Ortisei - An emotional photo finish drama marked the eighth edition of the Dolomites Saslong Half Marathon on Saturday: Andrea Prandi from Bormio won the popular Dolomites trail run around the Sassolungo with a wafer-thin lead of one hundredth of a second over three-time local champion Alex Oberbacher from ASV Gherdëina Runners. Martina Cumerlato confidently secured the women's victory.
Around 600 runners from 32 nations lined up at the start on the Monte Pana plateau in Val Gardena/Gröden in the morning - the maximum number of participants allowed, which meant that the race was sold out weeks before the starting signal. Prandi and Oberbacher fought a thrilling duel over long stretches of the 21-kilometer course with 900 vertical meters. According to the press release, the two rivals even agreed to cross the finish line together in the final kilometers - but the timekeeping technology decided otherwise. Prandi dedicated his victory to his grandmother, who had passed away the day before: (Vincere la mia prima Dolomites Saslong Half Marathon è speciale - I ran for her today, she gave me great strength), the press office quoted him as saying. Andreas Reiterer from Hafling completed the men's podium in third place, while Luca Clara from Klausen came fourth.
In the women's race, Martina Cumerlato from ASV Gherdëina Runners put in a dominant performance, leaving Germany's Annika Seefeld and Nora Goller from Val Gardena/Gröden no chance. For Cumerlato, Oberbacher's partner, it was her second triumph in this competition after 2022: (I dictated my rhythm from the start and I succeeded - this is my second home), said the athlete according to the organizers.
According to the organizers, the ASV Gherdëina Runners race under the direction of Manuela Perathoner went off without a hitch. A TV summary will soon be available on Rai Sport (channel 58). The ninth edition of the Dolomites Saslong Half Marathon is planned for 2027.
