A great starting field and the best circumstances are waiting the 13,000 skiers and thousands of spectators at the 48th Engadin Skimarathon this coming Sunday. Dario Cologna, Sjur Roethe, Toni Livers, Ivan Perrillat Boiteax, Aurelie Dabudyk, Anouk Faivre Picon, to name a few of the elite-skiers starting the FIS Worldloppet Cup stage 7. Snowfalls over the last days allowed the organizers to prepare great tracks leading through the winter-in-the-mountains panorama.

ELITE SKIERS IN ST. MORITZ/SUI

Three time Olympic Champion and local hero Dario Cologna is going to go for the victory in the Engadin Skimarathon on Sunday the 13th of March 2016. After winning the traditional Skimarathon starting in Majola on the lake Sils and leading via St. Moritz to S-chanf in 2007 and 2010 it would be his third victory at his home-marathon. At the Vasaloppet last weekend he crossed the finish line only two seconds behind the winner, so he is ready. But he will have strong opponents. One of them is his compatriot Toni Livers, he won the Polish Bieg Piastow, the 6th FIS Worldloppet Cup stage, last Saturday. Place 5 of the Bieg Piastow, Bastien Poirrier (FRA), his team-mate Benoit Chauvet (FRA) and the current FIS Worldloppet Cup leader, Ivan Perrillat Boiteaux (FRA) also want to fight for the first place to grab valueable points before the final stage of the FIS Worldloppet Cup. Another candidate on whom one could put his money is the Norwegian Worldcup star Sjur Roethe.

Also in the ladie's marathon an athlete could win an "Engadin-triple: The French Anouk Faivre Picon won the Engadiner in 2012 and 2015. But her opponents are strong. Besides local hero from Davos/SUI and long distance expert Seraina Boner the top 4 of the FIS Worldloppet Cup overall ranking are going to stand at the starting line: Aurelie Dabudyk (FRA), Elisa Brocard (ITA), Klara Moravcova (CZE) and from Switzerland, Rahel Imoberdorf.

PROGRAM OF THE 48TH ENGADIN SKIMARATHON

Friday, 11th March, 18:00: Night Sprint in St. Moritz

Saturday, 12th March, 14:00: Welcome-Cocktail for Worldloppet-Passholders

Saturday, 12th March, 17:00: Marathon anniversary divine service

Sunday, 13th March, 08:30: Start FIS Worldloppet Cup Stage 7 - Engadin Skimarathon

Sunday, 13th March, from 12:00: Marathon Party in the finish area

ENGADIN SKIMARATHON LIVESTREAM

The 48th Engadin Skimarathon is going to be shown live for the first time in history. On the official website, www.engadin-skimarathon.ch, everyone can follow the race from 8:00, Sunday morning.

• FIS Worldloppet Cup 2016 Overall leader men: Ivan Perrillat Boiteaux/FRA

• FIS Worldloppet Cup 2016 Overall leader women: Aurelie Dabudyk/FRA

Last year's winners

• Engadin Skimarathon 2015 Men: Ilia Chernousov/RUS
• Engadin Skimarathon 2015 Women: Anouk Faivre Picon/FRA

The next stages of FIS Worldloppet Cup:

FINAL STAGE: UgraSki marathon/RUS, 02.04.2016

Source: fis-ski.com