The eighth edition of the Adamello Ultra Trail came to a close on Sunday, September 25th. Alessandra Olivi completed a successful solo effort in the 170 km distance, ahead of Melissa Paganelli and Zoe Salt. “These landscapes are unique: you breathe history here,” the athletes commented. “These landscapes are unique: you breathe history here,”
The curtain falls on the eighth edition of the Adamello Ultra Trail. The ultra-running event on the paths of the Great War has confirmed the growth of the last few years, finding the unanimous approval of the athletes involved from September 23rd to 25th. Over 700 athletes from 18 Countries and more than 300 volunteers arrived in the Pontedilegno-Tonale area, including some of the best names in the discipline at the international level.
TheAlta Valle Camonica and Alta Val di Sole elected their new kings and queens over the three distances: German Alexander Marcel Westenberger and Italian Alessandra Olivi on the 170 km, Swiss Walter Manser and Italian Francesca Crippa on the 90 km, and fellow Italians Mirko Marchi and Raffaella Rossi in the 35 km. For Manser and Rossi this was the second consecutive success, while for the other four winners it was the first time on these trails.
The last category to complete its podium was the 170 km women’s race, with Alessandra Olivi arriving first at the finish line on the evening of Saturday, September 24th in 34:59:36 despite a couple of off-trail excursions due to the fog. Behind her, in the night, the second place went to Melissa Paganelli in 37:09:51, while the last step of the podium was claimed by Great Britain’s Zoe Salt in 40:01:22.
Weather was definitely a factor in this edition. The bright opening day on Friday, September 23rd turned into fog and cold as Saturday came to a close, dominated by a light drizzle mixed with snow at the highest points of the course. The final day of the event, Sunday, presented unstable weather to welcome the last finishers of the awarding ceremonies for the 170 and 35 km in Vezza d’Oglio (Brescia). The enthusiasm and the smiles of the athletes who embellished and crowded the paths of the Great War were the barometer of the event’s outcome: “We really have to say thank you to the volunteers,” was the unanimous comment, “who supported us all along the route in every way with genuineness and passion.”
The success was confirmed also by the figures, once again on the rise after the record-setting edition of 2021. The number of registered participants exceeded 700 (719), recording a sell-out in the 90 and 35 km distance, and the number of represented nations also increased from 15 to 18. The number of foreign participants nearly doubled – from 50 to 94 – to confirm the global vocation of the event.
What attracts hundreds of runners to the Pontedilegno-Tonale area is not only the competitive side of the event, but also the combination of nature and history that features some real works of art. From the Adamello and Stelvio Nature Parks to the long entrenchment of the Bocchette di Val Massa at 2499 mt above sea level, passing through the underground tunnels of Prisigai – confirmed by popular acclaim after the first appearance in 2021 -, mountain huts, castles, bivouacs and the many Alpine lakes.
“It was another special edition,” commented the Organizing Committee of the ASD Adamello Ultra Trail. “It required great commitment but also filled us with joy, so much that we already want to announce next year’s dates, from September 22nd to 24th, 2023. So many athletes have thanked us for our efforts, our passion and our volunteers, who deserve huge credit. The increasing international participation also allows us to protect and promote our territories, which is one of the main goals of the event. We wish to thank the sponsors, the Pontedilegno-Tonale Consortium and the Regione Lombardia for their constant support.” And for its part, main sponsor Mico Sport has already announced: “We look forward to continuing to partner with this fantastic adventure.”
The Adamello Ultra Trail might be just over, but has its sight already set on the next chapter.
