With participants converging worldwide to enjoy the event, many skiers consider Marcialonga the most extraordinary long-distance skiing race due to its enchanting atmosphere, seamless organization, and picturesque surroundings along the course.
The event organizers have taken meticulous measures to ensure a successful race, boasting efficient snow-farming facilities that guarantee the event’s execution, even without natural snowfall.
GRAND CLASSICS
The Grand Classics are the four largest and most prestigious events in Ski Classics: Marcialonga, Jizerská50, Vasaloppet, and Birkebeinerrennet. The skier that wins all four events in the same season completes a Grand Slam.
During Season XI, the Grand Classics events and the Grand Slam were introduced in Ski Classics. The concept was an immediate success and a great motivation among the best Pro Team athletes of Ski Classics. Nobody has completed a Grand Slam in the history of long-distance skiing, but it might happen in Season XVI.
If you win all four Grand Classics, Marcialonga, Jizerská50, Vasaloppet, and Birkebeinerrennet, in the same season, you complete a Grand Slam.
ICONIC CLIMBS
The Iconic Climbs give some extra spark to the most challenging climbs in Ski Classics. For Season XVI, there will be four Iconic Climbs. The first is Cascata, the last hill up to Cavalese in Marcialonga.
The Iconic Climb, launched during Season XIV, is a category in the Ski Classics points table. The category is used for the most iconic climbs of Ski Classics.
The idea for the Iconic Climb category is that all climbs differ; some are tougher, and some have more history behind them. Ski Classics wants to enhance the interest around the climbs and reward the strongest athletes slightly more.
The Iconic Climb points are 50% higher than a 100% points Climb. Winners get 45 instead of 30 points in the Climb competition.
For Season XVI, there will be four Iconic Climbs. First, it is up to Cascata, the last hill to Cavalese in Marcialonga. The second Iconic Climb is Raudfjellet, the first long hill in Birkebeinerrennet.
The third is the Orta climb in Reistadløpet, and last but not least is the Magdaskaret Iconic Climb, in Summit 2 Senja.
Marcialonga foregår i klassisk stil og er 70 km langt, men i 2003, 2007, 2015 og 2017 måtte traseen forkortes til 57 km på grunn av snømangel. En forkortet løype Marcialonga light på 45 km går fra Moena til Predazzo.
I 2012 hadde Norge størst antall deltakere med 2 840 av de 7 200 påmeldte, mens antall italienske deltakere var 2 314.
