Monza – “Maybe ghe la femm“. Lhe slogan of one of the first teams to start last night from the Arengario summed up well the spirit of the edition of the century of the most difficult race: the challenge of effort, sweat, resistance, legs and heart of the Monza-Resegone.
The start last night at Arengario, first at 8pm and then at 9pm, with the double start specifically designed to celebrate the race which has reached a very special edition this year. Yes, because yesterday they celebrated 100 years since the first edition of the foot race which has made Brianza run and excite since 1924. The important anniversary led to the addition of a new racing formula to the competition, refreshing its proposal. Alongside the historic Classic mode, it was introduced in this special edition the “Relay” formula: a team relay (male, female, mixed) always made up of 3 elements. It was the athletes of the latter who started first at 8pm, immediately after the appointment with the Mameli Hymn, while at 9pm it was the turn of the Classic, with the start of the 42 kilometer route that separates the Arengario from the Capanna Alpinisti Monzesi on the Resegone, in a section divided into 3 difficult sections: Monza-Osnago (15.3 kilometres), Osnago-Olginate (15.7) and Olginate-Capanna Monza (12.2).
A free-paced, nocturnal and team foot race, organized by the Monzesi Mountaineering Society, which has never been so attended as this year, with 900 athletes registered. The race started from Monza, traditionally from Arengario, to continue along via Vittorio Emanuele II and via Lecco, to then reach the municipalities of Villasanta, Arcore, Usmate Velate, Carnate, Osnago, Cernusco Lombardone, Merate, Calco, Airuno, Olginate and, crossing the Adda river, Calolziocorte. Then it continued along the hairpin bends to Rossino and Erve, until the end of the road.
And here is the tear he put to the test the estate of the participants: the very steep path called “Pra di Ratt” in Brianza dialect, to reach the “forcellino” nozzle, where the path finally attenuates the difference in altitude. Hence the certainty of being able to reach the finish line in a few minutes: the Capanna Alpinisti Monzesi (1,173 meters above sea level) on Mount Resegone, an iconic peak of the Brianza landscape and imagination.
The attention for the sporting event has always been notable in the citizens of Monza, but also in those of the cities and towns of Brianza crossed by runners in teams of three athletes.
Until 1998 only the top ranked teams were rewarded, only for men, from the following year they began to also reward the women’s teams. Since 2015, mixed teams have also been awarded, and since then the maximum number of registered teams has been reached: 300, with 900 athletes participating (number confirmed again this year). Since 1924 the Monza Resegone has represented not only a sporting competition, but a symbol of passion, tenacity and team spirit to reach the finish line.
The order The chronological arrival date of the athletes will be released this evening on the competition website, while the official ranking will be announced on Tuesday. After race night, the appointment will be for Friday: at 9pm the Arengario will host the awards evening, opportunity to celebrate the great milestone of one hundred years together with everyone.
