Nordic SkiingBeijing 2022
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The Aosta Valley is ready to repeat the splendid silver of Pyeonchang 2018, but there is no shortage of rivals, starting with the Norwegian and Russian squadrons, passing through the fearsome transalpines. The female spotlight is on the star of the season, the Swedish Maja Dahqlvist. It starts tomorrow morning, Tuesday 8 February, at 9 am in Italy with the women's qualifications, followed by the men; final stages start at 11:30.
Monday 7 February 2022 6 minutes reading time
Four years ago a terrifying silver, second only to the champion Johannes Klaebo (an obligatory favoirto also for tomorrow's race), '' Chicco '' Pellegrino represents for Italy the chance of the most delicious medal in cross-country skiing in Beijing 2022. The Valle d'Aosta standard-bearer of the Azzurri team only got one podium this season (2nd in Dresden) but has focused his preparation precisely on the five-circle event.
"The slope is very hard and I like it very much - said Pellegrino through the official channels of the FISI - I will have to be good at managing and taking care of the details in the best possible way. The mental aspect is very important, since I find myself in take part in the third Olympics of my career, and I know how these moments have to be managed from a nervous point of view. Having been the last sprint in skating a month ago we all arrive with our cards covered, but the big favorite remains Klaebo; I certainly I'll fight for a medal with the other Norwegians, the Russians and the French: I want to play my cards ".
The Canadian Antoine Cyr, born in 1998, will open the dances of the men's sprint skating qualifiers on the Zhangjiakou track. Relative tranquility up to number 10, when it will be the turn of the French Richard Jouve, with 12 instead it will be the turn of Federico Pellegrino; bib 14 for the young Alexander Terentev, winner of the Ruka season opning. Sequence to follow that of numbers 16, 17 and 18, or Lucas Chanavat, the Friulian Davide Graz and the Norwegian Haavard Taugboel. Number 20 for the winner of the skiathlon, Alexander Bolshunov, two numbers later will be the turn of the reigning champion, as well as favorite for gold, Joahnnes Klaebo; interest also in bib number 24, the norge Erik Valnes. The third blue at the start, Maicol Rastelli, will start on 27, followed by the bronze of Pyeocnhag 2018, Sergey Ustiugov. The last blue to take off will be Francesco De Fabiani (40).
The competition day, however, will be opened by the women's qualifiers. Scrolling through the start list spotlight on bib number 4, the Swedish Maja Dahlqvist, dominator of the current World Cup season, and a favorite for the Olympic victory. Sweden again to keep an eye on, with the number 8 Jonna Sundling will certainly not want not to try to fight her teammate; number 12 for the Russian Natalia nepryaeva, who should not fight for medals, but is in a state of grace, therefore, never say never ... With number 14 the first Norwegian starter, Maiken Falla; not to be underestimated also Jessie Diggins with 18 and Nadine Faehndrich with 20. The young Norwegian Mathilde Myhrvold, number 22, could be an outsider; on the hunt for a medal, Slovenian Anamarija Lampic, number 24.
The first blue to take off will be Greta Laurent, number 27, ten numbers later it will be the turn of Caterina Ganz (37); with the 45 will be at the start Lucia Scardoni, the last Italian to start Cristina Pittin with the 47.
Tomorrow morning at 9 am Italian (16 local) the dances will open, for a format that promises entertainment and, perhaps, will be able to give Italian cross-country skiing another splendid day.
Here is the complete female start list!
Here is the complete male start list!
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