December 14, 2003 – Maurizio Pozzi will be wearing the #1 race number as he was the winner of the past edition, the 'Forestale' won la Sgambeda in 1993 and most importantly the FIS Marathon Cup Crystal Cup in 2002: The athlete from Bormio will lead the platoon of the Italian national Team, captained by the Lillehammer Olympic champion Silvio Fauner (3) the new acquistion of Marco Selle's national squad together with the athlete from Bergamo, Fabio Maj (20). The Italians taking part are Gianantonio Zanetel (5), already a winner of the FIS Marathon Cup in 2001, supported by his team mates from the 'Fiamme Oro', Faustino Bordiga (14) and Pierluigi Costantin (17). Other italians to keep an eye on are Roberto De Zolt (6) and the “civilian” Reinhold Schweinbacher (18) who will be pitting his wits against the Norweigen Joergen Aukland (2) who always takes part in the marathon World Cup events, even though the 'viking' is a classic technique specialist; also with him is his team mate Morten Broers. Amongst the athletes who might grace the podium are Estonian, Roul Olle (8), winner of the Finland Hiito in 2000 and the Tartu Maraton in 2001, and the Sweden's Daniel Tynell (16), dominator of the mythical Vasaloppet in 2002.

Attention must be also paid to Stanislav Rezac from the Czech Republic who last year finished in second place in the FIS Marathon Cup and also to the long distance specialist the Spanish athlete Juan Jesus Gutierrez (7). Also pushing off along the flat start of Livigno is the Finnish atlete Mika Myllylae (38), the ex-Russian athlete who has taken Austrian nationality Michael Botvinov (35) and the French athlete Stephane Passeron (37).

Amongst the women who will be defending their titles gained last season, Lara Peyrot (2002) who will be helped by Cristina Paluselli (2004) and should be careful about the attacks from the expert Polish athlete Dorata Dziadkowiec (2006). Suprises might come from the Russians, Svetlana Frizen (2003), Elena Ektova (2008) and Svetlana Zverkova (2012), while the French are pinning all their hopes on the World Cup national Annick Vaxelaire (2007). From the Ukraine Lada Nesterenko (2010), from the Czech Republic Katerina Smutna (2016) and from Germany Marlene Kuehne (2011) who could all be hoping to climb onto the podium.

Someone who is not planning to climb onto the podium is Paola Pezzo, two times the Olympic mountain bike champion, who is racing in la Sgambeda to take part in the amateur world, a world which has reached 1,300 entries. Another mountain bike squad member taking part is the Italian Marathon champion Marzio Deho, who in reality prefers the mountaineering ski races.

Lastly, also taking part in the race is the Israelian Daniel Kuzmin (who was actually born in the Kamchakta) and the world junior champion in 1995 at Gaellivare, Pietro Broggini. Other important names are waiting to compete after the first day of the World Cup in Davos, many cross country skiers who are not going to take part in the relay race on Sunday may be racing in Livigno. This afternoon the definite starting list will be released.