Federico Pellegrino second in sprint in Minneapolis

Federico Pellegrino second in Minneapolis sprint

Only Johannes Klæbo managed to overtake Federico Pellegrino in the free technique sprint in Minneapolis (United States) at the end of a final that also saw Simone Daprà make his debut among the protagonists, surprising sixth.

The Minnesota capital debuted on the big stage by giving podium number 44 in the career of the champion from Valle d’Aosta, who tried until the’last meter to steal the success from Klæbo. The Norwegian outfielder was able to per’find the decisive stretch on the’challenging U.S. track drawn inside the city’s Theodore Wirth Park; third place è still Norwegian with Harvard Taugboel.

Second already in the qualifying round, right behind Klæbo, Pellegrino thus climbs the podium for the second time in the season, after the third place in Davos during the Tour de Ski: the policeman from Nus reached the final act closing the battery behind the Swiss Riebli, then fourth, and the subsequent semifinal shoulder to shoulder with Klæbo and Taugboel.

And in the final Pellegrino è found himself next to the surprising Simone Daprà from Trentino, excellent protagonist of the North American tourée and able first to hit an’easy qualification with the eleventh time, and then deserve the final with grit (in the semifinals) and abilityà to take advantage of the opportunities, as happened in the battery.

The sixth place finish represents a new career best for the Val di Fiemme police officer who had been 16th in the 15km in Canmore last weekend.
An excellent race, unfortunately unlucky, was also that of Elia Barp (14th), excluded from the semifinals by only three hundredths of a second from the photofinish at the end of a head-to-head with Even Northug in the battery; a fall, on the other hand, put an end right in the first round to the race of Michael Hellweger, 27th.

A Swedish one-two in the women’s sprint with Jonna Sundling who, after signing the fastest time in qualifying, confirmed her performance in the final ahead of Linn Svahn and Norway’s Kristine Skistad, with host Jessie Diggins at the foot of the podium in front of her Minnesota audience. Caterina Ganz and Nicole Monsorno tried to play their cards in the battery, but could not find room to pass the round and finished 16th and 22nd, respectively.

On Sunday, February 18, it’s back to the snow in Minneapolis for an individual 10km, again in free technique.

FISI Press Office