Title: 1) Beatrici Lorenza (Atl
Author: tpo
Last saved by: Elena
Company: Utente

Press Release 1^st March 2013

THE VIKINGS WIN THE MEN'S RELAY
NORWAY IS QUEEN OF VAL DI FIEMME

Team Norway: a sixth gold medal in cross country
Sweden and Russia take silver and bronze
Over 36.000 spectators at the XC Stadium
President Malagò visits Fiemme 2013

“Norway, Norway, Norway!” resounds around the stadium at Lago di Tesero at the end of the 4x10km with everyone holding their breath. Today's race was unique because of the high level of energy and adrenaline. 
Today's heat not only warmed up the crowds, but made the snow difficult. Race conditions for the athletes were challenging, leading to a very exciting race.
Norway won another gold, its sixth in cross-country in these Nordic Ski World Championships. As if in primeval battle, the four Vikings Tord Asle Gjerdalen, Eldar Roenning, Sjur Roethe and Petter Northug fought hard to win. The race, marked by constant changes in the lead was ultimately decided in the final seconds. Tactics and strategy were decisive. 
Northug played cat and mouse over the ten kilometres, staying close to his adversaries ready to pounce to the lead like a Nordic panther. 
Russia, Sweden, Germany, Italy and Finland were in front. At the 6.6 kilometre mark Russia was in front of Sweden and Italy with Finland in pursuit. Northug sprinted at the 8.2 kilometre mark testing whether the others could follow. The final climb was decisive, Norway and Sweden broke away from Russia and Italy, and in the last hundred metres Norway snatched victory from Sweden. 
Northug, as if driven by a devil, refused to surrender first place to the Swede Halfvarsson. Northug’s strength was unstoppable: he gave everything in the last hundred metres. 
The Swede was 1.2 seconds behind, closely followed by Russia and Italy fighting it out for the bronze with Russia prevailing. 
Over 36.000 spectators have attended today’s competition at the XC Stadium in Lago di Tesero and a new attendance record was established. 

An important meeting was held this morning in Cavalese. It was attended by Giovanni Malagò, his very first meeting as the new president of CONI (Italian National Olympic Committee) at a World major sporting event, the Fiemme 2013 presidents Tiziano Mellarini and Pietro De Godenz, and FISI President Flavio Roda.
Pietro De Godenz was the first to speak, highlighting the importance of the presence of CONI: “The fact that Giovanni Malagò is here is a strong sign that our organizations are working close together.” Councillor Mellarini reflected on the importance of sport in Trentino, saying that it served a fundamental social purpose and encouraged  local tourism, a combination that always leads to success. 
Giovanni Malagò added “Val di Fiemme has organised three World Championships in 22 years and we are extremely proud of this.” At the end of the meeting, President Malagò was given the Nordic Ski national uniform.
Info: www.fiemme2013.com 

Relay 4x10km Men
1 NORWAY 1:41:37.2 (GJERDALEN Tord Asle, ROENNING Eldar, ROETHE Sjur, NORTHUG Petter jr.); 2 SWEDEN +1.2 (RICHARDSSON Daniel, OLSSON Johan, HELLNER Marcus, HALFVARSSON Calle); 3 RUSSIA +2.4 (BELOV Evgeniy, VYLEGZHANIN Maxim, LEGKOV Alexander, USTIUGOV Sergey); 4 ITALY +2.6 (NOECKLER Dietmar, DI CENTA Giorgio, CLARA Roland, HOFER David); 5 FINLAND +11.7 (JAUHOJAERVI Sami, NOUSIAINEN Ville, LEHTONEN Lari, HEIKKINEN Matti); 6 SWITZERLAND +13.0 (PERL Curdin, COLOGNA Dario, LIVERS Toni, FISCHER Remo); 7 GERMANY +45.5 (DOTZLER Hannes, ANGERER Tobias, TSCHARNKE Tim, TEICHMANN Axel); 8 JAPAN +54.2 (MIYAZAWA Hiroyuki, YOSHIDA Keishin, NARUSE Nobu, LENTING Akira); 9 FRANCE +55.6 (WIBAULT Mathias, MANIFICAT Maurice, DUVILLARD Robin, PERRILLAT BOITEUX); 10 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA +1:01.4 (NEWELL Andrew, FREEMAN Kris, HOFFMAN Noah, ELLIOTT Tad)