(ANSA) - ROME, 19 JAN - The second gold for Italy at the Paralympic World Championships for snow sports in Lillehammer arrives from Giacomo Bertagnolli and his guide Andrea Ravelli. One of the most anticipated Italian athletes on the eve of the event, the standard-bearer of Italy at the next Paralympic Winter Games in Beijing 2022, on his debut in this World Cup, dominated the visually impaired giant slalom skiing in 2: 14.17. Behind the couple from Trentino were placed the Austrians Johannes Aigner and Matteo Fleischmann, 1.29 behind the athlete of the Fiamme Gialle (2: 15.46 the time of Aigner). Third step of the podium for the French Hyacinthe Deleplace and his guide Maxime Jourdan (2: 17.92).
On the other hand, Federico Pelizzari only missed the podium in the standing category race. After the splendid bronze won in the Combined, the Lombard obtained the fourth place in the Giant Slalom: 2: 17.96 the time trial of the skier of the Polisportiva Disabili Valcamonica. Gold went to Russian Aleksei Bugaev (2: 15.04), silver to Frenchman Arthur Bauchet (2: 15.18), bronze to Swiss Theo Gmuer (2: 17.85).
"It's fantastic - said Bertagnolli - I'm very happy for this totally unexpected victory, also because until two days ago I was at home, blocked by Covid. Fortunately, the last buffer gave a negative result and I was able to leave.
It is the first world gold I win together with Andrea and I am very proud of this, above all because it was won a month and a half from the start of the Paralympics.
"" Extraordinary gold in the Giant Slalom for Giacomo Bertagnolli and Andrea Ravelli at the first test in the Lillehammer World Cup.
A super performance by the blue flag bearer who gave another great demonstration of character and talent.
Congratulations to Giacomo for this success and congratulations also to Riccardo Pelizzari, protagonist, even today, of a capital test.
A round of applause also to the whole Azzurri team that in Lillehammer is raising the colors of our country ", is what Luca Pancalli, President of the Italian Paralympic Committee (ANSA) declares.
