The Sprint race, held today by night in the amphitheatre of illuminated ski slopes overlooking Pontedilegno-Tonale (Italy), has been very spectacular, thanks to the excellent design of the track by the volunteers of the Adamello Ski Team organising committee, under the watchful eye of the ISMF Referees.
A very positive note has to be mentioned in relation to today’s competition. In full compliance with the national Anti-Covid regulations and the ISMF Covid-19 guidelines, the cheer of the spectators has finally returned to encourage the competing athletes. In the meanwhile, for those having been unable to reach the prestigious Lombardy ski resort, there have been the possibility to follow the highlights of the race via live streaming.
As scheduled, in the mid-afternoon, the first category to compete has been the U20, whose athletes faced first in the qualifications and then in the final round. Around 18:00, it was the turn of the Senior Men and Women. It is always difficult to make a reliable prediction considering the high level of the competitors registered in the races. At the starting blocks, representing 18 national federations, there has been the worldwide ski mountaineering élite athletes, with the exception of the reigning World Champion, the Swiss Iwan Arnold, currently out of action due to some ailments.
The Senior Women final round saw a surprising victory of the French Emily Harrop, at her first World Cup success, ahead of her compatriot Léna Bonnel and the Italian Giulia Murada.
Among Senior Men, instead, the strong Swiss Arno Lietha, specialist in the Sprint discipline, was the most expected winner and indeed has arrived in first position, ahead of Hans-Inge Klette (NOR) and Thibault Anselmet (FRA).
The gold medal for the U23 Women has been for the Italian Katia Mascherona, preceding the French Perrine Gindre and the teammate Samantha Bertolina.
As for the male contemporaries, Matteo Favre (SUI) has taken the win, coming first the Italian brothers Giovanni and Alessandro Rossi, respectively in second and third place on the podium.
The Swiss Robin Bussard has triumphed in the U20 category, followed on the finish line by the two Spanish Marc Ràdua Ivern and Ot Ferrer Martínez. Spain is also on the first step of the podium among Women thanks to the victory of Maria Costa Díez, followed by Silvia Berra (ITA) and Thibe Deseyn (SUI).
Once concluded the first race dedicated to the sprinters, the programme of the first weekend of the WÜRTH MODYF ISMF World Cup will continue tomorrow Friday 17 December with the Vertical race, starting at 14:30 always in Pontedilegno. Saturday will be a rest day, to be used to supervise the track in view of the Sunday’s grand finale, the Individual race, which will take place at Passo Tonale and Presena glacier with the start at 9.30.
The Vertical race is the ski mountaineering discipline that includes only a single ascent, in this case designed on the ramps of the Corno D’Aola slope. The fans can follow the live streaming of the race on the ISMF official website.
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