Val di Fiemme welcomes the world of Cross-Country and Para Cross-Country

Already familiar to Cross-Country fans as the final venue of the annual Tour de Ski, Val di Fiemme will host Cross-Country at the Milano Cortina Olympic Winter Games this month, and Para Cross-Country at the Paralympic Winter Games in March.

Local hero Franco Nones’ surprise gold in the 30km race at the Grenoble 1968 Olympic Winter Games provided the spark for Val di Fiemme to become an internationally renowned Cross-Country host. At nine previous Winter Olympics, medalists in the sport had only come from Norway, Sweden, Finland or the Soviet Union.

Inspired by Sweden’s Vasaloppet, Nones and others created the Marcialonga di Fiemme e Fassa which was held for the first time in 1971. Taking in both Val di Fiemme and Val di Fassa, it is now one of the most famous long-distance events in the world.

This along with the children’s Trofeo Topolino, founded in 1983 and now known as the Skiri Trophy, raised Val di Fiemme’s profile as a Cross-Country race venue. And in 1991, it hosted the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships (WSC) for the first time.

After staging a second WSC in 2003, Val di Fiemme became part of the first Tour de Ski in the 2006-07 World Cup season. It is the only permanent venue of the stage race with the Final Climb of Alpe Cermis boasting the highest TV audiences of any Cross-Country World Cup race on the calendar.

The challenge of Val di Fiemme

Val di Fiemme hosted its first World Cup Para Cross-Country races just over a year ago. Giuseppe Romele was the only home athlete to make the podium that weekend, finishing third in both the Sitting Sprint Classic and 10km Interval Start Classic.

The 33-year-old goes into his second Paralympics on a high having regained the overall Sitting Crystal Globe he won in 2024 when he became Italy’s first male Para Cross-Country World Cup winner. And after taking Interval Start bronze in Beijing, he is hoping to add to his medal tally on home snow.

“A year ago, we had the honor of testing the course in Val di Fiemme, and I must say that the courses are decidedly challenging for both Sitting and Standing athletes,” he said. “The day I finished third in the sprint, I honestly wasn't expecting it, given that all the athletes except the Russians were there, and sprinting isn't really my style. It was an incredible experience, and I hope to repeat it at the 2026 Paralympics.

“In any case, Val di Fiemme is an extremely challenging course for us Paralympians and for anyone who skis there, even at an amateur level. It's incredibly exciting to think that in less than 30 days we'll be there, so the only thing left for me to do is keep dreaming and thinking as I have until now.

“My personal goal is definitely to aim high, and then we'll see what happens. There's a lot of responsibility on my shoulders, more than just the tension of the race or the performance, so I'm trying to stay calm and relaxed until the time comes.”

Before that, Simone Mocellini is part of the home team at the Milano Cortina Games. The 27-year-old Sprint specialist will be making his Olympic debut at a venue close to his heart. Both his World Cup podium finishes have come in Classic Sprints, the format for these Games, including a third place at Val di Fiemme during the 2023 Tour de Ski.

“⁠For me, competing in Val di Fiemme is something unique, because I have a strong connection to that valley,” he says. “Plus lots of family and friends always come to see me, and that means more than anything to me.

“I really like the Val di Fiemme Sprint, both for the course and, obviously, for the classic technique! It's a track that has given me a lot of satisfaction throughout my career

“⁠⁠The Olympics have been my dream since I was a child, as I think it is for many other athletes. Being able to be there is already a source of great pride; doing it so close to home is incredible.”

These Games come just over a month after the Tour de Ski, and Mocellini admits it is “strange to return” to Val di Fiemme so quickly. He adds, “But I have to say that the Tour race was a great opportunity for all the athletes to familiarize themselves with the course and to be able to check out the slopes in advance.”

Mocellini will bid for Sprint Classic glory on Tuesday February 10th.