Today and tomorrow, cross-country skiers are in charge in Toblach

All favorites trained in the snowy Nordic Arena on Friday. Above all, the Norwegians with “leader” Martin Johnsrud Sundby, Niklas Dyrhaug, Johannes Høsflo Klæbo, Marit Bjørgen, Ingvild Flugstad Østberg and the reigning world champion Heidi Weng. The Frenchman Maurice Manificat and the Russians Ustyugov and Bolshunov should certainly also be taken into account. The coach of the Italian national team Giuseppe Chenetti is aware that his team needs to take a step forward: “Today it will be difficult because we have few skating specialists. But De Fabiani and Salvadori could come into action if he has a good day. The route is certainly very demanding, with three very tough climbs. Maybe that's good for us. We're hoping more for Sunday, but we'll give it our all tomorrow. The Norwegians seem to be having difficulties at the moment, but they still have to be taken into account. In addition to Klæbo, Dyrhaug could also have a say in the victory. Sundby should not be ignored either. Our ladies will also know how to defend themselves. Comarella's achievements are promising, but Ganz and Debertolis should not be underestimated either. Maybe we should be able to turn the story back a little, because the athletes were cared for and caressed too much and for too long. Sport at the highest level is a battle in which you have to earn your place. You have to be hungry for good results and have the irrepressible desire to win, like Pellegrino shows us. Good results are good for morale and you can start to believe in what you are doing. Federico Pellegrino leaves nothing to chance. We are currently working on the Olympic Games in South Korea.” Francesco De Fabiani is a beacon of hope in the Azzurri team when it comes to such races: “I showed a good race in Lillehammer. I skipped the competitions in Davos so I could train alone at home in peace. I feel good, although I'm currently in better shape in skating than in classic style. For this reason, my main priority tomorrow is to ensure that I don't lose too much time in the skating race so that I can compete with the best in the classic style pursuit. That will be my tactic for this World Cup weekend. The route was changed. The new route appears to be much more demanding. If I can start with the best on Sunday, I am sure that I can fight for the top positions until the end. It's the seconds behind that might worry me, not the starting number on Sunday. You have to watch out for Russians, Manificat and the Norwegian Klæbo.” In addition to De Fabiani, the South Tyrolean Dietmar Nöckler is the hope of the “Azzurri”. After problems at the start of the season, the man from Bruneck is trying to make a fresh start. “Today the World Cup starts in Dobbiaco, practically on my doorstep, with the 15 km skating. My goal is to present myself in the best possible way on this competition day. This would give me a good starting point in the classic style pursuit on Sunday. Personally, I feel like I'm in good shape, the snow base is great. The route is very demanding and I hope to be at least among the top 20 at the end. Skating racing is at the highest level. I would name Sundby, Bolschunovw and Manificat as favorites, I think Klæbo doesn't have what it takes to win this race too." The President of the Toblach Organizing Committee, Herbert Santer, is the mover and shaker in Toblach when it comes to cross-country skiing. Starting with the Pustertal Ski Marathon, through the Dobbiaco-Cortina race, to the prestigious World Cup races that have been taking place in the Nordic Arena since 2009: “This year we are very lucky with the weather. Toblach presents itself in a wonderful winter landscape and even today there was still a few centimeters of snow. Today we are still in the process of preparing everything, but thanks to our 200 volunteers, we are able to do the impossible like every year. Next season the Tour de Ski will also stop in Dobbiaco. We were entrusted with the start of this prestigious racing series. In this context, we will also come up with something special due to the 10th anniversary of the “Cross-Country World Cup Race in Toblach”. There will definitely be an anniversary celebration. The new “Nathalie” route is certainly demanding and difficult. My daughter is a very capable woman who has helped me a lot over the last few years and has always supported me. My thanks go especially to her and all the helpers around her. We are a close-knit group that will do everything we can to ensure that the event is of a world-class level. Cross-country skiing is a big part of my family's life. I started in the OK of the Pustertal Ski Marathon 45 years ago. A year later I also worked on the Toblach-Cortina race committee. My daughters Nathalie, Saskia and Stephanie were born with my passion and have also achieved world-class competitive performances. Cross-country skiing is on the agenda for us and I have dedicated a slope to each of my daughters. The characteristics of each route reflect the character traits of the three daughters.”

More information: www.worldcup-dobbiaco.it

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Today and tomorrow, cross-country skiers are in charge in Toblach

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