30:17; 7 Fati Filippo/Canclini Sergio 01:31:56; 8 Venosta Claudio/Cappelletti Marco Selvadek 01:32:59; 9 Urbani Simone/Longa Michael 01:35:23; 10 Rizzi Cristina/Colombo Marco G.S.A. Cometa Team 01:37:03
Livigno News GREAT DAYS – RECAP AND FUTURE
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