39th planoiras in dream conditions

This year, new winners smiled from the podium at the traditional Planoiras Folk Cross-Country Skiing Race. In perfect conditions, 18-year-old Isai Näff won the men's race after a thrilling finish. In the women's race, 24-year-old Giuliana Werro (Zernez) was competing for the first time and was immediately successful. The turnout was great — with the Youth Run, Special Olympics, Swiss Cup, Planoirino and Planoiras, around 730 participants took part over the weekend.

The 39th edition of the Planoiras Folk Cross-Country Skiing Race was a complete success. It was the first time on the original course for organising committee president Carlo Wasescha, who has been in office since last year, and he drew a very positive conclusion. «The weather conditions were great, the work of the volunteers was excellent, 430 participants took to the perfectly groomed cross-country ski trail and I received many compliments from participants and officials (Swiss Ski, referees).» Wasescha also took part as a competitor, duelling with his predecessor Urs Baselgia and losing out. Baselgia finished 100th, Wasescha 111th, around a minute behind.

Exciting decision
In addition to the Swiss Loppet classification, the Planoiras also counted towards the Swiss Cup. The pace over the 25 kilometres from the start in the biathlon arena via Lenzerheide Luziuswiese to Parpan and back to Luziuswiese was high in the leading group. A group including World Cup skier Jonas Baumann (Davos Dorf) broke away in the early stages of the race. They took it in turns to lead the race, and no one got away decisively. Baumann tried around 300 metres before the finish, but Isai Näff (Sent) countered, got away a little and did not let victory slip away. The decision for the next places was razor-thin, with Jonas Baumann securing second place. The best mountain biker in the cross-country skiing field was Andrin Züger from Felsberg, who finished in 16th place and once again proved his skills with the «cross-country skiing slats».

Giuliana Werro clear to victory
In the women's race, the winner, Giuliana Werro was competing for the first time and was able to pick up the winner's cheque straight away. She took over four minutes off second-placed Nina Carla Wohle (Spiez), with last year's German winner Sigrid Mutscheller in third. Olympic MTB medallist Linda Indergand (Silenen) did extremely well, finishing 15th overall and second in her category. Fabienne Alder (Pontresina) won the women's Swiss Cup on the 13-kilometre Planoirino course by a wafer-thin margin ahead of Ramona Schöpfer (Marbach) and Nadja Steiger (Horw), while the Planoirino victory went to Sabrina Imhof (Hünenberg See) and Jon Nesa (Scuol).

Youth run and Special Olympics
The competitions of the Special Olympics participants in snowshoeing and cross-country skiing as well as the youth race, which was held in individual start and pursuit, were also exciting on Saturday. The Swiss Cup individual race on Saturday was won by Fabrizio Albasini (Alpina St. Moritz) in the men's race, Robin Bläsi (Piz Ot Samedan) in the U18 race and Niclas Steiger (Piz Ot Samedan) in the U20 race. Marina Kälin and Ilaria Gruber U18 (both Alpina St. Moritz) won the women's category and Ramona Schöpfer from Marbach won the U20 category.

Ranking 39th Planoiras Folk Cross-Country Skiing Race category Men Overall (284 classified): 1. Isai Näff (Sent) 59.18,1. 2. Jonas Baumann (Davos Dorf) 0:03 back. 3. Antonin Savary (Avry-devant-Port 0:03. 4. Fabrizio Albasini (St. Moritz) 0:04. 5. Silvan Hauser (Schwändi bei Schwanden) 0:04. 6. Yannick Zellweger (Fex) 0:07. 7. Jan Fässler (Bütschwil) 0:09. 8. Niclas Steiger (Samedan) 1:23. 9. Nicola Wigger (Davos Platz) 1:30. 10. Curdin Räz (Sils) 2:23. Other Grisons athletes in the top 50: 11. Kevin Marc Camathias (Sagogn) 2:38. 12. Jon-Fadri Nufer (Rueras) 2:38. 14. Marius Danuser (Jenins) 2:40. 16. Andrin Züger (Felsberg) 3:04. 19. Sergii Semenov (Lantsch/Lenz) 3:42. 21. Marchet Nesa (Scuol) 4:37. 23. Livio Corsini (Lenzerheide) 4:40. 24. Robin Bläsi (Lenzerheide) 4:41. 31st Jonas Bärfuss (Samedan) 5:57. 32nd Gian-Luca Walpen (Samedan) 5:58. 33rd Janis Spescha (Chur) 5:59. 34th Nicola Defila (Chapella) 6:03. 36th Gion Schnyder (Siat) 6:53. 43rd Janic Camathias (Sagogn) 7:07.
Women's overall category (51 classified): 1. Giuliana Werro (Zernez) 1:06.36,5. 2. Carla Nina Wohler (Spiez) 4:18. 3. Sigrid Mutscheller (D-Isny) 4:23. 4. Seraina Boner (Davos Platz) 4:29. 5. Gianna Chiara Wohler (Spiez) 4:47. 6. Flavia Barmettler (Alpnach Dorf) 6:36. 7. Aita Kaufmann (Ftan) 8:03. 8. Mira Iron (Thalwil) 12. 36. 9. Ann Cathrin Uhl (Zurich) 12:18. 10. Valerie Widmer (Chur) 13:24. 11. Samantha Zeller (Pontresina) 18:36. 12. Andrea Brecht (Lenzerheide/Lai) 18. Simona De Stefani (Bever) 22:39. 26. Alia Pfiffner (Davos Platz) 26:5329. Daria Müller (Chur) 28:55.

Planoirino, men's category (no Swiss Cup, ranked 26): 1. Jon Nesa (Scuol) 39.29., 2. Corsin Ehrler (Chur) 0:07. 3. Felici Defila (Chapella) 1:34.
Women's category (no Swiss Cup, ranked 18): 1. Sabrina Imhof (Hünenberg See) 49.27,9 2. Silvana Venzin (Lenzerheide/Lai) +1:38,8., 3. Anouk Biolley (Horgen) +2.59,9