The Tour de Ski towards the grand finale with Bolshunov and Diggins leader: from Friday races in Val di Fiemme

The last three appointments starting from the mass start, passing through the sprints on Saturday and the final climb on Cermis on Sunday.

Thursday 7 January 2021 5 minutes reading time

Technicians and athletes have already arrived in Lago di Tesero where, on Friday, the long-awaited final weekend of the Tour de Ski will take shape. After Val Mustair and Dobbiaco, here is the grand finale in Val di Fiemme with Alexander Bolshunov who has left only crumbs to his opponents so far. Four consecutive victories on five stages disputed and a second place on the opening day, in Switzerland in the sprint won by Federico Pellegrino, make the Russian the very favorite (even more than on the eve) of this 15th edition of the Tour de Ski. The advantage over his rivals is 2''06 "over fellow countryman Artem Maltsev and 2''09" over Frenchman Maurice Manificat. It will be a fight for the podium to be enjoyed until the last meter on Sunday in the final climb on Alpe Cermis, and the other Russians Denis Spitsov and Ivan Yakimushkin cannot be excluded either, spaced 2''15 "and 2 ' '30 ”by the leader of the general classification. Among women, the fight for the final victory appears more intense and uncertain; in command, after the pursuit of Dobbiaco, is the American Jessie Diggins, but behind her there is no emptiness with her compatriot Rosie Brennan only 22 ”apart. The Americans will not be able to play an excessive team game, because behind them the comeback Yulia Stupak, a Russian who appeared in excellent shape in the pursuit of Dobbiaco won on Wednesday, is 58 ”away. Val di Fiemme is ready, as every year, for the cross-country ski show despite all the difficulties that have arisen due to Covid. It will be a special and "behind closed door" edition, which will force the thousands of fans who usually crowded the Lago di Tesero stadium and the Cermis climb to stay at home. On the other hand, the show will be 100% guaranteed with the images that will be broadcast live on RAI Sport and Eurosport, with only the sprint delayed on RAI Sport. The program of the three days in Fiemme will start tomorrow when, at 1.15 pm, the men's classic technique mass start will start over the distance of 15 km, while the 10 km women's test is scheduled for 3.15 pm. Fast skis will have to be mounted on Saturday, or better still ... sprint, and Federico Pellegrino will try to repeat the success obtained in Val Mustair, with the exception that they will run in classic technique rather than skating. The traditional Sunday appointment will reach its peak with the 10 km, also this year with mass start, which from Lago di Tesero will take to the top of Alpe Cermis where the winners of the Tour de Ski 2021 will be crowned. Great work yesterday and today for the organizers of Fiemme, the anti Covid protocols are severe and numerous, as well as laborious. But even in this situation, the Trentino staff was able to excel.

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