On February 5, the first edition of the “Grande Corsa Bianca” will start in Ponte di Legno. The race covers 160 km with 6,000 m of elevation gain; it is a loop course that starts and finishes in Ponte di Legno after passing through the Upper Val Camonica, Valtellina, and Val di Sole.

Inspired by the great cross-country treks already taking place in the European and North American Far North, the event offers a self-supported winter trail that athletes can choose to complete on skis, on foot, or on special bikes. The start is scheduled for Thursday afternoon, and the time limit is 53 hours.

A grueling, extreme race that was canceled last year—in its inaugural edition—about 24 hours after the start due to bad weather. The athletes will traverse forest trails and mule tracks, immersed in the typical winter Alpine landscape, braving the snow and cold temperatures.

Its cold resistance and performance in low temperatures make Oxyburn the ideal partner for “La Grande Corsa Bianca”; in fact, the brand will be a sponsor for the 2015 edition.

In addition, Oxyburn will be supporting Marta Poretti at the starting line in Ponte di Legno; once again, she’ll be wearing Oxyburn apparel, just as she did during her recent race at Kong Vinter in Denmark. In January, she was unable to become the “queen of winter” due to the race being cut short before it concluded, and she will certainly try to make up for it in the Alps.