Spectacular Backdrop For The 12th Edition Of The Star-Studded Moonlight Classic Alpe Di Siusi Classic Technique Competition On January 31 2018

All is now ready at Alpe di Siusi for the 12th edition of the Moonlight Classic cross-country skiing race on the evening of Wednesday, January 31 2018.

The starting list for the classic technique event includes such illustrious names as the Czech marathon specialist Rezac who dominated the 2016 edition. Also at the line will be German Monique Siegel, winner of the top prize on the 30-kilometre route last time out.

Entry numbers are up and now stand at 300 with 14 different nations represented. 

The countdown has begun in Alpe di Siusi to the 12th edition of the Moonlight Classic Alpe di Siusi, the eagerly-awaited classic technique cross-country skiing event scheduled for the evening of Wednesday, 31 January 2018. Both the 15 and 30-kilometre routes, which will challenge skiers to a 220 and a 550-metre altitude change respectively, are in pristine condition and ready to go.

As per tradition, the event gets underway at 20.00 with just the full moon and a line of torches marking out the routes for the competitors all the way to the finish-line.  

Entry numbers are on the up this year and now stand at just under 300 with competitors coming from 14 different nations. More elite athletes than ever will also be donning their skis on Wednesday evening and lining out at the start-line, eager to take part in one of the best-loved classic technique competitions on international scene.

Amongst them will be Renate Forstner of Germany and her 29 year-old fellow countrywoman Monique Siegel who last year took the top step on the Long Route podium. Also present will be Trentino woman Antonella Confortola, winner of the 30-Kilometre Route in 2014 and 2015, and taker of the second step on the same podium last year.  

All eyes in the men’s line-up will be on Czech skier Stanislav Rezac, winner of a slew of international grandfondo events, who also dominated the 2016 edition of the Moonlight Classic. He will, however, have to fend off very strong competition from Austrian Christian Baldauf and German Daniel Herzog, who finished third and fourth respectively last time out, while fellow Czech Petr Novak could prove to be a real wild card.

The event programme details have also now been officially announced. On the morning of Wednesday, January 31, the athletes will be permitted to try out the routes and there will be a free ski waxing service near the start area. Bibs can be picked up from the race office in Alpe di Siusi from 10.00 am and right until shortly before the start of the competition.

Competitors will gather in the start area at 19.30 and the starting pistol shot will ring out at 20.00 precisely. The first competitors are expected to complete the 15-kilometre route at around 20.35, while the fastest of the longer route competitors should start arriving at the finish-line from around 21.15. The prize-giving ceremony takes place immediately after the event at 22.00 and will see the first 10 skiers in each category presented with a prize.

The Alpe di Siusi gondola lift will be operating from 8.00 am until 1.00 am. Athletes may use it free of charge for the entire day but spectators will only have free access from 18.00.