{"id":480,"date":"2019-06-19T10:18:49","date_gmt":"2019-06-19T10:18:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.monterosaskymarathon.com\/monte-rosa-skymarathon-europes-highest-race-is-back-2\/"},"modified":"2025-12-01T11:53:16","modified_gmt":"2025-12-01T11:53:16","slug":"monte-rosa-skymarathon-europes-highest-race-is-back-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.monterosaskymarathon.com\/en\/monte-rosa-skymarathon-europes-highest-race-is-back-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Monte Rosa SkyMarathon \u2013 Europe\u2019s highest race is back"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The top of Monte Rosa at 4.554m with the Margherita Hut. \u00a9Actionmovie.it<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Monte Rosa SkyMarathon<\/strong>, the race that marked the birth of skyrunning, returns for the second time after last year\u2019s successful relaunch, together with the new AMA VK2<\/strong>, a double Vertical Kilometer\u00ae. Both events will take place on Saturday<\/strong>, June 22, 2019<\/strong> in Alagna Valsesia<\/strong>, Italy<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Last year, skyrunning super stars Emelie Forsberg<\/strong> and Kilian Jornet<\/strong> closed third overall. Jornet described the race as, \u201cMonte Rosa SkyMarathon – one of the best races in the world!<\/em>\u201d <\/strong><\/p>\n

The Monte Rosa SkyMarathon<\/strong> is Europe\u2019s highest race<\/strong>, summiting at 4,554m<\/strong> altitude<\/strong> on the Italian\/Swiss border. With a \u201cmere\u201d 35 km distance<\/strong> and a total vertical climb <\/strong>of 7,000m<\/strong>, it represents the pure essence of skyrunning and celebrates the birth of the sport with the first race here in 1992 and the first race to the summit in 1993.<\/p>\n

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William Boffelli and Franco Coll\u00e9, 2018 winners. \u00a9iancorless.com<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Replacing last year\u2019s shorter up-and-down SkyRace, a double Vertical Kilometer\u00ae <\/strong>has been introduced – the AMA VK2<\/strong>, featuring a lung-busting uphill 9 km climb<\/strong> to an altitude of 3,260m<\/strong> with more than 150 participants. Currently, more than half the course is covered in snow.<\/p>\n

The Monte Rosa SkyMarathon<\/strong> is characterised by demanding uphill and downhill sections, moraine, snow fields, a vertical couloir, glaciers with crevasses and… potentially severe weather conditions. Racing in teams of two, competitors are roped together for safety. To meet the heavy demand, the number of entries has been increased from 300 to 400 competitors (200 teams)<\/strong> from 25 nations<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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Fabio Meraldi, record holder and race ambassador. \u00a9iancorless.com<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The standing records were set in 1994 by Italians Fabio Meraldi<\/strong> and Gisella Bendotti<\/strong> in 4h24\u2019 <\/strong>and 5h34\u2019 <\/strong>respectively. A total of four editions took place from 1992 to 1996.<\/p>\n

Meraldi, 53, went on to acquire legendary status with his victories and records across the world. Acting as ambassador and attending the events on Saturday, he made this contemplative comment, \u201cI would like to make a small or…a big consideration! If \u2018my president\u2019 and creator of this discipline, Marino Giacometti, and me, Fabio Meraldi, at the time, athlete, hadn\u2019t dreamt and believed that running could touch the sky, all this excitement and innovation wouldn\u2019t be here. I dreamt of \u201cskyrunning\u201d but my eyes were open!\u201d<\/em> <\/em><\/p>\n

Bendotti, 56, who placed fifth last year, hasn\u2019t been able to train for the long race but will attempt the AMA VK2 to support the events. \u201cThinking of the record, I guess someone will break it on Saturday. I will be sorry, but it can\u2019t last forever<\/em>!”<\/p>\n

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Gisella Bendotti, record holder, this year will compete in the new AMA VK2. \u00a9iancorless.com<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The women\u2019s ranks will be honoured by the participation of Lizzy Hawker<\/strong>, five-time UTMB winner<\/strong> and National Geographic Adventurer of the Year<\/strong> and organiser of the nearby Ultra Tour Monte Rosa which circumnavigates the mountain. She will race with Fr\u00e4nzi Gissler<\/strong> from Switzerland. In her own words, she doesn\u2019t consider herself an elite any more, but, \u201cI’m just happy for the chance to come to the race and to try going up Monte Rosa instead of just around it!\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

The women\u2019s field is led by American Hillary Gerardi<\/strong>, 2018 winner with Briton Holly Page<\/strong>, who is recovering from injury. This year she will partner with French woman, Iris Pessey<\/strong>. \u201cLast year I had such a great time at Monte Rosa SkyMarathon that it was an easy choice to come back,\u201d <\/em>said Gerardi. \u201cThe race combines running, alpinism, camaraderie with a partner and some of the most beautiful mountains in the Alps, not to mention the strong history of the course where skyrunning was born…it\u2019s a race you shouldn\u2019t miss.\u201d <\/em><\/p>\n

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Hillary Gerardi, 2018 winner together with Holly Page. \u00a9iancorless.com<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Among the top challegers will be Italy\u2019s Giudita Turini<\/strong>, second last year, Oksana Stefanishina<\/strong> from Russia, third and, from Poland, Natalia Tomasiak<\/strong> and Iwona Januszyk<\/strong> all heading new teams.<\/p>\n

In the men\u2019s field, aiming to break the record will be last year\u2019s winner, Italian William Bofffelli<\/strong>, running with a new partner. \u201cI feel Monte Rosa is also my mountain because it has given me the biggest emotions, not just in sport. Coming back here means a lot. Unfortunately, my partner Franco Coll\u00e9 has had to renounce due to health problems. Together with Jakob Herrmann, we\u2019ll try to win the race, also for Franco as I know how much it meant to him to race here.\u201d <\/em>Herrmann<\/strong>, from Austria, recently placed third in the iconic Mezzalama Trophy ski-mountaineering race with Kilian Jornet<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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William Boffelli, 2018 winner with Franco Coll\u00e9, is aiming to the top spot again. \u00a9iancorless.com<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Pushing the pace will be Italians Alberto Comazzi<\/strong> and Cristian Minoggio <\/strong>second last year in the super-strong international field. “This year, my condition is a bit behind, rather like the summer…Who knows what weather and conditions we\u2019ll find in the race. Last year it was a dream up there. Our eyes will be on the forecast to understand how best to face the course<\/em>,\u201d said Minoggio.<\/p>\n

What was one man\u2019s dream back in 1992 became history, the history of an innovative new sport. Giacometti, skyrunning inventor, states, \u201cIt\u2019s time to take skyrunning high again – to the summit of Monte Rosa<\/em>. The inevitable move from individual runners to teams of two might create a few problems with those aspiring to absolute victory, but the demand and global growth of the participants is confirmation that last year\u2019s relaunch after 25 years marked the way for the return of skyrunning to its origins.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

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Marino Giacometti, inventore dello skyrunning e della Monte Rosa SkyMarathon nel 1992. \u00a9iancorless.com<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Race organiser<\/strong> and President of the AMA Organising Committee<\/strong>, Manuel Gambarini<\/strong>, commented, \u201cWe\u2019re ready for this new challenge to consolidate the modern format of this great event which could become the emblem of the future of skyrunning… not just of its history<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n

Despite severe, potentially hazardous conditions, including recent heavy snow falls, possible hypoxia from the thin air, the summit of Europe\u2019s second highest mountain is an irresistible magnet attracting some of the world\u2019s strongest skyrunners to take part in this colossal challenge, the Monte Rosa SkyMarathon.<\/p>\n

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The AMA Organising Committee<\/strong> and the team wish to thank the Mountain Guides<\/strong>, the Alpine Rescue Service<\/strong> and all the volunteers – on and off the mountain – together with sponsors: Crazy<\/strong>, Eolo<\/strong>, Buff<\/strong>, Cimberio<\/strong>, Kratos<\/strong>, Ultimate Direction<\/strong> and media partners: iancorless.com<\/strong>, Radio Dee Jay<\/strong> and Montagna TV<\/strong>.<\/p>\n