PISTOIA – To date there are around 1600 people registered for the various routes of the Pistoia-Abetone, of which 825 for the main finish line in Piazza delle Piramidi.
With the reigning champion Michele Belluschi absent, the first names that catch the eye are those of the three-time winner of the race, Matteo Lucchese from Romagna, Simone Pessina from Brianza (2nd in the last two editions) and the former Italian marathon champion and reigning champion of the 50 kilometres, Alessio Terrasi from Sicily.
Another luxury trio is led by Marco Menegardi from Mantua (2nd in 2019, 4th last year), followed by Filippo Bovanini from Emilia (3rd in 2022, 5th in 2023), also present is the Ukrainian Evgenij Glyva (3rd in 2015). The test of Domenico Passuello from Livorno is awaited, a cyclist, triathlete and runner of great value, with Tuscan titles in his bag.
The strong Bavarian Marco Sturm has joined the list of registered athletes. The German athlete is eagerly awaited to test the terrible race.
Competing are worthy Tuscan athletes such as Emanuele Quercioli (two victories in the “Terre di Siena Ultramarathon”), Roberto Fani, a faithful follower of the race and four times in the top ten at Abetone, and Fabrizio Ridolfi, a strong Trail specialist.
Among the Pistoia athletes there will be David Fiesoli (4th in 2017, 8th in 2018), Simone Gamenoni (a
victory in the 30 kilometers in San Marcello and 8th in Abetone two years ago) and Stefano Rafanelli. The Emilians respond with specialists such as Alessandr0o Benerecetti (two placings in the top 10 at Abetone), Gianluca Scardovi and Riccardo Vanetti.
From Pantelleria comes the very young Dario Pietro Ferrante, a revelation of the recent Florence-
Faenza, then there is the Cuban Reinel Canizares Duque, 10th at the Pyramids in 2023.
Among the women, a comparison is expected between Federica Moroni from Romagna (2nd in 2019, victorious in 2022 and 2023) and Sarah Giomi from Bolzano, last year’s Italian marathon champion, a title later revoked for a therapeutic plan deemed non-compliant. The third inconvenient luxury is Ilaria Bergaglio from Piedmont (2nd in 2022). A guarantee is Stefania Simonelli from Asti (7th in 2019, 4th in 2022, 5th last year). The performances of the strong climber from Biella Ilaria Zaccagni and the winner of the “Terre di Siena” Sabrina Chiappa are to be followed with interest.
Ligurian Sonia Ceretto is a must-see (8 times in the top 10 in 9 participations, best placing 3rd in 2010). Important debuts for Vicenza’s Michela Giacomuzzi and Marche’s Francesca Scola from Fermo.
The others
Many of the race’s loyalists have already signed up, starting with Giordano Chiappelli from Pistoia (46 arrivals in 46 editions, the only one who can boast this incredible performance) and the female leader, Michela Aniceti from Prato (33 editions completed). Also present are Claudio Guidotti (Borgo San Lorenzo, with 31 arrivals), Simone Moncini (Pistoia, 28 arrivals), Gianfranco Toschi (Castelfranco di Sotto, 25 arrivals); Franco Scarpa (Vaglia, 25 arrivals), Marco Seghi (Pistoia, 24 arrivals).
The nations represented
To date there are 24: Italy, San Marino, Spain, Germany, Hungary, Albania, Romania, United Kingdom, Belgium, Poland, Russia, Norway, Switzerland, Azerbaijan, Ukraine, Cuba, Ecuador, Australia, People’s Republic of China, Philippines, Japan, Ivory Coast, United States and Taiwan.
The exhibition center
The organizing committee also put many surprises in place on the occasion
of this prestigious Ultramarathon. Already on Saturday 29 June 2024, at 4:00 pm, at the
Exhibition Center La Cattedrale in Pistoia, the surprise presence of Moreno Burattini
who will hold a conference together with the journalist Pierluigi Gaspa, telling, to
passage of numerous photos and illustrations, its forty-year activity in the world
of comics and publishing, linked to the characters of Zagor and Tex but also to the theatre, to
literature, essays, and the publication of books of aphorisms, epigrams and jokes.
At 5 pm, the winners of the IV Literary Competition “Viaggiare ….nel” will be awarded
time and space” promoted as part of the collateral events of the 47th
Pistoia Abetone Ultramarathon. This is the outcome decreed by the jury:
Narrative:
1st place Ezio Pederiva, from Treviso, with the work entitled “Noi due”;
2nd place Michela Martini, from Massa and Cozzile, with the work entitled “Travelling in my
future”; 3rd place Monica Ferrucci, from Imperia with the work entitled “Climb until you touch the sky”;
Poetry
1st place Davide Rocco Colacrai, from Arezzo, with the work entitled “Letter to Zurich”;
2nd place Tiziana Ttaversari, from Pistoia with the work entitled “Pensiero…”;
3rd place Sebastiano Cubeda, from Pistoia with the work entitled “Journey into life”.
The winners’ works will be read to the audience by the artist and director from Pistoia Monica Menchi, who accepted the invitation with great satisfaction from the organization.
Finally, at the Cathedral, it will be possible to admire the sketches of the drawings made by the students of the 3E of the Brunelleschi Art High School of Montemurlo, including the one created by Arianna Zambini, with which the mural was created at the organizational headquarters of Pistoia
Abetone. Applause also goes to the works by Ludovica Lena, 2nd place and Andrea Cariota and Carolina Bevilacqua who placed 3rd.
