The legends beginns 

What can be done to make Winter shorter and more interesting in terms of sport events ? That's the question the Läuferclub Bolzano tried to answer in 1974. Until then, many cross competitions had been organized, but no mezzofondo races or meetings at all.

Then a small group headed by Dr. Josef Mulser, Hans Pircher and Dr.Günther Andergassen organized the first New Year's Eve Silvester Road Run in Bolzano. The idea for this event,     first in Europe of its kind, was inspired by the famous Silvester Road Run in Sao Paolo, Brazil. The first edition was very successful and organized for male athletes only, then women         were also invited, a few editions later.

At first the about 100 participants were from Europe only. Nowadays athletes from all over the world  join this European elite. Also at the beginning athletes were rewarded in kind only and offered a free accomodation in town. But as the event grew bigger south tyrolean sponsors such as Seebacher, Reinstadler, the Oberdorfer family and various wine cellars supported the event. Costs have grown consistently in years and so did the needs of the entire organization, at the beginning managed by three persons only :Dr. Günther Andergassen, Dr. Gerhard Brandstätter and Toni Stampfer. Later on a special committee had to be created for this purpose.

The original 15 kms route of the race has been reduced to 10 kms, though maintaining the same characteristic. Start and finish line have always been in the main Walther Square; only a couple of times a changement has been made, due to road construction works.

Time records have also improved through the years. The first winners were European athletes like Putemanns from Belgium, Cova, Panetta and Antibo from Italy. The best south tyrolean runner is still Christian Leuprecht, having gained the third position.

Today it is not as it was any more. In the old days - as told by Hans Pircher, the coach of the Läuferclub Bolzano -  after the Sylvester Road Race athletes would run up to Seiser Alm and dash through the snow bare feet, today such a thing is certainly unimaginable....