DEFAST IS NATIONAL CHAMPION IN COGNE 15KM CLASSIC

National Italian title in the 15 km time trial classical technique and second place behind the world champion Federico Pellegrino in the sprint free technique.

Cogne, Italy – Feb. 02nd 2019 - It was a busy weekend for Francesco De Fabiani who, on the white meadows of Cogne, came out of the Italian event with a gold medal in the distance race and a silver one in the sprint.

De Fabiani has once again shown its value in a place that since its young age has seen him engaged in national competitions: in Cogne he took part in his first Italian championship, when he was in the junior category, he also won the Italian title in 2010, and he will be involved, in just 15 days, into the world cup race.

In the Pearl of the Alps, De Fabiani (CSE) finished in second place the skating Sprint held on Saturday, just behind the current world champion Federico Pellegrino (Polizia) and in front of the stronger and stronger Mirco Bertolina (Carabinieri).

«The second place in the sprint is certainly positive, let's say that basically reflects the trend of the season – says Francesco – and clearly to beat Chicco in a sprint is really very difficult, if not impossible. The track was particularly tough because it was quite long. In addiction there was the problem of snow, just fallen, which has not facilitated the performance».

In the 15 km classic with the interval start, the athlete of Centro Sportivo Esercito did not disappoint the expectations and dominated the race ahead of Pellegrino, strong also on the distances and Giandomenico Salvadori, from Feltre, (Fiamme Gialle).

«I'm very happy, once again Cogne brought me luck. I pushed flat out from the very beginning and I took home the Italian title in "my race", 15 Km. I expected to go for a good performance, but you know is not always that easy to turn ambitions into reality».

DeFast draws a positive balance of the weekend: «Let's say I am absolutely satisfied with the results, which are in line with the goals. I’m coming from a period of hard training made in Seefeld looking forward to the Worlds and despite this I was quite brilliant, despite a bit of fatigue due to workloads».

For De Fabiani the season continues with the World Cup event in Lahti, before returning back to Valle d’Aosta for the long-awaited Cup race: «I have other three days of training in Cogne, then we will go to Finland where I will race a Team Sprint with Pellegrino, then again to Cogne to give (and get) the maximum in the big event of mid February».

_______________________________

Press Office of Francesco De Fabiani