DE FABIANI 8TH IN THE WORLDS’ SPRINT
The debut of De Fabiani at the World Championships 2019 in Austria starts with a Top 10: eighth place and very good shape.
Seefeld, Austria – Feb. 21th 2019 - Eighth place for Francesco De Fabiani in the opening race of the FIS Cross Country World Championships in Seefeld, Austria.
In the sprint free technique, the skier from Gressoney was fantastic in qualifying (top 10), excellent in the quarterfinals, where he even dominated the scene with a tactic like a veteran and finally unlucky in the semi-final, hindered by skirmishes between Ustiugov and Klæbo.
The race, tactical and very nervous, has rewarded the Norwegian Johannes H. Klæbo, who in the final was right of the (outgoing) world champion Federico Pellegrino, once again very performing and able to bring home the silver medal. Third place for Gleb Retivykh (Russia).
«I'm happy, I did a good sprint – Defast says – it was a pity to miss the final. The semi-final was technically a sort of final rush, with all the best contenders. The contact between Ustiugov and Klaebo did not help me, I had to boost the pace again after the slowdown. I almost thought they were falling».
The imperative, in the race was to avoid the fall: «I told myself to avoid them, narrowly we do not all go ashore. I lost a bit of time, it was important to get at least fourth, so I did, but our semi-final was really too tactical and I remained out. It's a pity, I was looking to the final, it was my goal».
The post-Cogne period said it was possible to imagine a podium: «Well, it was difficult and we knew it – says Francesco – but I'm so happy. Clearly the final would have been better, but I do not feel like I was wrong. I gave everything and perhaps the only thing, would have been to finish second in my quarter-final, so to participate in the second semifinal, but it's the final score, it's not easy to make certain decisions. And anyway, I would have had less recovery too, so that's okay».
Next step is the Team Sprint, paired with Federico Pellegrino, scheduled for Sunday, February 24th in Seefeld. The program will then include the 15 km classic, the relay race and probably the 50 km that will close the World Championships on March 3rd.
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Press Office of Francesco De Fabiani
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