2 pm was the time for the bibs given out, but, at the Forum Sport Centre of Dolonne there was a (rapid and fluent) line from 12.30.
It was an intense afternoon, today: checks of compulsory materials that every runners has to take in his backpack, interviews with athletes and organizations from international tele- visions ( as the Japanese NHK), sponsors and, from 8 pm, the pasta party and the briefing where the final weather forecast are to be presented to the athletes.
At 6, at Jardin de l’Ange, took place a crowded ceremony for the given out of the bibs to the Top Runner Athletes of this edition. Women first, as it should be: Cecilia Mora, world trail running champion, Marina Plavan, 4th place last year and, of course, Denise Zim- mermann ( Swiss, 3rd in 2014 and at the recent UTMB) and Lisa Borzani ( 2nd in 2014). As for men, a big group of aficionados such as Pablo Criado, Oscar Perez, Christophe Le Saux ( who has been on Tor podium) and the Japanese Masahiro Ono, Schogo Mo- kizuchi and Lini Wataru (at his debut at Tor but who won several international races). Then, big Irish name: Dan Doherty and Eoin Keith. There is also a French: Patrick Bo- hard. He defined Tor a “devil race”, but a lot of people think he is going to be the one who is going to take the devil for the horn. It is one of the favorite, but, of course, the race will decide. Last but not least, Matteo Pigoni and Gianluca Galeati: they will be able to shine. And the, naturally, the beloved athletes from Aosta Valley: Abele Blanc, Giancarlo Anno- vazzi, Giuseppe Grange and the always strong Bruno Brunod.