Excellent performance by Federico Pellegrino who comes close to the podium in the 20 kilometer pursuit in classic technique which in Dobbiaco, in the province of Bolzano, completed the Pustertal stage of the twentieth Tour de Ski.
While Johannes Klæbo confirmed himself as uncatchable by winning solo after 46’01″7 of the race, the Aosta Valley champion is the absolute protagonist in the chasing group, only giving up the duel for third place to the Swede Edvin Anger in the photo finish, also behind the other Norwegian Mattis Stenshagen, second at 51″1.
In the space of a few kilometres, the group behind Klæbo began to compact, around a minute behind the leader: Pellegrino found himself shoulder to shoulder with the various Stenshagen, Iversen, Heggen, Amundsen, Schumacher and the increasingly surprising Austrian Moser. Just over five kilometers from the start it was Stenshagen’s turn to break the deadlock, with Pellegrino called upon to mend Iversen’s counterattack. A pace that remained very high throughout the final stages of the race: Pellegrino showed top efficiency, arriving at the Nordic Arena at the head of the chasing group, only to then give in on the final straight to the return of the powerful Anger who outwitted him in the duel for the podium by a matter of millimetres. The Swede himself set the absolute best time of the day (45’45), with Pellegrino fourth at 6″, also preceded by the two Norwegians Krüger and Ree, who started from the back.
Today’s fourth place is reflected in the general classification of the Tour de Ski: the quartet made up of Pellegrino, Anger, Iversen and Schumacher follow Klæbo in third place, one minute away, leader ahead of Stenshagen (+51″).
Nine athletes enclosed in 63 seconds: if Klæbo has reasonable hopes of confirming himself on the throne of the Tour de Ski, behind him every game remains open with the two stages on Saturday and Sunday in Val di Fiemme (Trentino) called to resolve all the duels for the podium.
A very positive race also for Elia Barp who achieved an excellent fourteenth place which allows him to confirm thirteenth place in the Tour general classification at 1’55. Followed by an uphill attempt for Francesco De Fabiani who is now 41st at 3’54, with Simone Daprà 47th at 4’11 while Davide Graz slips to sixtieth place at 4’57, with Simone Mocellini 79th and Giacomo Gabrielli 87th.
The similar women’s race will start at 12.30pm; tomorrow rest day before the Fiemme finale: on Saturday in Lago di Tesero a classic sprint will be staged, an authentic preview of what will be the Olympic challenge of the following month, then on Sunday there will be space for the canonical final climb in free technique towards the Doss dei Laresi, on Alpe Cermis.
Order of arrival 20 km TC men’s pursuit Tour de Ski Dobbiaco (Bolzano)
