Nordic World Ski Championships in Seefeld - Day 2

Clicca qui per la versione italiana I get late skiiing and take the shuttle later than expected. Nevertheless, I arrive at the stadium gates shortly after 11.45 (it starts at 12). On the way we see a large group of Swedes with their bibs. The bib with national colors is the fashion of these WCH: I wear one too, bought yesterday at the official store. At the entrance, there is a queue that scares a bit, but goes ahead quickly. The problem is not so much the entry, but the foolwing checks: I get the most rigorous, which checks one in the time when others check 4-5. So I arrive in the stands when the qualification of the women's sprint has just begun, there have been 4-5 starts and no arrival.

The stands (both the B, where I am, and the A) are full: only in the sectors furthest away from the finish line there are are some empty spots. Unlike in Lahti, the seats are only standing, apart from the VIP and disabled areas. In front of me a group of Swiss, including a pair with a cow-shaped cap: they cheer for the second place of one of their athletes. Behind, Swedes and some Norwegian. I spend a good part of the race turned towards the screen behind us, as the one in front is too far to read the times. The starters are 115, but the qualifiers are all among the first 40 to start. Among them, three Italians, while the fourth stumbles on the final straight and arrives behind. Many of the protagonists of yesterday also start, and they all arrive in the second half of the standings: we see the gap with the big ones. After number 80 overtaking begins (they start every 15 seconds). Last, to arrive and in the standings, a Lebanese with a time around 6 minutes (against 2'35" of the leader), not far from what I could do.

Before the start of the men's race, they show the choice of the heats for the women's final: the first to pick is the 11th ranked, then they go back to the first (so that the top skiers can choose according to the opponents) and then from the 12th to the last. In the men's race everyone will try to compete at the beginning: in the first heat there will be 3 of the first 5, in the last one no one better than 14th.

Also in the men's race the stars are at the beginning: Klaebo and Pellegrino are given tied for 5th place, then the former will be cedited with one hudreth less. Race more open than the women's one: if I'm not mistaken, the last qualified has the n. 51 and an Italian started with 72 (Italians are 5, having the defending champion) is out by little. Yesterday's protagonists are also doing better: the Thai arrives 60th out of 145 and even yesterday's last, a Colombian, puts about twenty people behind him. The breakbefore the final is short, and you have to try to get there early to take a seat. I remain behind the stand: I eat at a kiosk, but they do not have much, I take a sandwich with ham and cheese, and it is also the last one. Returning to the stands, I meet Boe, the protagonist of the world championships held here in 1985 (of course I see her card, I sure do not recognize her!). I'm looking for a seata little closer to finishand I find it, taking advantage of being alone, among a group of Germans, that will incite the Italians in my honor. Around, Norwegians and some Russian. Then two more Italians will arrive.

The final starts: first female round without big surprises. Our Brocard comes fourth in the second heat and is among the recovery times, it seems unlikely to remain such until the end, instead she does it. In men's race, instead, we start immediately with the clash between 3 of the first 5, with n. 3, the Norwegian Krogh, who is out. The first of the qualifications will also be out. Pellegrino and De Fabiani both won their heats with the same tactics, remaining in the group for the first half of the race and attacking on the last climb. I can see the athletes well when they pass through the stadium at mid-race and in the final straight if they are not too close to the grandstand. I can not distinguish the order of arrival, I'm too far behind: I'll always have to watch it on the screen.

The two Italians meet in the first semi-final, with Klaebo and Ustiugov. Ultra tactical race: it soon becomes clear that only two would pass. Pellegrino wins, quite comfortably, it seems, on Klaebo. At the arrival almost a fight between the latter and Ustiugov: the Russian will get a yello card, but it seemed that it was the Norwegian who hindered him. Women's final with three Swedes, two Norwegians and one German. It seems a fight between the Norwegian Falla and the Swedes, but in the last descent one of them falls and another one breaks a stick, so Falla wins and the other Norwegian falls in third place.

In the men's final, after a first tactical half, Pellegrino attacks on the last climb and seems to prevail, but then Klaebo overcomes him. The Norwegians then close the day with two golds and a bronze, and for them it is only the beginning, while we must be content with a silver, and probably it will be the end. At the exit Norway flags and caps everywhere: one wonders if anyone is left in Norway!

Tomorrow we start with ski jumping: no indication on transport in a website biassed on Seefeld: I'll have to go on my own.