Biathlon: Tommaso Giacomel more than ever at the level of the best
Something seemed to click for Tommaso Giacomel on 19 January at the mass start in Ruhpolding (Germany). Winner for the first time in his career in this competition, the Italian has since put in a string of good performances on the biathlon World Cup.
After the stage in the Chiemgau Arena, the 24-year-old biathlete remained on the podium in Antholz (Italy). It was a great way to prepare for the World Championships in Lenzerheide (Switzerland) in the best possible shape. In the canton of Graubünden, the Transalpine was also present.
Sixth in the closing mass-start , fifth in the sprint and pursuit and above all silver medallist for the first time in the individual event, the young man was expected to make his return to the circuit this Thursday in Nove Mesto (Czech Republic). And it would appear that he no longer wants to step off the podium.
Tommaso Giacomel, who clocked a very good 9/10 and the third fastest ski time of the competition, put in a supersonic last lap to claw back a few places and take his place on the podium. At the finish, he was second, just under 20 seconds behind Emilien Jacquelin, back on the top step of the podium after a great race.
“I wanted a podium finish in Nove Mesto”.Tommaso Giacomel at the IBU
“I felt very good today, especially on the last lap. I thought I’d started too hard, but in fact I still had some energy left on the last lap and I used it all,” he told theIBU. The result is incredible. I wanted to finish on the podium in Nove Mesto, so I’m really happy!
Newly seventh in the overall World Cup standings, the Italian is enjoying a high-flying second half of the season. Continually improving, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him move up a few positions before the end of the winter. “I don’t think there’s any secret to everything going well. The intensive training and the state of mind have always been good, even at the start of the season, there were just a few pieces missing,” he explained. Then, in Ruhpolding, I found something that was missing and since then, the season has gone very well and I’m pleased with my consistency.
In a Vysocina Arena that resembled a cauldron, the native of Vipiteno (Italy) used the energy of the crowd to make the difference: “It was incredibly noisy! Before the race, I tried to talk to my physiotherapist but we couldn’t understand each other because the noise was too loud. The Czech fans are incredible,” he enthused.
Read also
- Nove Mesto: Emilien Jacquelin marks his return to the limelight by winning the sprint
- “It’s a wonderful feeling”: in Lenzerheide, Tommaso Giacomel won his first ever individual world medal
