Articolo disponibile anche in: Italian
The Chianti Classico Marathon starts from scratch. After 20 splendid years of the race ended in the 1990’s, it began again on Sunday, June 5 with Mercatale Val di Pesa as its center.
400 runners chose among three itineraries (Marathon, Half Marathon, non-competitive Short Trail). They left from Mercatale, Panzano in Chianti and Badia a Passignano, all with finishing lines in Piazza Vittorio Veneto in Mercatale.
The athletes ran in a dreamlike context: forests, vineyards, farmhouses and castles, through the Antinori wine cellars, under the Abbey of Badia a Passignano.
Previous bad weather rendered the course heavy and muddy. All types of contestants participated: Italians, foreigners,new promises and old glories, non- seeing runners, those in wheelchairs, couples and groups, some with their faithful canine companion, some in flip-flops!
The result obtained by the 46 year old champion from Brianza, Luigi Carbone, stupefied all. It took him 3 hours and 33 minutes to bring home the victory. Second and third places belonged to Andrea Barbetta (3:34) and Stefano Della Bosca (3:35).
Among the male veterans, first place went to Gianni Giuseppe Borsetto (4:07), followed by Leonardo Misceo (4:07:33). The senior women’s prize went to Daniela Viccari (4:37), followed by Cristina Marinella Imbucatura (4:44) and Laura Lapi (4:56).
The veteran Sabrina Ducci finished in 4 hours and 52 minutes, followed by Stefania Arienti (5:56) and Carla Giacomel (6:02).