Engadin Skimarathon 2024 - Night Race - Highlights
Engadin Skimarathon 2024 - Night Race - Highlights
More than 800 registered cross-country skiers set a record number of participants for the Engadin Night Race on Thursday March 7th.
The Polish double Olympic champion Justyna Kowalczyk wins the race in the dark from La Punt to Pontresina. She finishes more than three minutes ahead of the local last year's winner Ilaria Gruber. The men's race is won by Roman Alder and Elia Beti, both Swiss, in a thrilling final phase.
The men's race was fiercely contested. Roman Alder (SUI) was always among the front runners and came out on top in the end. The twenty-year-old won three and a half seconds ahead of Elia Beti (SUI). Third place went to Toni Escher from Germany, 11 seconds behind. In the women's race, Poland's Justyna Kowalczyk ran her own race. She set her own pace right from the start and finished first in Pontresina after 16 kilometers. Last year's winner Ilaria Gruber from Silvaplana came in second, more than 3 minutes behind, with Christa Ehrenzeller-Jäger from Valens (SG) in third.
Looking ahead to the marathon on Sunday, winner Roman Alder is delighted with this confirmation of his form in a pleasant atmosphere. "The spectators along the course and the atmosphere in the dark are uniquely beautiful. I'm really looking forward to the marathon." Justyna Kowalczyk also enjoyed the run from La Punt to Pontresina. "I always feel better on the way up than down.", said the Olympic champion from Vancouver 2010 and Sotchi 2014. Kowalczyk had already finished second in the Engadin Women's Race, but doesn't want to be the favorite in the marathon: "I'll do my best and just enjoy the run."
"Never before have so many runners started the Engadin Night Run. The more than 800 registrations are the greatest compliment the cross-country skiers could pay us and all our volunteers," smiled Menduri Kasper, CEO of the Engadin Skimarathon, at the finish line in Pontresina. He and his team of more than 1,000 volunteers still have a lot to do before Sunday: The starting area for the marathon in Silvaplana has to be set up in just three days.
The Polish double Olympic champion Justyna Kowalczyk wins the race in the dark from La Punt to Pontresina. She finishes more than three minutes ahead of the local last year's winner Ilaria Gruber. The men's race is won by Roman Alder and Elia Beti, both Swiss, in a thrilling final phase.
The men's race was fiercely contested. Roman Alder (SUI) was always among the front runners and came out on top in the end. The twenty-year-old won three and a half seconds ahead of Elia Beti (SUI). Third place went to Toni Escher from Germany, 11 seconds behind. In the women's race, Poland's Justyna Kowalczyk ran her own race. She set her own pace right from the start and finished first in Pontresina after 16 kilometers. Last year's winner Ilaria Gruber from Silvaplana came in second, more than 3 minutes behind, with Christa Ehrenzeller-Jäger from Valens (SG) in third.
Looking ahead to the marathon on Sunday, winner Roman Alder is delighted with this confirmation of his form in a pleasant atmosphere. "The spectators along the course and the atmosphere in the dark are uniquely beautiful. I'm really looking forward to the marathon." Justyna Kowalczyk also enjoyed the run from La Punt to Pontresina. "I always feel better on the way up than down.", said the Olympic champion from Vancouver 2010 and Sotchi 2014. Kowalczyk had already finished second in the Engadin Women's Race, but doesn't want to be the favorite in the marathon: "I'll do my best and just enjoy the run."
"Never before have so many runners started the Engadin Night Run. The more than 800 registrations are the greatest compliment the cross-country skiers could pay us and all our volunteers," smiled Menduri Kasper, CEO of the Engadin Skimarathon, at the finish line in Pontresina. He and his team of more than 1,000 volunteers still have a lot to do before Sunday: The starting area for the marathon in Silvaplana has to be set up in just three days.