The Memorial Mario Albisetti, also known as the ''Lugano Trophy'' and ''GP Città di Lugano'', is an annual

racewalking Racewalking, or race walking, is a long-distance discipline within the sport of athletics. Although a foot race, it is different from running in that one foot must appear to be in contact with the ground at all times. Race judges carefully asse ...

competition over 20 kilometres that is held in March on the streets of

Lugano Lugano (, , ; lmo, label=Ticinese dialect, Ticinese, Lugan ) is a city and municipality in Switzerland, part of the Lugano District in the canton of Ticino. It is the largest city of both Ticino and the Italian-speaking southern Switzerland. Luga ...

, Switzerland. It was first held in 2003. It is one of highest profile annual international racewalking meetings, having both permit status from

European Athletics The European Athletic Association (more commonly known as European Athletics) is the governing body for athletics in Europe. It is one of the six Area Associations of the world's athletics governing body World Athletics. European Athletics has 51 ...

and forming part of the annual

IAAF World Race Walking Challenge The World Athletics Challenge - Race Walking (formerly ''IAAF Race Walking Challenge'') is a racewalking series organised by World Athletics. Athletes accumulate points in specific race walk meetings during the season. Performances in 10 kilomet ...

circuit. It attracts top level racewalkers from across the world. Past winners include Olympic medallists Wang Zhen,

Alex Schwazer Alex Schwazer, OMRI (born 26 December 1984), is an Italian race walker. He was the 2008 Olympic 50k walk champion. He retired during the 2012 Olympics after being disqualified for doping offences. Biography Schwazer was born in Sterzing, Sou ...

and world champion

Michele Didoni Michele Didoni (born 7 March 1974 in Milan) is an Italian retired race walking, race walker, world champion of the 20 km race walk at 1995 World Championships in Athletics, Gothenburg 1995. Biography He won six times the Italian Athletics Champi ...

. Schwazer broke

Maurizio Damilano Maurizio Damilano (born 6 April 1957 in Scarnafigi, Italy) is an Italian former race walker. He won 15 individual medals (22 also with team events), at senior level, at the International athletics competitions. Biography He was the 1980 Olympic ...

's long-standing Italian national record in the 20 km walk en route to his 2010 win. The course for the race follows the banks of

Lake Lugano __NOTOC__ Lake Lugano ( it, Lago di Lugano or , from la, Ceresius lacus; lmo, Lagh de Lugan) is a glacial lake which is situated on the border between southern Switzerland and northern Italy. The lake, named after the city of Lugano, is situated ...

. It begins and ends at the fountain on Piazza Manzoni – a square near the city's town hall. The straight-looped course of two kilometres is entirely flat. It follows the lakeside roads of Giacondo Albertolli and Vincenzo Vela and has turning points at the end of Vincenzo Vela road and near the ''Museo Civico di Belle Arti'' (Civic Museum of Fine Art). The race director is Daniele Albisetti, a relative of Mario Albisetti. The race is organised by the Societa Atletica Lugano under the patronage of the Lugano City council and Banca dello Stato del Cantone Ticino.Comitato d:organizzazione
Lugano Racewalking. Retrieved on 2014-03-22. The city of Lugano has a long tradition in racewalking competitions and was host to the first ever

IAAF World Race Walking Cup The World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships is a racewalking event organised by the International Association of Athletics Federations. It has been held since 1961, and generally on a biennial basis. Women first entered the 1979 edition. ...

1961 Events January * January 3 ** United States President Dwight D. Eisenhower announces that the United States has severed diplomatic and consular relations with Cuba (Cuba–United States relations are restored in 2015). ** Aero Flight 311 (K ...

and again in

1973 Events January * January 1 - The United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland and Denmark 1973 enlargement of the European Communities, enter the European Economic Community, which later becomes the European Union. * January 15 – Vietnam War: ...

Past winners

Key: * The first women's race in 2003 was held over 10 kilometres.

References

{{reflist ;List of winners
Albo d'Oro Lugano Trophy – Memorial Mario Albisetti
Lugano Racewalking. Retrieved on 2014-03-22.

External links

Official websiteSwiss Walking Federation, official website with pictures
Racewalking competitions Recurring sporting events established in 2003 Lugano Tourist attractions in Ticino Athletics competitions in Switzerland Spring (season) events in Switzerland

Past winners

See also

References

External links