The 2020 season of the Alpine from Gressoney ends with a DNF in a complicated 50 km in Oslo-Holmenkollen.
Oslo, Norway – Mar. 10th 2020 • The 2020 season of Francesco De Fabiani officially ended on Sunday March 8th. An early closure, also because of the difficult Italian and international situation due to the spread of the "Corona Virus", which comes at the end of a season certainly not exciting for DeFast.
Began in November with back pains, the season has never actually taken off, with second-line placements in the November/December period, but above all with a withdrawal in the race that represented the seasonal target: the Tour de Ski. Few exploits, however noteworthy, such as the beautiful performances in the Czech Republic, and the final part of the newborn Ski Tour in Scandinavia, culminating with a splendid eighth place in the Sprint Classic (the best De Fabiani ever in this format) and thirteenth final place obtained thanks to the tenth place of the final 30 Km stage.
After the negative beginning, the 2020 of DeFast ended with the withdrawal in the Oslo 50 km classic, also caused by a spectacular fall.
«It wasn't my best race – says Francesco – besides not having a great physical condition, the misfortune got in the way making me first break a pole during the first lap. On the second lap, a Russian crashed in front of me and I couldn't avoid him crashing spectacularly, I took a big hit to the face and back and I understood that it would have been better to stop».
On the 2020 vintage, De Fabiani is realistic: «It started badly, some small signs made me hope to straighten it out, but unfortunately the trend has always been the same. I close the season with three results in the Top 10 (in the Czech Republic, in the Sprint classic at the Ski Tour and in the 30 Km classic again at the Ski Tour) which certainly is not bad, but it is not what I expected since I always paid too much effort».
«The season ends here – adds the Alpine – I will not participate in the Sprint Tour in Canada, among other things because, correctly, the FISI has blocked the all the activities due to Corona Virus (except for those who are fighting for top positions in the World Cup). At this moment, resting and recharging the batteries in view of the future are the best things to do».
For the future, DeFast is still positive: «If this has not been a season to remember, I prefer to look ahead and think about 2021, aware of the fact that usually after the worst seasons I have always had positive years, like last year for example».
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Ufficio Stampa di Francesco De Fabiani
Redatto da Paolo Mei
Tradotto da Nicolò Caneparo
