Suddenly a cross-country skier: Federica Sanfilippo in an unusual role

Cross-country skiing fans always have a very special treat waiting for them at the turn of the year: the Tour de Ski is one of the biggest attractions in the winter sports scene and is therefore also a crowd puller. On Thursday, the Italian Winter Sports Federation announced the Azzurri's line-up for this stage race - and one name stood out.

The Ridnaun biathlete Federica Sanfilippo will make her debut in the cross-country skiing World Cup as part of the Tour de Ski. “But I have to make it clear straight away: I will only take part in the first race, after which I will drop out,” said the 32-year-old. So Sanfilippo will complete the sprint in Münstertal (Switzerland). “I’m really excited and looking forward to it. My goal is to get through the qualifying and make it to the final of the top 30.”

Cross-country skiing races as training, but then... But how does this convocation come about? As is well known, Sanfilippo was kicked out of the national biathlon team and was initially allowed to compete neither in the World Cup nor in the second-class IBU Cup start. That's why the woman from Ridnaun prepared for the season with cross-country skiing races and did really well. She even won a sprint race in the Alpine Cup, and as a reward she now has her chance on the big cross-country skiing stage.

Sanfilippo is competing in the Tour de Ski.

“I could have started at the cross-country skiing World Cup in Davos in mid-December, but that overlapped with the IBU Cup in Ridnaun,” said Sanfilippo. As a reminder: In those IBU Cup races she won 32-year-old two podiums, including a win – even though these were her first biathlon competitions of the season. “I can imagine taking a two-pronged approach.” Federico Sanfilippo Sanfilippo also makes it clear: “Biathlon is still my main goal.” And after her strong performance in the IBU Cup, the chances are very good that she will soon be able to compete in the World Cup again. But the woman from Ridnaun also emphasizes: “If other opportunities arise, like cross-country skiing now, then I certainly won’t say no. If this can be combined, I can also imagine taking a two-pronged approach. In any case, cross-country skiing has opened an additional door for me.”

Didi Nöckler is also there Sanfilippo is not the only South Tyrolean who will be taking part in the Tour de Ski. Dietmar Nöckler was also happy about being called up. The man from Bruneck has already been on the sidelines in the past, but fought his way back and made a strong statement in mid-December with a 13th place in his first and so far only World Cup race of the season.

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Suddenly a cross-country skier: Federica Sanfilippo in an unusual role

Biathlete Federica Sanfilippo recently caused a sensation with a victory and a second place in the IBU Cup. Now the woman from Ridnaun is once again making people sit up and take notice. She is competing on the big stage in a different sport.

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