'' Chicco '' Pellegrino wins the Italian flag in the 15 km TC at Passo Cereda. Anna Comarella triumphs in the women's race

After seven Italian titles won in the sprint, the Valle d'Aosta obtained his first tricolor in a distance race, ahead of Dietmar Noeckler and Paolo Ventura; Ivan Mariani won the under 23 title. In the women's race Anna Comarella dominated the podium also the young Valentina Maj (first among the under 23) and Martina Bellini.

Friday 26 March 2021 3 minutes reading time

This morning, on the Trentino snows of Passo Cereda, the Italian cross-country skiing Absolutes, the last act of the Italian season, began. At the foot of the Pale di San Martino, Federico Pellegrino, competing for the Fiamme Oro, triumphed in the 15 km classic, obtaining a success in some ways by surprise. '' Chicco '' had never triumphed in the Italian Championships in a distance race, so today's result enriches even more the splendid palmarès of the Nus native cross-country skier. Second position again for a Flame Gold athlete, Dietmar Noeckler from Pusteria, who is still missing the first world title of his career. The podium is completed by an excellent Paolo Ventura, 3rd, athlete representative of the Army Sports Group. Disappointed Francesco De Fabiani, only 4th; Stefano Gardener was also off the podium, 5th. Surprising sixth position for Ivan Mariani, which allows him to win the under 23 title and to bring another flag to the Fiamme Oro, ahead of the most highly rated Davide Graz (8th in the final standings, 2nd among the under 23s) and Giovanni Ticcò ( 10th in the final classification, 3rd among the under 23). In the women's 10 km TC solo of the parishwoman Anna Comarella, who confirms the good season of the World Cup, making her the first Italian title of her career. Detached from Comarella by over forty seconds, the young Valentina Maj (Carabinieri) and Martina Bellini (Gruppo Sportivo Esercito) reach an unexpected podium and finish first and second in the under 23 ranking respectively. Fourth Caterina Ganz (third at the under 23 level), fifth the daughter of art Martina Di Centa; only ninth Ilaria Debertolis, who grew up sporting on these snows, who was considered one of the favorites for the victory on the eve. Tomorrow at Passo Cereda it will be the turn of the relays, for the second day of the Italian cross-country skiing championships.