Poland’s Kowalczyk wins roller-skiing marathon in Italy
PR dla Zagranicy
Grzegorz Siwicki
18.09.2017 10:30
Poland's top cross-country skier Justyna Kowalczyk was the fastest woman in a gruelling roller-skiing marathon in Italy’s Trentino region on Sunday, a notable success for the double Olympic champion ahead of the fast-approaching winter season.
![Poland's Justyna Kowalczyk, March 2013. Photo: Tadeusz Mieczyński [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons](http://external.polskieradio.pl/files/f13a4056-4ce6-4668-9e53-3f3b3b46e1c5.file "Poland's Justyna Kowalczyk, March 2013. Photo: Tadeusz Mieczyński [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons")
Poland's Justyna Kowalczyk, March 2013. Photo: Tadeusz Mieczyński [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
The 50 km Fiemme Rollerski Cup race in Italy’s picturesque Fiemme Valley featured an arduous climb up the Alpe Cermis hill.
The marathon marked the last leg of the summer's World Classic Tour series for competitive roller skiers.
Kowalczyk finished first among the women, with a time of 02:28.35, while Ilya Chernousov of Russia was the fastest man and won the marathon overall, clocking in at 02:10.11.
Alpe Cermis is where the winter Tour de Ski cross-country skiing competition ends every year with an exciting final climb that attracts thousands of fans and millions of television viewers.
The 34-year-old Pole has won the Tour de Ski four times, the most of all cross-country skiers. She has also earned five Olympic medals and eight world championship medals, including two golds, in cross-country skiing, but has been struggling to return to top form ever since she was diagnosed with depression in 2014.
Roller skiing is a summer alternative to cross-country skiing and an increasingly popular sport in its own right. Most competitive cross-country skiers roller-ski in summer to prepare for the winter season. (gs/pk)
Source: fiemmerollerskicup.it, sport.onet.pl