The NBS Ronda Ghibellina Trail is a trail running race that has been held for 11 years in Castiglion Fiorentino in the province of Arezzo, and which does not need much introduction: famous for being run in January, strictly during the days of the Blackbird, it is known for the often difficult weather conditions and for the medieval theme of the entire event, in perfect harmony with the places and landscapes in which it is framed.

At the beginning of this 2021, however, the Ronda gave all running and trail enthusiasts another great reason to be remembered.

Against all odds over the weekend of 30/31 January, despite the COVID emergency, the Ronda was done in a perfectly lawful manner and in compliance with the regulations in force and with all the necessary permits and authorisations to be able to hold a competition in this period.

The NBS Ronda Ghibellina team worked for months to achieve a seemingly impossible race, first of all by obtaining recognition as a race of national interest, and then by putting together an edition that, although nicknamed THE FIRST, due to the extreme frugality of the event, was a resounding success both in terms of registrations (988 daredevils ran the four distances of the race) and in terms of feedback from participants despite all the sacrifices that had to be made.

The four distances run at the Primitiva were the three classics: the Ronda Assassina 25Km 1200 D+, the Ronda Ghibellina 45Km 2500 D+ and the Ronda Ghibellina Plus, 70Km 3800 D+, and to round off the beautiful Sky Night, a very hard night short trail of 15Km 1050 D+.

The Ghibellines had promised a heroic edition of the Ronda and this was the case in every respect, as the race course was extremely muddy and tested even the most experienced runners, causing many retirements, including illustrious ones.

The queen of the Ronda distances, the Plus 70Km, was won by the Swede Carl Johan Sörman with a time of 6 hours 42 minutes, followed by the Italian Riccardo Montani with 6 hours 51 minutes. Third place went to Nicola Poggi with 7 hours 47 minutes. In the women’s category, Caterina Corti won in 9 hours 50 minutes, two-time Tor Des Geants champion Lisa Borzani in 10 hours 16 minutes and Letizia Ambrosini in 10 hours 38 minutes.

In the Ronda Ghibellina 45Km we find Matteo Andriola in first place with his 4 hours and 32 minutes, followed by Roberto Gheduzzi just 19 seconds behind and finally Luca Carrara with 4 hours and 36 minutes. In the women’s rankings Camilla Spagnol came first with 5 hours 16 minutes, Giulia Torresi in 5 hours 46 minutes and Monica Francesca D’Urso in third place with 5 hours 56 minutes.

The very popular 25Km, L’Assassina, saw Mario Maresca, 2 hours 11 minutes, Manuel Moriconi 2 hours 15 minutes 13 seconds, Michele Meridio 2 hours 15 seconds 51 seconds. Among the women, Pina Deiana wins in 2 hours and 50 minutes, Jessica Perna in 3 hours and 04, Martina Gioco 3 hours and 06.

On the 15K Sky Night Matteo Rossi leads with 1 hour and 35 minutes, followed by Marco Mengozzi 1 hour and 39 and Rigers Kadija with 1 hour and 40. Among the women we find again and in first position Martina Gioco, who will also be the overall winner of the combined Sky Night + Assassina (well done Martina, really exceptional performance!), followed by Elisabetta Lastri in second place with 2 hours and 3 minutes and Rigersta Kadija with 2 hours and 11 minutes.

On the combined Sky Night + Assassina we find Giacomo Leonelli in second place and Stefano Marcello Burlon in third. Second woman was Maria Teresa Giardi.