THE 41ST “PASSATORE” PRESENTED IN FAENZA AT THE BANCA DI ROMAGNA
Faenza, 6 May 2013
PRESS RELEASE N. 8
The 41st ‘Passatore’ presented in Faenza, at Banca di Romagna
REGISTRATION TOWARDS 1.800 FEE
The deputy director of Banca di Romagna Filomena Gottarelli, the mayor of Faenza Giovanni Malpezzi, the municipal councilor for Sport Maria Chiara Campodoni and the provincial one Paolo Valenti, the vice president of the Consorzio Vini di Romagna Roberto Ronchi and the president of the ‘100 Km ‘Elio Ferri.
1,087 Fidal members who will compete for Italian titles. Also present were a hundred foreign athletes from twenty-two countries and 209 women. The seven-time winner of the race Giorgio Calcaterra and the Ukrainian Evgeni Glyva (4th in 2010) were favored among men; Paola Sanna (two wins and three second places) and Russian rookie Nadjezda Shikanova, among women
In the meeting room of Banca di Romagna, partner of the 100 Km del Passatore, the 41st edition of “Firenze-Faenza” was presented, valid for assigning the absolute Italian titles Fidal 2013 of the specialty 100 km on the road (it is the 13th time that happens). The ultramarathon, organized by the Faenza association of the same name, in collaboration with the municipal administrations of Faenza and Florence, the Vini di Romagna consortium, the Passatore company, the Uoei, the municipalities of Fiesole, Borgo San Lorenzo, Marradi, Brisighella and the Province of Ravenna takes advantage of the partnership of Banca di Romagna, Banca del Monte Foundation and Cassa di Risparmio di Faenza, Antarex, Friliver-Bracco, Coop Adriatica, Hera Group, Ctf, Moreno Motor Company, Decathlon, Natura Nuova and Saucony, technical sponsor of the race.
The press conference, together with Elio Ferri, president of the “100 Km”, were attended by, among others: Filomena Gottarelli, deputy director of Banca di Romagna, Giovanni Malpezzi, mayor of Faenza, Maria Chiara Campodoni and Paolo Valenti, respectively city councilor and provincial to Sport, as well as Roberto Ronchi, vice president of the Vini di Romagna consortium. All the speakers, together with the sporting, technical and competitive significance of the “Florence-Faenza”, as always reaffirmed its social value, in particular as a connecting event between the aforementioned cities of art and their respective regions, with a great cultural tradition and cheap.
The “Passatore”, as known, continues to be the ultramarathon of the greatest tradition and international prestige among the more than 800 that are held every year all over the world, also as a tool for promoting running, the environment and relations between peoples. The number of members also confirms this. Nineteen days after departure (Saturday 25 May, 3.00 pm, from via de ‘Calzaiuoli), with the possibility of registering until May 18, there are approximately 1,800 athletes currently registered (at the 2012 edition, 2,035 started), including 1,087 , Fidal members, about two hundred women and one hundred athletes from 22 foreign countries (Australia, Austria, Belgium, Ecuador, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Ireland, Israel, Kazakhstan, Norway, the Netherlands, Russia, San Marino , Slovakia, Slovenia, the United States, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine and Vietnam). Bibs and race packs will be delivered starting at 11.00 on Saturday 25 May, in the association’s gazebo, set up in Piazza degli Strozzi.
Together with Giorgio Calcaterra, reigning Italian champion and, as known, winner of the last seven editions of the race, as well as recordman of the same (6:25:46), they are part of the lot of favorites: the Ukrainian Evgeni Glyva (4th of 2010), the Russians Dmitry Tsyganov (2nd in 2010, 4th in 2011 and 3rd in 2012) and Alexej Izmailov (6th in 2010, 10th in 2011 and 8th in 2012), and the Italians Marco D’Innocenti (2nd in 2006, 2007 and 2009, 5th in 2010) and Antonio Armuzzi (7th in 2012 and 20th in the recent European specialty championships). Among the women, Monica Carlin absent (winner last year by record), we must mention Paola Sanna from Bergamo (winner in 2005 and 2007, 2nd in 2006, 2008 and 2009, 3rd in 2012) and the Russian newcomer Nadjezda Shikanova. After 17 years from her last participation, 39-year-old Russian Irina Petrova, four times winner of the race in the 90s, will be at the start: for the record, in 1992, ’93, ’94, and ’96.
The control of the athletes has been confirmed (with the usual ‘electronic chip’), carried out by the Fidal judges, through six fixed and mobile stations, to guarantee the smooth running of the race by the participants. As for the ‘Cento’ prizes, in addition to the ranking ones, there are Fidal, absolute and master titles, the latter with eight female categories (the last, the “over70”) and ten male (the last, with athletes over 80 years old).
Also expected awards: for male and female record men; for running groups; for the GPM winner “Francesco Calderoni”, assigned by the Uoei to the cross-country skier who will pass first on the Passo della Colla di Casaglia (913 metrislm, at the 48th km), then reaching the finish line in Faenza; for the best newcomer, awarded by the “Cento” sports group, as well as the Elio Assirelli Trophy, established in memory of the president of the Association who passed away in 2009, who will be awarded to the first woman.
The Press Office
