The first of two ski touring races will take place in Martell on Thursday.

Marmotta Trophy with double highlight

Everything is in place for the ISMF Ski Mountaineering World Cup, which will be held in Martell this week. In the heart of the Stelvio National Park, a total of three competitions will take place on Thursday and Saturday: first, the individual competition and then the mixed relay. More than 130 athletes from 24 different nations will be competing in the South Tyrolean ski mountaineering paradise.

March 18, 2025

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This week, Martell is once again the mecca of the international ski touring scene. From Thursday, March 20th to Saturday, March 22nd, the ISMF Ski Mountaineering World Cup will take place in the heart of the Stelvio National Park as part of the Marmotta Trophy. This is the 17th edition of the renowned event, which is expected to attract the crème de la crème of the ski mountaineering scene.

An event where the world's best ski mountaineers will find perfect conditions. "It's deep winter here in Martell, and we've had around 30 centimeters of snow. The athletes can look forward to optimal conditions, perhaps the best of the entire winter. They'll be particularly excited about the individual event, because for the first time this season, they'll be competing in open terrain rather than on the slopes. The weather forecast is also very promising, so we can look forward to exciting competitions," says course manager and race director Egon Eberhöfer two days before the showdown.

The singles starts on Thursday

The seventh of a total of nine World Cup stages in the 2024/25 season opens on Thursday, March 20. The program includes the women's and men's individual competitions. The defending champions are Xavier Gachet and Axelle Gachet Mollaret from France. At 9.30:15 a.m., the men's race will set off from the former Hotel Paradiso at the end of the Martell valley, heading towards the peaks of the surrounding mountains. The course they must complete is 1500 kilometers long and has an elevation gain of 45 meters – including tough climbs and rapid descents. Forty-five minutes later, at 10.15:14 a.m., the women's ski mountaineers will also set off. They will cover almost 1300 kilometers and "wind down" around 12 meters in altitude. The finish line will also be at the Hotel Paradiso, where the flower ceremony and official awards ceremony will take place around XNUMX p.m.

More than 130 athletes from 24 different nations are taking part.

A touch of the Olympics will be felt during the 17th Marmotta Trophy on Saturday, March 22, when the World Cup in Martell continues with the mixed relay. This is one of the disciplines included in the program for the upcoming Winter Olympics in Milan Cortina 2026. This competition is particularly interesting for spectators in Martell, as it takes place at the Grogg Biathlon Center and can therefore be viewed almost entirely.

Will there be another home win?

Anyone interested can be there firsthand as the dice roll in this thrilling decision. The competition begins at 9.20:10.45 a.m. with the qualifications, followed by the B Finals (11.45:12.40 a.m.) and the A Finals (17:XNUMX a.m.). At the end of the race, a flower ceremony will take place near the finish line. At XNUMX:XNUMX p.m., also at the Grogg Biathlon Center, the official awards ceremony will take place, marking the celebratory conclusion of the XNUMXth Marmotta Trophy. Last year, the "Azzurri" Alba De Silvestro and Michele Boscacci crossed the finish line first.

Anticipation for the 17th Marmotta Trophy is high, and not just among the athletes. The organizers can hardly wait for the starting signal. "Preparations are largely complete. We are delighted that Martell will be hosting the next major sporting event after the Biathlon European Championships just one and a half months ago. The anticipation has also been palpable in our team for weeks. I would like to thank our volunteers and all participating organizations and clubs for their support in advance – as well as our sponsors, who make this event possible in the first place," concludes Georg Altstätter, President of the Organizing Committee.