Author: Daniele Mich
Last saved by: Elena
Company: Microsoft

Press release 15^th December 2019

TWO DUOS AT ‘LA VENOSTA’ IN FREE TECHNIQUE
POIRIER-CHAMBELLANT AND SMUTNA-MORAVCOVA ON THE PODIUM

First edition of ‘La Venosta’, today the race in free technique
Bastien Poirier won ahead the other French Chambellant, Andersen (NOR) third place finish
On the women’s side, Smutna won ahead of Moravcova and Bangman (SWE) 

After the snowfall during the Visma Ski Classics race, the sun shone today in Vallelunga, South Tyrol, during the 34-km race in free technique on the same course that yesterday saw the long-distance world champions compete for victory. Today ‘La Venosta’ entertained many cross-country skiing lovers and some athletes, who yesterday took part in the race in classical technique and who decided to enjoy the wonderful landscapes of Vallelunga one more day. The French Bastien Poirier won ahead of the other French Thomas Chambellant, both representing the same team, E-Liberty Ski Team. The Norwegian Tildheim Iver Andersen finished third, while the South Tyrolean Florian Cappello of Team Robinson Trentino raced to a fourth place finish after an awesome race especially in the first part. Matteo Tanel finished eleventh, he is trying to achieve important results on cross-country skis as he did in summer on roller skis. On the women’s side, a Visma Ski Classics champion, Katerina Smutna, won the race ahead of another Czech athlete, Klara Moravcova: "Yesterday it was much tougher – said Smutna after the race – today it was almost ‘a pleasure walk’, the course is very beautiful and the organisation is excellent". The Swedish Evelina Bangman finished third.
A French and a Czech duo won ‘La Venosta’ in free technique. The athlete of Team Robinson Trentino Florian Cappello stood out in the first part of the race, followed by the Norwegian Riege and Andersen. Cappello was still in the lead after the first loop, while Katerina Smutna and Alessandra Pedrazzini were leading the women's race. In the second loop, a group of twelve athletes, led by Riege and Andersen, was in the lead and Cappello tried to remain with the first athletes. Smutna and Pedrazzini were in twentieth place overall, but there was another rival for the final victory, the Czech Moravcova; Cappello was in fourth place. Bangman was in third place and ended her race alone; Smutna accelerated on the last climb and Moravcova couldn’t keep her pace. On the men’s side, the French Poirier and Chambellant took the lead of the race, and Cappello lost ground. The two French athletes crossed the finish line almost together; Andersen finished third and Cappello fourth: "I kept the pace of the first athletes until the third lap but then they accelerated – stated the Italian athlete. – Yesterday it was my first race in double poling, two difficult but wonderful days. I live and train here, I really like the course because it has technical parts but you can ski perfectly, especially in classical technique. This is a true paradise for cross-country skiers and amateurs". 
"We are very satisfied with our race, we also competed yesterday and now we take a well-deserved Christmas break", stated the two French athletes after the race.
Later, Vallelunga hosted a race of a South Tyrolean circuit for younger and older children, future champions of cross-country skiing. The young skiers competed on different courses according to their age category (from 500 metres to 5 kilometres), with great results by Selin Burger (U14 Ragazzi), Alessia Togni (U16 Allievi), Lukas Schwingshackl (U14 Ragazzi), Riccardo Foradori (U16 Allievi), Magda Moser (U10 Baby), Emma Schwitzer (U12 Cuccioli), Matthaeus Schwitzer (U10 Baby), Jonas Tscholl (U12 Cuccioli), Greta Cortese (U08 Super Baby), Noe Moser (U08 Super Baby), Maria Debertolis (U18 Aspiranti), Felix Pider (U18 Aspiranti) and Nathan Runggaldier (U20 Juniores).
The organising committee, chaired by Gerald Burger, never stops and already thinks about perfecting the next editions of ‘La Venosta’ after such a promising start, remembering that the spectacular race ‘Giro Lago di Resia’ around the submerged bell tower will take place on 18^th July in Curon Venosta.

For further information: www.lavenosta.com  

Download TV images:
www.broadcaster.it

34 Km FT - Men
1 Poirier Bastien (FRA) E-Liberty Ski Team 01:22:58; 2 Chambellant Thomas (FRA) E-Liberty Ski Team 01:23:09; 3 Andersen Iver Tildheim (NOR) Team Rustad IL Oslo 01:24:08; 4 Cappello Florian (ITA) Team Robinson 01:25:43; 5 Riege Amund (NOR) Team Rustad IL Oslo 01:27:24; 6 Völz Christian (GER) Team Adidas xcs 01:27:24; 7 Klettenhammer Patrick (ITA) Team Futura A.S.D White Fox 01:27:28; 8 Lentsch Urban (AUT) Team Adidas xcs 01:27:30; 9 Du Pasquier Arnaud (SUI) E-Liberty Ski Team 01:27:38; 10 Brunner Julian (ITA) Team Futura 01:28:07

34 Km FT - Women
1 Smutna Katerina (CZE) eD system Bauer Team 01:38:02; 2 Moravcová Klára (CZE) Slavia Pojistovna Sport Team 01:38:37; 3 Bångman Evelina (SWE) Team Rustad IL Oslo 01:46:40; 4 Marasca Isabel (ITA) KSV NordicTeam 01:54:12; 5 Lane Margaret (USA) Team Tri-nordic coaching 01:55:52; 6 Zana Cristina (ITA) Club Valserina 02:03:20; 7 Stofner Sonja (Ita) Amateursportclub Sarntal 02:26:36; 8 Schempp Nicola (GER) VfL Pfullingen 02:47:02; 9 Steffani Nadia (ITA) G.S.A. Zane' 02:49:39; 10 Pedrazzini Alessandra (ITA) Sci CAI Tirano 03:02:48