Exciting weekend at the 2025 Italian Sprint and Sprint Relay Championships
Over the weekend, the athletes of Park World Tour Italy were the protagonists at the Italian Sprint and Sprint Relay Championships, held in Chioggia (Saturday) and Mirano (Sunday), respectively. These races were among the main goals of the season, and the team worked together to arrive at their best.
It was also a special occasion thanks to the presence, within the team, of some high-level Swedish athletes, including Tove Alexandersson, multiple-time world champion in orienteering and newly crowned world champion in trail running, in Italy for a training period focused on cross-country skiing and trail running. Alongside her were Max Östberg, third at the Junior World Orienteering Championships, and Sofia Dell’Orto, a young talent with dual Swedish-Italian citizenship.
Saturday in Chioggia – Individual Sprint
Among the women, Tove Alexandersson dominated the standings, finishing 1’16’’ ahead of second-placed Caterina Dallera, finally earning the Italian Sprint Championship title. For her, considered the team’s “sprinter,” it was a long-awaited and well-deserved victory. Behind her were friend and teammate Jessica Lucchetta, followed by Maddalena De Biasi from Orienteering Tarzo. The extended podium was filled by other teammates, Guenda Zaffanella and Annarita Scalzotto, just a few seconds off the podium. All of them delivered solid and well-run performances, thanks also to the technical preparation by coach Svetlana Mironova, with whom they have all planned a long-term growth path.
Among the men, a podium finish came from Marco Anselmo Di Stefano, who became the Italian Elite Vice-Champion, while Fabio Amadesi placed sixth, just over 40’’ behind.
Great performances also came from the younger athletes: Sofia Dell’Orto dominated W16, winning by over a minute and a half; Celeste Pretto, despite injuries, claimed bronze in W18; and Max Östberg triumphed in M20, more than a minute ahead of the second-placed competitor.
Sunday in Mirano – Sprint Relay
On Sunday, PWT Italia 1 – composed of Caterina Dallera, Fabio Amadesi, Marco Anselmo Di Stefano, and Jessica Lucchetta – dominated the overall standings, claiming the Italian championship title. Just behind, in third place, was the other PWT team – made up of Annarita Scalzotto, Sebastian Inderst, Lukas Patscheider, and Guenda Zaffanella – confirming the great technical depth of the group.
Team Manager Gabriele Viale’s comment: “Thirty-five Italian titles overall, thanks to three victories (along with two vice-champions and two bronze medals) this weekend: a result that is the fruit of careful planning and design. Successes never happen by chance. It was an intense weekend, also mentally: managing a team of this level requires energy and attention, as you experience firsthand the tension and emotion of each athlete. We are united by great strength, also fueled by the memory of Mattia Debertolis, whose recent loss has deeply affected us. His family was also present this weekend, and having them with us made everything even more meaningful. Following all the organizational and management processes of a team of this caliber is not easy, especially considering the international level of our members – like Tove Alexandersson – who represent a constant stimulus for growth for all our athletes. This closes an extremely intense competitive season, both in sporting and organizational terms. Now we take a moment to recover our energy, already looking forward to the inauguration of the new headquarters in Fai and the planning of the next three-year project. Bringing home the tricolor is always a great joy.”
