Federico Pellegrino scored the first podium of the season in the men's free technique sprint of the Cross-Country Skiing World Cup, held in Dresden, Germany. The 31-year-old belonging to the Fiamme Oro Sports Group (who had imposed himself on the same track in 2018 and 2020) missed the top step of the podium only in the last meters, in a heated final against the Norwegian Havaard Taugboel, who preceded the Aosta Valley 15 cents, setting the stopwatch at 2'15 ″ 02. Third position went to the Frenchman Lucas Chanavat, delayed by 68 cents. Among the other Italians in the race Michael Hellweger came out 23rd in the quarterfinals, while Simone Mocellini 44th and Francesco De Fabiani 72th stopped at the qualifiers. For Pellegrino this is the 34th podium in individual career races.
"I am very happy to be back on the podium - Pellegrino himself said at the end of the race - It was a different start to the season than usual, in which in December I am usually in top condition while now I am still looking for it a bit. . This weekend was very important for me, after last weekend of competition not at 100%.
Arriving in Dresden, a low-altitude skaiting race where you have to be smart and fast, was just what I needed to find feeling and get back on the podium I'm very happy, the road is still long but I'm giving it my all.
This year I changed my preparation and training method, so it's not easy to immediately feel at ease in these conditions.
I know that the road to February is still long, but I am very confident because I have worked hard and well and slowly during the season the condition will improve more and more. "
Swedish double, in the women's race, with the first two positions that went to the usual Maja Dahlqvist with a time of 2'33 "36, who preceded teammate Jonna Sundling by 43 cents. Third place for the Slovenian Anamarija Lampic at 64 cents. Greta Laurent stopped in the semifinal, twelfth, while they didn't have Nicole Monsorno 35th and Elisa Brocard 56th passed the cutting phase.
