Cross-country skiing, Pellegrino third in Ruka: first podium on a 20 km

It also debunks the taboo-Ruka, the Finnish station where the World Cup season started. The first individual podium also coincides for Federico Pellegrino with the first podium of his career in distance trials, not in his favorite specialty, i.e. the Sprint, of which he was also cross-country world champion in 2017, again in Finland, in Lahti, as well as double Olympic silver in both classic and free technique, and first non-Scandinavian to win the specialty Cup. The 32-year-old policeman from the Aosta Valley therefore unexpectedly climbs onto the podium in the 20 km free technique pursuit of the Cup, the first mini-tour: the blue had in fact finished fourth, after the disqualification for cutting the track of the Swede Calle Halfvarsson, who had preceded at the finish line, but irregularly. The race had been won by the Norwegian champion, Johannes Klaebo, who had already won the 10 km classic technique yesterday, ahead of his compatriot Pal Golberg and the opening classic Sprint (with Chicco seventh, 7 tenths out of the final).

In forma

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A Federico Pellegrino immediately in great shape, well placed on his legs and good at managing tactics and forces. Quiet departure for Johannes Klaebo, who, having started first, lets himself be caught up by the chasing group after about five kilometers of the race. The leading group consists of twelve athletes, including seven Norwegians. Bravo to join the group of the first Federico Pellegrino, who travels towed by the norges with good energy. Francesco De Fabiani, on the other hand, remains behind, losing ground as the kilometers go by. The group leader is often held by Hans Holund, who takes charge of setting the pace. Around the eighth kilometer Emil Iversen comes off and eleven remain. The Englishman Andrew Musgrave also shows up, ahead of the group, while Pellegrino always remains between fifth and seventh position. On the last lap, the Swedes, William Poromaa and Calle Halfvarsson, who have remained covered up until now, show up and the pace picks up, but there is still no decisive breakthrough. Pellegrino keeps the lines of Norwegians and Swedes. On the last climb, Klaebo’s attack is unleashed and Pellegrino launches with the Norwegian. The Swedes also reappear and everything is decided in the descent that leads to the final finish line. Klaebo stretches and goes on to win, followed by Golberg and Halfvarsson. Pellegrino for only three tenths of a second in the race had finished fourth before the intervention of the jury. De Fabiani finished 33rd, ahead of Davide Graz, while Giandomenico Salvadori was 45th, and Paolo Ventura 57th. The general classification sees Klaebo in the lead with 215 points, followed by Goldberg with 197 and Valnes with 168. Pellegrino is fifth with 126 points. Chicco says: “I didn’t expect this placement. Starting 20th in the skating pace, I aimed to stay hooked to the group I belonged to in order to fight for a position around the tenth position at the finish line. At the end of the first lap I realized that I had fast skis and excellent legs, I told myself to give it a try and every lap that passed I continued to feel good. In the last lap I thought about staying on the hook and then taking the right train, because everyone wanted to be in front but not in the top positions. I played my cards well, I arrived at the foot of the final climb in the ideal position. Behind someone trying to recover ground had to go off the track, I know that Halfvarsson will certainly be disappointed and I understand it well, because in Lahti not even a year ago they disqualified me for the same reason, however the rules are there and you have to observe them. I’m happy because I was already satisfied with 4th place, now with the podium it’s even better”.

Donne

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The women’s race has no history, with Sweden also dominating the last race of the inaugural stage. After the success in Friday’s sprint with Emma Ribom on Johanna Hagstroem, the yellow and blue national team finds the third double of the weekend with Frida Karlsson and Ebba Andersson to replicate – with parts reversed – the podium of the 10 km classic technique. The twenty-three year old from Solleftea, in her fourth career triumph on the top circuit, completed the course with a time of 49’55″3 with which she preceded her compatriot by 33″3, after a race that the two teammates led from the very first meters with a frightening showdown. Two Italians were present: another decent performance for Caterina Ganz, 23rd position with a delay of 3’40”01, while Anna Comarella finished 29th at 4’18”3. General classification which sees Karlsson in first place with 258 points ex aequo with the Norwegian Tiril Weng; third is the other Swede Maja Dahlqvist with 217 points. Ganz is 23rd with 91 points, Comarella in 45th position with 43 points.