900 athletes run the 20th Mezzalama Trophy, the highest alpine ski mountaineering competition in the world, on 2nd May. The team of Damiano Lenzi, Eydallin Matteo and Michele Boscacci won the race with a time of 5 hours 10’49’’.
Due to weather conditions the first date planned on the 25th April was changed to the 2nd May. For the first time the race was run over an inverted course from Gressoney La Trinité to Breuile Cervinia. However, regarding the athletes safety it was finally modified and adjusted to weather conditions.
It was Saturday full of emotion with 900 athletes in the race. Many people in the audience gathered for supporting all runners, who run exhausting marathon over the Aosta Valley high mountains. They starts at 1637 m and finishes at 2020 m. The race runs above 3000 m, some parts exceed even 4000 m (Castor summit, 4226 m and Passo del Naso dei Lyskamm, 4150 m).
The Italia 1 team formed by Damiano Lenzi, Eydallin Matteo and Michele Boscacci won the 20th edition of the Mezzalama Trophy (with time of 5 hours 10’49’’), followed by Italia 2 team Robert Antonioli, Lorenzo Holzknecht, Manfred Reichegger (5 hours 15’29’’).
In women category Swiss-Swedish-French team by Emelie Forsberg, Axelle Mollaret, Jennifer Fiechter triumphed over other female athletes with time of 6 hours 35’09’’.
The Mezzalama Trophy belongs to the so-called “big three of ski mountaineering” (“les grandes trois de ski de montagne”) and commemorates the mountain guide, Ottorino Mezzalama. Two other competitions take place in the Patrouille des Glaciers and the Pierra Menta. The Mezzalama Trophy was established in 1933 and is organized every other year.
Check all results of the race on the Mezzalama Trophy official website and do not forget about amazing pictures on Facebook.
Almost 30 000 people watched live streaming on Saturday. Have you missed it? You can watch it here...
...or watch the summary on You Tube