Historic feat for blue cross-country skiing: relay triumph in Toblach

Historic World Cup feat

Historic feat of the Italian quartet composed of Dietmar Noeckler, Francesco De Fabiani, Simone Daprà and Federico Pellegrino, who were able to win the men’s World Cup relay in the final act of the Dobbiaco stage. Second place went to Sweden’s Eric Rosjoe, Calle Halfvarsson, Johan Haeggstroem and Edvin Anger, after a final sprint won against Norway (Sjur Roethe, Didrik Toenseth, Simen Krueger, Harald Amundsen).

A success that is worth so much, if you think that Italy had been missing from the top step of the podium for a good 17 years, in which it always won in an Italian stage, but in Val di Fiemme, with the team composed of Giorgio Di Centa, Valerio Checchi, Pietro Piller Cottrer and Cristian Zorzi. The podium in the format, on the other hand, had been missing since 2016 when the same Noeckler, De Fabiani and Pellegrino (together on the occasion with Roland Clara), placed third.

A great emotion for the athletes – with Pellegrino visibly moved at the finish line – but also for the many fans who flocked to follow the races in Val Pusteria. A stupendous proof that of the Italian quartet, which right from the first fraction showed that it could play on equal terms with all the other pretenders for victory and for the podium, with Dietmar Noeckler immediately protagonist at the launch. Courageous and effective was also the action of Daprà and De Fabiani, who were able to remain in the noble positions of the ranking, wisely dosing their energies.

The spectacle, however, was all in the final fraction with Norwegian Harald Amundsen who tried the decisive solo sprint, before being caught up by transalpine Richard Jouve; the two were caught with about 4 km to go, with the Frenchman then deflecting. With four remaining (Pellegrino, Skar, Amundsen and Anger), the Aosta Valley rider seemed to be in excellent condition from the outset and made the decisive attack on the final climb, soaring ahead of everyone on the descent, until he crossed the finish line solo, with the Puster stadium crowd in delirium, embraced by all his teammates.

Eleventh place for the second Italian team formed by Giandomenico Salvadori, Paolo Ventura, Mikael Abram and Lorenzo Romano, who finished 2’08″5 from their national teammates. Now it’s time for the World Championships in Planica, Feb. 21 to March 5, with the World Cup returning on March 11-12 with the men’s and women’s 50 km in Oslo.