page_title: Marcialonga
section_title: Track
hierarchical_section_title: Marcialonga / Track
caption_attribution_description: Italiano: Profilo altimetrico della Marcialonga English: Marcialonga elevation profile
context_page_description: Marcialonga is a cross-country ski race which is arranged for the last Sunday in January in Trentino in Italy. It was first held in 1971 and has been a part of Worldloppet as long as Worldloppet has been around. In 2007, it was run for the 34th time.
  The run begins in Moena, where the skiers first go further up Fassa Valley and along Canazei, passing Moena on its way alongside Cavalese in the Fiemme Valley.
  Marcialonga runs in classic style, and is 70 km long, but in 2007, 2015 and 2017, it was shortened to 57 km due to snow problems. In 1975, 1989 and 1990 it was cancelled due to the total lack of snow on the track. A short race, Marcialonga light is 45 km, and goes from Moena to Predazzo.
  Maria Canins won from 1979 until 1988 10 times the Marcialonga.
context_section_description: The Marcialonga track (which can be covered with cross-country skis throughout the winter season and on foot, with roller skis, by bicycle and on horseback in the summer months) crosses the entire Fassa Valley and then Fiemme valley: it is 69.38 kilometres (43.11 mi) long, with a total difference in height of about 1,030 metres (3,380 ft). The average skiing time is about 3 hours and 13 minutes at an average speed of 21.5 km/h.
  The race starts from the so-called "plain" of Moena, located at an altitude of 1,150 metres (3,770 ft) above sea level, at the gates of the town near the municipal stadium. The morning start is one of the most spectacular moments of the competition and it takes place in line and in steps: the first to start are the "senators" (those who have participated continuously in all editions since 1971) together with the strongest professional athletes; at the center, the skiers who in previous editions have obtained a good placement; at the last, all the remaining amateur sportsmen, affectionately called "the bisons".
  After the start, the track goes on the right bank of the Avisio stream: the skiers face the first ascent towards the Moena Alpine Training Centre of the State Police and go up the whole Fassa Valley. Near Soraga di Fassa, they cross the Avisio stream and reach Vigo di Fassa where, in the locality of San Giovanni, there is the second climb, short but unequivocally nicknamed "legbreaker" (Spacagiames in the local dialect). Then the race passez through the villages of Pozza di Fassa, Mazzin, Campitello di Fassa up to the control point of Canazei, at 1,430 metres (4,690 ft) above sea level, where is located the first turning point.
  The trail goes back, finally downhill, from Canazei again till Soraga di Fassa, where skiers face the third climb, so called "The Endless" (L'Infinita), because of its length that requires considerable effort, considering that, after the long descent from Canazei, the athlets muscles have cooled down. Descending from the hamlet of Someda, they cross the entire town centre of Moena, continuing straight on towards the next Fiemme Valley. After passing the "Giuseppe Dal Ben" Ski Jump Arena, skiers reach the town of Predazzo, where there is the finish line of the half race (Marcialonga light) near the former railway station. Arriving in Ziano di Fiemme there is a short climb called Diaol del Gaso, where athletes are warmly encouraged by the public.
  Once in the lower Fiemme Valley, the trail crosses the municipality of Panchià and Tesero (with a passage in the Lago di Tesero Cross Country Stadium). After the waterfall (La Cascata) in Masi di Cavalese, it is located the second point control point at Molina di Fiemme, at the lowest altitude (800 metres (2,600 ft) above sea level): here takes place the second turning point, back in the direction of Cavalese.
  Returning to the "Cascata" (waterfall), it is where the stretch considered the hardest and most selective of the race begins: from there it starts the last 2.5 kilometres (1.6 mi) of the challenging final ramp, called "Full Gas" or simply "ascent of the waterfall" (salita della cascata), which with its 144 meters of elevation gain (with slopes of up to 12%) leads to the arrival in Mendini boulevard in Cavalese. At the finish line, the winner is welcomed with a laurel wreath.
  Along the entire route, in addition to the numerous fans and enthusiasts who encourage skiers, there are numerous resting points with free hot drinks and food, infirmaries, and technical areas equipped for waxing and replacement of damaged ski poles.
  Athletes who do not wish to reach the final finish in Cavalese can stop at the 45th km near Predazzo, where the finish line of the Marcialonga light classification is located.
  In 2007, 2015, and 2017, due to the lack of snow, the race was shortened to 57 km (starting from Mazzin in the direction of Canazei and back to Cavalese), using of artificial snow. The cost of the snowmaking program, which involves the production, movement and preparation of more than 70-80,000 cubic meters of snow, has cost about 2
caption: Marcialonga elevation profile
exif: {"Image Tag 0x5110": "1", "Image Tag 0x5111": "0", "Image Tag 0x5112": "0"}