Stefano Baldini – On Saturday 9 October two stories will come together in Trento, those of Stefano Baldini and the „Giro al Sas“

On Saturday 9 October two important stories will come together in Trento, that of the champion Stefano Baldini from Rubiera, winner of the marathon at the Olympic Games in Athens 2004, a world title in the half-marathon in Palma de Mallorca in 1995, two wins in marathons at the European  Championships of 1998 in Budapest and in 2006 in Gothenburg, and two bronze medals at the World Championships at Edmonton in 2001 and Paris in 2003 and that of one the most ancient and well known running events, the Giro to Sas of Trento.

After returning to compete in a marathon last August at the European Championships in Barcelona, Stefano Baldini, at the age of 39 years has decided to retire and will do so by taking part in the race in Trentino.

A special day, therefore for the Giro al Sas organized by Gianni Demadonna and the staff coordinated by President Tiziano Bisoffi.

A fitting end for a champion who has touched the hearts of many people, not only Athletics fans. For Baldini, the race will be a celebration, although knowing the Reggiano champion, he will do all he can to win.
The main challengers for a place on the podium, as they have done for the last decade, will come from Africa.   
Starting with the winner of the last year’s race, the Kenyan Edwin Soi, who boasts two gold and two silver medals won at the IAAF World Athletics Final and an Olympic bronze medal in the 5000 metres in Beijing 2008, who is more determined than ever to repeat last year’s performance around the 10 laps of the city course, a total of 10 thousand meters.

His main opponent will be Adhiana Gerbretsedik, a young promising Ethiopian who, in July, won a silver medal in the 10,000 m race at the World Junior Championships in Canada. Also present, and in peak condition, will be the Kenyan Paul Kimugul Kimaiyo, who won the Giro al Sas in 2005.

Outsiders are the other Kenyans Philip Jugra and Elisha Meli.

But to counter Africans there will be the Ukrainian Sergey Lebid, 8 times European cross country champion from 1998 to 2009.
Certain to be among the front runners will be the Swiss Stephan Joly and the recent winner of the Giro di Rovereto the Ugandan Wilson Busienei.  

Then we have the Italians led by who we hope will be Baldini’s heir, the Florentine Andrea Lalli, who has a personal best of  28 ' 17 "64 for the 10,000 metres, a specialist cross country runner and winner of the European under 23 cross country title in 2008 in Belgium and the European Junior title in 2006.

Then we have Daniele Caimmi, Ahmed El Mazoury, Cosimo Caliandro, Andriani Ottaviano, Gabriele De Nard, John Ruggiero and the Italian cross country champion of 2010 Kaddour Slimani.

STEFANO BALDINI AND THE GIRO AL SAS

The choice of the Giro al Sas by Stefano Baldini  to be his farewell race is no coincidence. For the Emilian champion, who on 29 August 2004 gave Italy one of the most exciting medals in history (the gold in the marathon at the Athens Olympics), the Trentino event has always had a special place in his heart, perhaps because it was one of the first races he participated in during his first year as a senior, or maybe because the event is organized by his discoverer and manager Gianni Demadonna.

Baldini has participated in the Giro to Sas 18 times, winning on three occasions, the first in 2002, then in the fantastic 2004 season and again two years later in 2006. Three times, just like his manager Gianni Demadonna who won in 1980, 1983 and 1985, as did the Genovese Giovanni Nocco who won the first races in 1946, 1947 and 1950 and like the then Yugoslav Franjio Mihalic (1957, 1959 and 1960). Two wins also for another symbol of Italian athletics, Francesco Panetta who was first over the finish line in 1987 and 1988.

The runner who has won the Giro al Sas the most number of times is Antonio Ambu  from Cagliari, who won the race seven times (the first in 1961 and then continuously from 1964 to 1969).

The most prestigious names of the winners of recent years include Paul Tergat and Kenenisa Bekele.

RAI TO BROADCAST THE 64TH GIRO AL SAS LIVE

Rai plans an hour long live broadcast, with a commentary by Franco Bragagna, from 6.30 p.m. to 7.30 p.m. on Rai Sport 2 on Saturday 9 October 2010. A round-up of the day’s events will be broadcast at 11.30 p.m. on Rai Sport 1.

Ample space will also be dedicated to the 64th Giro al Sas by other local and national broadcasters. Among these TCA in Trentino Alto Adige – Trentino Tv.