IT’S A FABULOUS DE FABIANI: 7th IN DAVOS!

IT’S A FABULOUS DE FABIANI: 7th IN DAVOS!

With an exemplary race conduct and a pair of very fast skis, Francesco De Fabiani closes easily in the Top Ten just 21 seconds from the victory, looking at the Tour de Ski as an absolute protagonist.

The track of the Canton of Grisons was not the favorite for Francesco De Fabiani, but at the end of the 15 km F with the time trial start, the response of stopwatch puts the skier from Gressoney in the Hall of Fame of the cross country skiing: seventh.

In the race won by the Russian Belov, ahead of the Frenchman Manificat and the Norwegian Sundby, "Defa" let fans dream, failing the attack to the podium for less than 17 seconds, and being able to put behind him people like Holund (8th), Melnichenko (9th) and the super cheered Cologna (15th).

A lover of mass start in classic technique, on the same distance today, De Fabiani is full of joy: «Well, today I'm very happy: the race went really well and it is a result that comes at the end of the first part of the season, before Christmas, indeed. It was important to wrap this period well and this is probably the best time trial race of my career».

However, the sensations were not so positive before the start: «It was rather a strange race – says Francesco – I came from yesterday's sprint in which I struggled a lot in the quarterfinals, in a race for pure sprinters. I did not have very good feelings».

The feeding between qualifications and quarterfinals wasn’t so optimal not helping the recovery and the C.S.E. athlete, who is self-criticizing: «I actually ate a little late and probably I'm not used to managing the moment between qualifying and the quarters, moreover I was wrong in the choice of the trajectory in the final straight».

«The balance, however, is very positive – says the Defa – despite I started quite slowly, then I improved my pace kilometers by kilometers and this, along with the quality of my skis (very fast, I want to thank my technical staff that once again has prepared two rockets!), made the difference».

Next goal will be the Tour de Ski: «I probably won’t go to the Italian national championships, in order to rest a bit and train well as the goal is to reach the top of Cermis and possibly improving the 9th place I got three years ago. Among other things, I particularly love the track in Dobbiaco and this is certainly a good omen, since it will be a skating like today, we hope to keep the shape in order to play my cards. Then obviously also the classic stage will arrive, which is my strength, so there are the conditions to perform well!».

Someone says that Defa lacks a bit of agonistic attitude, he does not deny: «It is actually true, I should be a little more aggressive in the finals, but we must say that this is also an aspect to work on. After all I have to get used to that kind of races to grow also from a tactical point of view».

So, next round, Tour de Ski. And this time, be sure, there will be fun!