SASLONG: DECISION IN A PHOTO FINISH OBERBACHER? NO, PRANDI! CUMERLATO CONFIRMS HER CLASS

Prandi and Cumerlato triumph at the 8th Dolomites Saslong Half Marathon
Andrea Prandi wins in a photo finish ahead of Alex Oberbacher and Andreas Reiterer
Martina Cumerlato dominates the race, finishing ahead of Annika Seefeld from Germany and Nora Goller
The curtain falls on the event organised by ASV Gherdëina Runners – the highlights will be broadcast on Rai Sport

Great sporting action took place today between Val Gardena and Val di Fassa: the 8th edition of the Dolomites Saslong Half Marathon was held there, a fascinating Dolomite trail run around the Sassolungo Group. Andrea Prandi took the victory, beating Alex Oberbacher in a photo finish, and dedicated his success to his grandmother, who passed away yesterday. In the women's race, Martina Cumerlato celebrated her second victory at this event.

The impressive high plateau of Monte Pana welcomed 600 runners this morning, the maximum number of participants allowed, from 32 nations. This provided an international field of competitors against a unique racing backdrop with breathtaking views of the Langkofel, which was partially shrouded in clouds, as well as the Sella Group, the Marmolada, the Schlern and the Seiser Alm.

Ready, set, go: With determination and enthusiasm, the colorful participants set off on the 21-kilometer course with its 900 meters of elevation gain. After just the first two kilometers, Andrea Prandi from Bormio took the initiative. Three-time local favorite and defending champion Alex Oberbacher initially maintained a controlled distance while simultaneously securing a comfortable lead over Andreas Reiterer. As the climbs became steeper, Prandi's lead increased slightly. At the Comici Hut, the athlete, born in 1998, was still clearly in the lead, but Alex Oberbacher from Ortisei in South Tyrol remained a constant threat. In the middle section of the course, on the undulating singletrack trails through the Stone City and past the Friedrich-August and Pertini Huts, the gap between the two began to shrink. After the Plattkofel Hut, where the long descent through the spectacular Val Scura begins, Oberbacher used his experience on his home course to his advantage and closed the gap to the leaders. In the final kilometers, the two rivals ran side by side, talking to each other. For Prandi, this race was particularly special: his grandmother had passed away the day before, and her passing became his greatest motivation. For Oberbacher, it was the desire to once again stand on the top step of the podium at home. Finally, the two decided to cross the finish line together. However, the decision came down to technology: the photo finish declared Prandi the winner by a mere one-hundredth of a second.

The crowd then celebrated both "winners." Prandi was visibly moved at the finish line: "Winning my first Dolomites Saslong Half Marathon is something special, especially because my grandmother passed away yesterday. I ran for her today. As I told Alex during the race: she gave me incredible strength to run." Second place went to Oberbacher, the athlete from ASV Gherdëina Runners, who could nevertheless be satisfied with his race. Third place went to Andreas Reiterer from Hafling, born in 1992, who thus stood on the podium at the foot of the Langkofel for the third time in his career. Also worth mentioning is the strong performance of Luca Clara from Klausen in South Tyrol, who finished fourth.

The women's race also offered a thrilling spectacle – thanks in large part to Martina Cumerlato. The athlete from Vicenza, who competes for ASV Gherdëina Runners and is the partner of Alex Oberbacher, displayed impressive dominance. She set a blistering pace from the start and broke away from the pack along with Germany's Annika Seefeld and Nora Goller from Val Gardena. The gap between the top three runners continued to widen until the long final descent. Cumerlato never relinquished her lead and crossed the finish line with her arms raised in triumph. Following her victory in 2022, this was her second win at the Dolomites Saslong Half Marathon. "I felt fantastic," explained the talented athlete, born in 1998. “I wanted to maintain my pace, and I succeeded. This race is special for me; it’s my second home. I’m overjoyed to have won again.” Silver went to Annika Seefeld, who also had to contend with a bothersome contact lens halfway through the race. Nora Goller completed the podium, pleased to have achieved third place in front of her home crowd.

At the after-race party at the Hotel Cendevaves, spectators and athletes alike were able to refuel. Delicious local dishes, provided by the ASV Gherdëina Runners organizing committee, allowed participants to replenish their energy. The team around Manuela Perathoner, together with numerous volunteers and partners, delivered another successful edition of the event, which sold out several weeks before the start. "It was a fantastic event," said Perathoner. We sold out several weeks ago. The temperature was perfect, the course was perfect, we are very satisfied,” emphasized Perathoner. Today’s spectacle can soon be relived on Rai Sport: A comprehensive summary of the race will be broadcast shortly on channel 58 of the digital terrestrial television network. The focus is already on the next Dolomites Saslong Half Marathon in 2027 – the countdown to the 9th edition is underway.