Lagorai Cima d'Asta 2015 - the race

Lorenzo Holzknecht (Alta Valtellina) and Roberta Pedranzini (Alta Valtellina) won the 25th Lagorai Cima d'Asta. A spring-like day accompanied almost 400 athletes to the summit of the Cima d'Asta. Among the youngsters, in their respective categories, Giulia Murada, Giulia Compagnoni, Andrea Prandi, Davide Magnini, Alessandra Cazzanelli and William Boffelli
won.
The 25th edition of the Scialpinistica Lagorai Cima d'Asta ski mountaineering race, valid as a round of the Coppa Italia Trofeo Scarpa, was run on a perfect Sunday morning with mild temperatures, clear skies, complete absence of wind and with a snowpack in good condition.
The good weather and the original route up to the summit of the Cima d'Asta brought around four hundred athletes from all over northern Italy to the Tesino basin. At the starting line, however, there were some foreign athletes representing Slovenia, Bulgaria, and Austria.
From Malga Sorgazza in Val Malene, a few kilometres from Pieve Tesino, the first to start were the Juniors and Cadets, who were also competing for precious points in the Italian Ski Mountaineering Cup. The Juniors had to tackle about a thousand metres of altitude difference in two climbs, while for the Cadets, there were just over seven hundred metres to cover.

The Cadets had to cover a little more than seven hundred. After about 20 minutes the Seniors started, for them, the day's programme included 1800 metres of positive altitude difference spread over four climbs. The army of four hundred climbed towards the first checkpoint at the Rifugio Brentari. In this first phase, it was the two Italians Manfred Reichegger (Esercito) and Lorenzo Holzknecht who lost the lead in the race, behind them Franco Collè (sc Gressoney), Denis Trento (Esercito), and Davide Pierantoni (sc Cai Schio). William Boffelli (sc Roncobello) in the Espoir category was also in the first positions.
The two outriders led the race, alternating in setting the pace until the second passage near the Rifugio Brentari. On the penultimate short climb it was Lorenzo Holzknecht who took the initiative, gaining a few metres advantage over Manfred Reichegger. The Valtellinese gained a few more metres on the descent and managed to control his lead on the next to last climb. A few minutes behind Reichegger came the Slovenian Nejc Kuhar, Denis Trento, Franco Collè and Davide Pierantoni.
At Forcella Magna, the last change of the day, Holzknecht began the descent to the finish line at Malga Sorgazza with about a minute's lead. Reichegger does not force the pace on the descent and therefore holds second position with just under three minutes advantage over Nejc Kuhar.
The Italian, bronze medallist in the World Vertical in Verbier, crossed the finish line hands up with a time of 1:51'56'', Manfred Reichegger was second with 1:53'08''. The podium was completed by Nejc Kuhar who stopped the clock in 1:56'45''. Denis Trento and Franco Collè finished fourth and fifth respectively.
. In the women's field, Roberta Pedranzini from Bormina maintained the lead throughout the race. At first on her tail was Elena Nicolini from Trento (Brenta Team). Nicolini, after realising that Pedranzini had a difficult pace to keep, decided to continue at her own pace, defending her second place from the attacks of Cecilia De Filippo from Belluno.
The victorious Pedranzini crossed the finish line with a time of 2:23'49'', Elena Nicolini took the second step of the podium, stopping the clock at 2:30'17''. The podium was completed by Cecilia De Filippo. Elisa Compagnoni and Sabrina Zanon finished fourth and fifth. Among the Espoirs Alessandra Cazzanelli and William Boffelli took first place.
In the junior categories among the Juniors, Giulia Compagnoni and Davide Magnini won. In second place among the juniors was Erica Rodigari, while Mara Martini came third.
Behind Magnini came Valentino Bacca, David Frena completed the podium.
In the cadet category, victory went to Giulia Murada and Andrea Prandi. Behind Murada came Melanie Ploner and Giorgia Felicetti. Among the boys, Stefano Confortola and Daniele Soppelsa took second and third place respectively.
Federico Pat and Monica Sartogo won among the Masters.
"For the second year in a row - said Sergio Santuari president of the Organising Committee - we were kissed by luck with regard to the weather conditions and the possibility of climbing to the summit of the Cima d'Asta. Moreover, these four hundred athletes are the right thanks to the work done over the years. My thanks go to the dozens of volunteers who have worked hard over these days to make the race a success and to all the sponsors who have supported us. In particular, I want to say thank you to Dynafit, which has embarked on an important journey with us".

Lorenzo Holknecht makes it a trio with the Lagorai Cima d'Asta.

"I can say that today was a great race and I don't say that because I won. This race brings me well here I won the team tricolour in 2011 together with Giacomelli, then in 2013, but in those races we couldn't do the original route with the climb to the summit. Really great ski mountaineering".
Manfred Reichegger, the army veteran is more than satisfied
. "I would say that it can go well, this second place of mine. Today, ski mountaineering experienced a truly historic day, and I have to congratulate the organisers, because they were able to run a beautiful race on difficult terrain."
William Boffelli, from Bergamo's Val Brembana, an engineering student, surprisingly won the espoir classification.
"This year I have prepared better and the results are coming. In this part of the season I am getting some good results".
Federico Nicolini, second
"For most of the first climb I was in front, then towards the top we alternated, but it was on the climb to the Forcella Magna that I struggled the most and he pulled away. Now I have to prepare well for the World Cup".
Roberta Pedranzini, 44, smiles with satisfaction at her victory, but also at the day this race has given her. The Lombardy woman makes poker with the Lagorai Cima d'Asta after her victories in 2008, 2011, 2014
. "Every year the Lagorai Cima d'Asta, which has always given me great satisfaction, manages to amaze me. First of all, there is the ascent to the summit, with the gully and the ridge that are unique, but there is the whole wonderful environment. If I have this much fun, who knows how many more years I will come to do it".
Elena Nicolini second
"Today I am so happy to have done this race. I really enjoyed it because it is the first time I have done the summit. As for the race, in the first part I was with Roberta, then I saw that she had more and I climbed at my own pace".
Davide Magnini
"I managed to start in the lead straight away and set my own pace. It went well, also because the sun was shining beautifully here and the course,
even though we youngsters didn't do the legendary Cima d'Asta was very nice. In this period my form is good, I will try to keep it, for the end of the season especially for the final race of the World Cup".
Valentino Bacca, satisfied with second place behind his friend Magnini.
"Second place behind Magnini is a satisfaction for me. He is at least not reachable for me. I liked today's race, it's a pity we couldn't do the summit, but our track was nice and technical".
Giulia Compagnoni from Lombardy was first among the junior girls.
"Beyond the race today I really enjoyed myself it was a great race in a fantastic environment and the day will come when we too will climb that peak the cima d'Asta which has become a legend in ski mountaineering".
Andrea Prandi confirms your excellent form
"Today I battled with my teammate Stefano Confortola, who came in 10" behind me. It was a great race, I had fun, a nice view".