Francesco De Fabiani returns to the podium after two years

Francesco De Fabiani third

Francesco De Fabiani took third place in the men’s 15-kilometer classic technique mass start at the Tour de Ski in Val di Fiemme. The 29-year-old alpine from Valle d’Aosta, succeeded in the feat of returning to the individual World Cup podium two years after the last time, just in Val di Fiemme, in which he finished second, also in the 15 km. The victory went, needless to say, to the usually irresistible Norwegian Johannes Klaebo, first with a time of 39’59″2, his sixth victory in this edition of the Tour. Klaebo, however, had to reckon until the last with his national teammate Paal Golberg (excellent action), mocked by just 4 hundredths in the final sprint, where the tyrannical cross-country runner did not want to concede anything this time either.

“It was a difficult Tour de Ski in which I started a bit under the weather,” De Fabiani said at the end of the race, “but in each race I improved. I arrived in Val di Fiemme in a slope that I like, in front of the home crowd and I believed in it all the way and in the end it was enough to overtake in the final straight, which had never happened to me. The last race is still missing, which is always tough, I hope not to suffer it too much so I don’t lose positions in the standings. This track really suits my characteristics: a hard and technical race with nice steep climbs. Everyone arrives here a little more tired and that maybe helps me do well. The home crowd also plays its part, charging you, it makes a difference. Mocellini and I were in the room together, and I would say it carried well. It is nice that it is not always just Pellegrino and De Fabiani on the podium, but also a newcomer who is almost a certainty like Simone who is a very good sign for the future and short and long term of the Italian national team.”