Articolo disponibile anche in: Italian
On June 5, the Chianti Classico Marathon returns to the hills of San Casciano, Tavarnelle and Greve in Chianti after a 20 year absence. It is promoted by the towns of San Casciano, Tavarnelle, Barberino Val d’Elsa and Greve in Chianti, and by the Podistica (Footing) Valdipesa association in collaboration with the Consortium of Chianti Classico wine and Chianti Banca. It will have three different trails among some of the most beautiful hills of the world.
The Podistica Valdipesa association aligned with the town administrations, is busy organizing the marathon that will promote, attract, entertain and involve sports lovers along its itineraries; the 42km Marathon, the Half Marathon (20km) and the Short Trail (10km).
Runners will be immersed in some of the most enchanting sites of Chianti. Sport, environment and nature entwine in this first edition, which aims to be the expression of a territory which can interact with and transfer its own excellence to the sport arena.
You can sign up online at www.chianticlassicomarathon.com, under “0” at Chianti Classico Marathon. The race is Sunday June 5. Contestants can retrieve their numbers on Saturday, June 4.
The rules are available at the previously mentioned web address. The Marathon leaves from Mercatale, the half Marathon leaves from Panzano in Chianti and the non-competitive Short Trail leaves from Badia a Passignano. All three routes will meet at the same place, Mercatale where a shuttle bus will be available.
The Chianti Classico Marathon has revived the old Chiant Marathon, which had its heart in Mercatale. It is a race that is mostly a “trail”. Only 10% of the race is on asphalt. The rest is composed of gravel roads, trails, sections of forest and vineyards.
Refer to www.chianticlassicomarathon.com for sign ups, rules, news and info on where to sleep and eat. Many structures have arranged special packages in occasion of the race.