5 April 2025

The Marseillaise sounds again at the ninth edition of the Adamello Ski Raid.

150 teams from 16 different nations lined up at the start. A large crowd also gathered at high altitude: over 1,500 spectators were present. The reigning world champions William Bon Mardion and Xavier Gachet, fresh off their victory at the Pierra Menta last month, also left their mark on the second 2025 stage of La Grande Course. They were the first to cross the finish line in Ponte di Legno, after tackling a 3,355-meter elevation gain over a 40 km course, spread across five ascents, as many descents, and four sections on foot, finishing in 4h07’57”.

In the women’s race, the first win went to Giulia Compagnoni from Valtellina and Lisa Moreschini from Trentino (4h04’07” on a shorter route).
Second place in the men’s race went to the Italians William Boffelli, from Roncobello (Bergamo), and Alex Oberbacher, from Ortisei in Val Gardena, who finished 4’32” behind; third place went to another French team, made up of Samuel Equy and Anselme Damevin, trailing by 12’40”.

The high-altitude challenge became thrilling right from the start, which unfolded within the Pontedilegno - Tonale ski area, up to the 2,990 meters of Passo Presena, where three teams arrived together: the French duos Samuel Equy – Anselme Damevin and Xavier Gachet – William Bon Mardion, followed closely by Italians William Boffelli and Alex Oberbacher.
The podium positions solidified on the second climb to the 3,190 meters of Passo della Valletta, but even more so on the ascent to Punta Venerocolo — the highest point of the race at 3,312 meters — where the experienced Gachet and Bon Mardion increased the pace, breaking away from Boffelli and Oberbacher, who in turn managed to shake off Equy and Damevin.

Positions remained unchanged through the 3,307-meter Cresta Croce and later the 2,996-meter Passo Tre Denti.
At the finish line in Ponte di Legno, Gachet crossed with arms raised — his second participation and first victory at the Adamello Ski Raid — alongside William Bon Mardion, who claimed his third win, the first with Gachet after placing third together in 2023.

The two Army Sports Center athletes Matteo Eydallin and Robert Antonioli had to settle for fourth, a full 17 minutes behind the winners. Unfortunately, the athlete from Salice d’Ulzio took a wrong turn on the second descent, a costly error in the fight for the podium. Despite their efforts to recover, the time lost was too great.

A strong performance came from the twin brothers from La Salle, Jacques Lino and Didier Chanoine, who finished fifth with a gap of 19’23”, ahead of the highly rated pair of Federico Nicolini and Nadir Maguet.

The women’s race was a one-sided affair, with 28-year-old Giulia Compagnoni from Valfurva and 23-year-old Lisa Moreschini from Pejo immediately taking the lead and steadily increasing it kilometre after kilometre. This victory is a major confidence boost in a season where they have consistently been front-runners.
For Giulia, it's her first win on the original course — her second overall and third career podium. For Lisa, it's her first major title in an event she holds close to heart, being close to home.
The French duo Lorna Bonnel and Perrine Gindre came second, 26’29” behind, while Czech Marcela Vasinova and Austrian Bianca Somavilla were third, 40 minutes back.