Race-to-be-framed for Federico Pellegrino, a wonderful second place
Barp and Carollo also in the limelight
It was a good pre-Olympic test with lots of spectacle and spectators

The Skiathlon of the Tour de Ski in Val di Fiemme is an unparalleled show: the 20km in classic and free technique delivers a big slice of the crystal trophy to the ‘cannibal’ Johannes Høsflot Klæbo, who finds his fourth victory in six stages at the Tour, but for Italy it is a big party with captain Federico Pellegrino who conquers his first podium in Val di Fiemme, closing the test-event of the Milano Cortina Winter Olympic Games in 2nd place. The Norwegian Jan Thomas Jenssen completed the podium.

The Men's Skiathlon started sharp at 11 am, with the shining gold, silver and purple bib of the Overall, Sprint and Climb leaders all lined up in the front row under the sun of the Cross-Country Stadium of Lago di Tesero. As required by the Olympic format, the first three laps were in classic technique and between the trails of Tesero the best cross-country skiers in the world went fast as trains. Between iconic climbs, breathtaking turns and high-speed descents, during the first lap the Norwegian Simen Hegstad Krüger suffered a fall right while, on a descent, he was leading the group. For him also a broken pole and a compromised race, which he then finished in 51st place. Always attentive in the first places of the group was the ‘usual’ Klæbo, who controlled the entire race and made the decisive attack in the final, and as he himself said in the mixed zone: ‘My tactic really worked today. I tried to save as much energy as possible in the early stages, but I always stayed in the front group. On the last climb, I pushed really hard and... Winning is always nice,’ added the Norwegian, who now leads the Tour de Ski overall by 2'18’ over Erik Valnes (NOR) and 2'29’ over Mika Vermeulen (AUT).

A toast in grand style with sprays of sparkling wine on the podium that reached even the federal President Roda and the big public at the Cross-Country Stadium for Federico Pellegrino: the Italian captain led a masterful race with a surprise ending. The Italian is now 6th in the overall ranking (+ 2'56"), but the Final Climb is a great unknown for everyone.

The moment of the ‘pit-stop’, in the heart of the tracks of Lago di Tesero, made the race even more interesting and dynamic, with the big names behaving well at the moment of the unhooking of the skis to switch from classic to free technique. There was a great crowd, a worthy setting for the Tour de Ski in Val di Fiemme.

Today at 3.30 pm, the spectacle will be repeated with the women's Skiathlon, with the challenge between the favourites Johaug and Slind to be followed.

The enthusiasm of the children busy with the COOP Mini World Cup brought a smile also to the faces of those accompanying them, with hundreds of mini-Klæbo and mini-Johaug competing in a gymkhana where it was all about having fun at the expense of competitiveness. Mascots Skiri and Fondolo rewarded all the competitors who romped across the snow to the sound of ‘Fondolo’. The new song is the hymn of the homonymous mascot of Marcialonga, interpreted by the young singers of the kindergartens of Fiemme and Fassa in collaboration with the music school ‘Il Pentagramma di Tesero’ and will keep company to the cross-country skiers of the future during the Marcialonga and its collateral events.

© Newspower