13° Trofeo Mezzalama, the results

The team composed of Graziano Boscacci, Ivan Murada and Heinz Blatter wins the Monte Rosa supermarathon from Cervinia to Gressoney and establish new course record. Gloriana Pellisier, Arianna Follis and Alexia Zuberer win women's event

PlanetMountain.com

April 2001

Traduci in

28/04/2001

"Our tactics were a bit risky: attack during the first steep section to try and demoralise the opponents. We managed. Winning the Mezzalama is every ski mountaineer’s dream and today we did just that.” This is what Graziano Boscacci had to say after crossing the finishing line together with his teammates Ivan Murada and the Swiss Heinz Blatter.

Not only did they win the 13th Trofeo Mezzalama but they also bettered the 1999 course record, which now stands at 4hrs 32min 22secs for the 45km from Cervinia to Gressoney-La-TrinitÃ©.

The Italian-French team composed of Fabio Meraldi (victorious in 1997), Jean Pellissier and Stephan Bross placed second, 4min 31 secs behind the winners, while the Altitude 1 team composed of Franco Nicolini, Carlo Pedrini and Carlo Battel placed third, 8min 39 secs later. The race times show clearly just how fast these athletes completed the massacring course, which included a total of 2862m height gain and 3145m height loss and reached a maximum altitude of 4226m at Punta Castore.

The women’s event was won by Gloriana Pellisier, Arianna Follis and Alexia Zuberer, who managed an impressive 6hrs 09min 04secs (41st fastest time overall). “The race was fairly tough. We encountered some difficulties on the Verra glacier and the Liskamm. But we managed to work together and achieved an excellent time compared to our 7 hours and 45 mins two years ago. It was a great feeling crossing the finishing line together with Alexia and Arianna.” In many respects the fascinating nature of the Mezzalama lies in this simple yet profound team spirit, an essential factor for the successful completion of such a demanding race.

So the curtain falls on this highly successful race, invented in 1933 by Ottorino Mezzalama. The next edition takes place in two year’s time. Have fun training!

Information
Press Officer: Pietro Crivellaro
Press Office: Press Center, tel. 011.8192541, fax 011.8194290, e-mail: pressc@inrete.it
www.trofeomezzalama.org

Above: immages taken during the race
Below: the winners Graziano Boscacci, Ivan Murada and Heinz Blatter of the 13th Trofeo Mezzalama.