Gsieser Tal Lauf – ITA

On the cross-country skiing track, you can experience it over 30 or 42 km, in the classic or free technique. Those who shy away from the battle against the clock can take part on the original route as part of the “Just for Fun” race. Youngsters from near and far will determine their winners on a 3 km or 5 km loop as part of the “Mini-Gsieser”. The 42 km loop connects the three main villages of the Val Casies in the northeast of South Tyrol with Taisten. From San Marino, the route first leads out of the valley towards Pichl, on to Taisten (municipality of Welsberg/Taisten), then back again and past San Martino, up to San Magdalena to the head of the valley and then back again to San Martino. The course is mostly flat, but the 200 m climb towards St. Magdalena is a real challenge. This is where the victory is usually decided.

One idea, one vision, many emotions

The Gsieser Valley Run has a very special record: since the first edition in 1984, the race has not been cancelled once due to weather conditions. And the organizers around president Walter Felderer are mighty proud of that. In cooperation with the tourism association, the organizers conjure up a cross-country trail in the landscape even when the entire Alpine arc suffers from a chronic lack of snow. A fact that is greatly appreciated by cross-country skiing enthusiasts from all over the world.

In 2021, however, there was a cancellation due to force majeure (Corona).

With more than 2,300 participants, every year there are as many participants as the valley has inhabitants. In the meantime, we register 69,642 “finishers” from all continents. This is not surprising, since cross-country skiers from up to 40 nations are at the start every year to enjoy the uniqueness of the Gsieser Tal Run.

The “Gsieser” is also unique because of the roots and the cohesion in the catchment area. All 17 amateur sports clubs are involved in the organization, 450 volunteers ensure that the participants want for nothing.

Unique is not only the landscape including the view of the Dolomites, unique is also the catering. Every year the best chefs of the valley together with 30 kitchen assistants provide the participants at the 7 refreshment points along the route and in the festival tent in St. Martin. The highlight of the gourmet menu is the apple strudel – 250 running meters are needed to satisfy all palates. No wonder that the bed capacity in the valley has long been insufficient to accommodate all participants and guests.

And if even the cross-country skiing-mad Scandinavians come to the Gsieser Valley in increasing numbers, then this is probably the best proof of the uniqueness of this event. Many top stars of cross-country skiing have taken part in the Gsieser Tal run so far, many of them also appear on the winners’ honour roll. For example, the Norwegian Olympic and world champion Anders Aukland or the Austro-Russian relay world champion Mikhail Botwinov, the Italian Olympic champions Silvio Fauner and Giorgio di Centa or Ole Einar Björndalen, with eight Olympic gold medals the most successful biathlete of all time. Others, such as the cross-country skiing legend Björn Dahlie (eight-time Olympic champion) or the Kazakh Vladimir Smirnov were denied a victory in the Gsieser Tal. In 2017, the winner of the marathon distance was the 2015 relay world champion in Falun, the Norwegian Anders Gloersen.  As the winner in 2018 results the Russian Olympic champion of Turin, Yevgeny Dementyev.  With the double Olympic champion and 4-time World Cup winner Justyna Kowalczyk from Poland, one of the most dazzling figures of the cross-country scene entered the winners’ lists in 2019. As current title defenders in 2022, the Italian national runners Lorenzo Romano and Ilenia Defrancesco appear on the marathon distance in the free technique. The current winners in the diagonal race are the South Tyrolean Dietmar Nöckler (national team Italy) and the Swede Malin Börjesjö.