Federico Pellegrino exults in the 50km Holmenkollen race
Federico Pellegrino, Holmenkollen
Outstanding seventh place for Federico Pellegrino in the’iconic 50km in classical technique in Holmenkollen won by Norwegian Johannes Klæbo ahead of his four compatriots Martin Nyenget, Pål Golbdeg, Harald Amundsen and Didrik Tønseth, at the end of a narrow sprint that saw the’azzurro being the only non-Scandinavian among the eight who played for success and podium.
It was a test of great generosity for Pellegrino, who stayed in touch with the best for the entire race, even in the final 3-kilometer round in which the pace è rose spasmodically under the accelerations of Ivo Niskanen and Martin Nyenget. Pellegrino was able to respond present at every moment, at every spurt: Niskanen, Poromaa raised the white flag, the policeman from Nus did not. Not even at the moment of the final sprint to the Holmenkollen stadium.
The’epilogue è the challenge in the Norwegian home with Klæbo who in 2:06’50″4 won his first personal victory in Holmenkollen, then Pellegrino (+6″0) also preceded by Swede Jens Burmann: a seventh place that is worth a lot and that certifies even moreù the well-rounded dimension reached by the 33-year-old Aosta Valley member of the Fiamme Oro, capable today of expressing himself at podium and victory levels in the fast skating trials and of having his say even in the mostù grueling race of the season in classic technique.
Also very positive was the 18th place of Paolo Ventura from Trentino, who gave way only in the final ten kilometers to finish at 1’33″4, with Giandomenico Salvadori good 24th at 1’59″4; thirtieth and thirty-first place then for Simone Daprà and Dietmar Nöckler. It ends with the’whole group greeting the’arrival of Maurice Manificat, at the’last effort of his career.
The cross-country World Cup is now getting ready to experience the final week of the season: on Tuesday, there will be an appointment in nearby Drammen for the city sprint in classic technique, then from Friday 15 to Sunday 17 the final triptych in Swedish Falun with sprint in classic, individual again in classic and mass start in skating.
