Day one. The two-day Alto Garda event kicked off with the long races of 52km and 26km. In the first, starting from the lakefront of Malcesine at 7:30 AM, Henry Hofer and Daniela Rota etched their names in the hall of fame. In the second, Marco Zanga and Martina Dal Bosco took the wins.

The fourth edition began with a new record for participation. Ahead of tomorrow’s 16km short race, today 638 athletes from 28 different nations ran the trails of the border peaks between Trentino and Veneto

HENRY HOFER & DANIELA ROTA DOMINATE THE LONG RACE

On the trails overlooking the towns of Malcesine, Brentonico, and Avio, South Tyrolean Henry Hofer executed a come-from-behind race that led him to victory in 6h04’31”. At the end of 52 highly technical kilometers that took competitors over 3,355 meters of climbing with spectacular passages at Monte Altissimo and Monte Baldo, before the long descent to Malcesine, second place went to Friulian Marco Buttazoni (6h11’18”). Slovenian Matic Cačulovič (6h16’42) claimed the third spot on the podium.

In the women’s race, a truly dominant performance by Bergamo’s Daniela Rota. Her finish time of 6h59’31” allowed her to hold off Isabella Lucchini (7h39’01”) and Daniela Vendrame (7h45’40”).

MARCO ZANGA & MARTINA DAL BOSCO IN THE 26K

Bergamo’s Marco Zanga of Recastello set a new course record with a spectacular descent that allowed him to drop his direct competitors. On this loop, the new time to beat in future editions will be his 2h36’20”. Also on the podium were Scarpa athletes Francesco Lorenzi (2h37’56”) and Lukas Gasser (2h40’39”).

In the women’s race, all finished behind Vicenza’s Martina Dal Bosco (3h24’40”). Second place went to Princis Maria Pilar (3h31’54”) and third to Silvia Zanchi (3h32’34”).