Lisa Vittozzi returns to the podium

Lisa Vittozzi on the podium

Lisa Vittozzi is back on the World Cup podium and è third in the Lenzerheide sprint. Having finally disposed of the’flu that limited her in recent weeks, the 28-year-old from Sappada è carved out a place for herself on the third step of the podium in the opening act of the’Helvetic stage, the third World Cup act of the season.

Vittozzi completed her trial without errors with her usual precision and rapidity at the range, crossing the finish line with the third time, 17”2 behind France’s Justine Braisaz-Bouchet (22”13”0) and Norway’s Ingrid Tandrevold (17”2), who in turn were the authors of a perfect trial at the shooting.

In the final round, Vittozzi was able to maintain a high pace on skis, thus preventing the pursuers from closing in, with Frenchwoman Julia Simon (1-0) fifth at 39”7 followed in turn by Elvira Öberg (1-0, +52”) and the’other Norwegian Marit Skogan (0-0, +55”7).

For Vittozzi, this is podium number 23 in the World Cup at the individual level in a season that has already seen her win in the winter opening 15km individual Östersund. The third place is an excellent starting point ahead of the chase scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 16: the podium in the sprint also allows her to climb to second place in the overall World Cup standings with 309 points, preceded only by Tandrevold (346).

In contrast, a difficult day for Dorothea Wierer, who with a mistake in each of the shooting sessions (1-1) finished 32nd at 2’23”4 from Braisaz, followed by Rebecca Passler (0-2, 36th) with Beatrice Trabucchi (1-1, 52nd) and Samuela Comola (0-1, 55th) in turn qualifying for the pursuit.