Milan-Cortina: cross-country skiing, Klaebo wants third gold, Mocellini fires up the Azzurri

Trento, 13 February (LaPresse) – He is the man to beat, Norway’s “jack of all trades” Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo. Today, starting at 11:45 a.m. on the Tesero lake circuit, the cross-country skier will set off with bib number 44 in pursuit of his third gold medal on the snow of Milan Cortina 2026. In the 10-kilometre freestyle race with interval starts, the king of narrow skis will mainly have to contend with another Norwegian favourite, Einar Hedegart. The Italian team can count on the good physical form of Simone Mocellini, capable of superb performances as he has already shown on the demanding Tesero track, Martino Carollo, Davide Graz and Simone Daprà, grandson of Franco Nones, the first Italian to win gold in the history of cross-country skiing at Grenoble 1968. Veteran Federico Pellegrino and Elia Barp are out. Italian coach Markus Cramer has decided to “save” them for Sunday’s relay, where Italy could spring a surprise on the podium.