From Milan to Paris, the world foil stops at the foot of the Alps, in a symbolic place of Olympic Turin, the former Palasport, now Inalpi Arena, which from 9 to 11 February it will host the eighth edition of the FIE Grand Prix “Trofeo Inalpi”, first seasonal test of the individual World Cup GP circuit which assigns an increased score, very important for individual Olympic qualification. Turin will be the only Italian and European stage to assign double scoresThis is also why registrations reached 450 athletes (189 women, 251 men). Among these, the champions of the 2023 edition: the French Ysaora Thibus and the American Gerek Meinhardt. The male and female foil players, led by head coach Stefano Cerioni, sensational protagonists in the last World Cup event in the city that will host the Olympics, in the race to qualify they have already won with arithmetic certainty all the individual passes available. The uncertainty is who will be the three blue men and women who will win them, given the abundance of champions in this weapon. This is why we should follow the Turin Grand Prix, which will begin with the preliminary stages of the women’s race and the super-champion Arianna Errigo already on the stage. Then, on Saturday 10th the qualifying phases for the men’s competition, with the 2022 team world champion, Guillaume Bianchi and the grand finale on Sunday 11th with the main draws of the two races. Admitted by right based on the ranking are the reigning world champions Tommaso Marini and Alice Volpi, the Olympian Daniele Garozzo and then… speaking of abundance… Alessio Foconi, Filippo Macchi, Martina Favaretto, Francesca Palumbo and Martina Batini. The flight to Paris passes through here.
The blues in the race
In addition to the reigning world champion Alice Volpi, already victorious in Turin in 2015 and 2019, Martina Favaretto (bronze 2023), Francesca Palumbo and Martina Batini, already on Sunday’s scoreboard, they will take to the stage on the first day of competition Arianna RigoGiulia Amore, Irene Bertini, Elisabetta Bianchin, Olga Rachele Calissi, Matilde Calvanese, Erica Cipressa, Anna Cristino, Carlotta Ferrari, Aurora Grandis, Camilla Mancini, Matilde Molinari, Benedetta Pantanetti, Serena Rossini, Martina Sinigalia and Elena Tangherlini.
The Azzurri in the race
Already qualified for Sunday’s direct elimination draw: Tommaso Marini, reigning world champion and already protagonist of the Paris test, returning from shoulder surgery after the World Championships; Filippo Macchi reigning European champion and second at Inalpi 2023, Alessio Foconi – two-time winner in Turin – and the Olympic champion Daniele Garozzo. They will be joined by: Raian Adoul, Giorgio Avola, Guillaume Bianchi, Mattia De Cristofaro, Alessio Di Tommaso, Damiano Di Veroli, Davide Filippi, Giuseppe Franzoni, Francesco Pio Iandolo, Francesco Ingargiola, Giulio Lombardi, Edoardo Luperi, Tommaso Martini, Lorenzo Nista, Federico Pistorio, Damiano Rosatelli. Further athletes may join later if necessary to complete the groups.
The competition program
Friday 9 February 10.30am WOMEN’S FOIL Qualifications Saturday 10 February 10.00am MEN’S FOIL Qualifications Sunday 11 February 9.00am – 9.00pm MEN’S AND WOMEN’S FOIL Finals
Entrance to the races
Entry to the qualifying races on Friday and Saturday will be free, while tickets to watch the finals on Sunday 11 February can be purchased online or at the Inalpi Arena ticket office on the days of the event.