The long lake of Lugano will again be the theater of the 15th edition of the memorial Mario Albisetti, with a good number of athletes both in the men's and women's categories.
20km men
At the moment there are 25 athletes who have entered.
Six or seven of the most important names to be observed from the one who was the winner of the last edition Alex Wright (IRL) that last year had scored an interesting 1:21:19 after having passed halfway through the race in 40:40.
The most fearsome opponent is Tom Bosworth (GBR) (1:21:53 in 2017 with a half-way passed in 40:40).
Other claimants to the victory, or how much medial to the podium, are the two brothers Ever Palma Olivares (MEX) and Isaac Palma Oliveres (MEX) - both in the 2017 edition did not compete but they are credited by a very good 1:19:52 ( Ever) and 1:20:56 (Isaac) - Hassanine Sebei (TUN) also with an excellent credit time (1:20:20) and Erick Barrondo (GUA) (1:21:34, obtained in London 2017)
A new name from far away Japan is registered this year: Kouki Ikeda (JPN) who on Feb. 18, .2018 in Kobe (JPN) brought his personal best to 1:19:13 (previous 1:20:48 obtained in Takahata (JPN) on Oct. 22, 2017) which currently represents the eighth world performance of the season and in any case the best time for the entered.
The group of Italian athletes always present in Lugano this year is composed only by Stefano Chiesa, who will try to cancel the bad experience of 2017, by Leonardo Dei Tos and Alberto Zaupa.
20km women
The star of the day is undoubtedly Eleonora Anna Giorgi (ITA) who returns to the races in 2018 after the last appearance of World Championships in London on Aug. 13, 2017.
To fight with them for the victory will be one of her opponents of all time Anezka Drahotova (CZE) that unfortunately after the brilliant results obtained up to 2015 (1:26:15 to Murcia on May 17, 2015) went down, so much so that last year has not been able to do a time inferior to 1:33:18 (Podebrady, April 8, 2017) and right here in Lugano it had arrived in 2017 only fourth in 1:34:19.
Mirna Ortiz (GUA) will also fight for the podium in London in 2017 with an interesting 1:30:01 (11th place), Gemma Bridge (GBR) who got her personal best of 1:32:22 in Leeds on June 25, 2017 and also Bethan Davies (GBR) who got his personal best of 1:33:04 in Leeds on June 25, 2017 and who will also want to redeem the colorless race (DQ) in 2017 here in Lugano.
The Italian group is composed not only by Eleonora Anna Giorgi also by Nicole Colombi (1:37:26 last Sunday in Rome) and Lidia Barcella (DNF last Sunday in Rome).