Korostoleva and Vittoz world champions. Bronzes for Di Centa and Longa
High level competition in Cogne
Cogne. Fifteen kilometres in a single breath; four passages on the finish line, short distances and a crowded audience urging on all the contenders. Cologna, the Olympic champion in Vancouver didn’t start, but the competition was fascinating. In the end the transalpine Vincent Vittoz won with 32’18’’90, with an advantage of 19’’46 on the Swiss Tony Livers, and of 31’’24 on the Friulian Carabiniere Giorgio Di Centa. Another French athlete gained the fourth position, Robin Duvillard, who reached the final line after 32’’85, and Ronny Andre Hafsaas arrived fifth with 44’’32. Other three Italian athletes follow: 6th Pietro Piller Cottrer, 7th Thomas Moriggl, and 8th David Hofer.
“I am very happy to have gained this bronze medal – Giorgio Di Centa declared – and I am very happy to have given a podium to my team. It is fundamental for us athletes of winter sports to have the chance to enter a military corps, to follow the victory in big international events. In this season I lost the Olympic medal but I gained the first victory in the world championship in my carrier and today a bronze medal at Winter Military World Games arrives”.
Many turn of events in the female competition. Korosteleva since the first lap seemed to be in great condition; on the finish line she was some meters ahead of Marianna Longa that started thirty seconds before. The best timing of the day was indeed the one of the Russian Natalia Korosteleva (28’13’’01). Silver medal for the Norwegian Kari Eie Henneseid, with the pecs n.26, not exactly the favourite for this race, arrived with a gap of 30’’48, bronze medal for Marianna Longa, a military of the “Fiamme Gialle” with a gap of 32”25. Fourth place for the French (now living in Gressoney), Karine Larent Philippot (29’05”14), and the Chinese Yuanyuan Kiu ranked fifth (29’15”27). The other Italian athletes ranked 6th, 9th and 14th, respectively Elisa Brocard, Stephanie Santer and Magda Genuin.
“I am really happy with this performance - remarked Marianna Longa - in a positive season, which could have been even better. The pride of racing and gaining a medal for “Fiamme Gialle” is really great.”