Italian
The new bobsled track “Eugenio Monti” has been officially inaugurated in preparation for the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics
CORTINA D’AMPEZZO. After the first tests on Monday, on Tuesday the athletes of the Italian national bobsleigh, skeleton, and luge team, including Mattia Gaspari from Cortina d’Ampezzo, were able to try the track. The initial impressions speak of an interesting, technical, and fast course. However, the real peaks of difficulty and speed will emerge in the coming days, when the athletes will start from the highest points.
At the ceremony were present the Minister of Infrastructure and Transport Matteo Salvini, the president of FISI Flavio Roda, the Government Commissioner Fabio Massimo Saldini, and the mayor of Cortina Gianluca Lorenzi. Salvini praised the construction company Pizzarotti, comparing the work to Brunelleschi’s dome, once considered impossible to achieve.
The work: costs, jobs, and technologies
The track is currently 75% completed. The project, valued at 118 million euros, required a flexible planning approach, with several adjustments made during the construction process. The construction site involved 135 workers, with the lead contractor Pizzarotti collaborating with 35 subcontractors and 115 material suppliers.
The track, 1,749 meters long and composed of 16 curves, partly follows the historic path of the old track. The project also included the creation of a memorial dedicated to Eugenio Monti, to tell the story of sliding sports related to the area.
Pre-certification and international testing
From March 24 to March 30, 2025, the pre-homologation will take place, a test required by the International Federations to verify safety and sports parameters. There are 12 participating nations: Austria, Canada, China, Great Britain, Germany, Italy, South Korea, Latvia, Romania, Switzerland, Slovakia, and the United States. In total, 60 athletes will take part in the tests, supported by coaches and technicians for a total of 134 people.
Once the tests are completed, the track will be frozen to allow for the completion of additional work. Cortina is thus getting ready to host the 2026 Olympics with modern infrastructure that promises to provide excitement and challenges for athletes from around the world.
Photo: Milan Cortina 2026 Infrastructure Company
