The smile 9 months after the tears Della Mea is back in the Cup

The 22-year-old from Tarvisio is back in competition in Finland and is now aiming for the Olympics. Now transferred to the USA. On the weekend it’s also up to Buzzi, Vittozzi and Di Centa

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The star of Camporosso rises again. After 9 months from the accident last 16 February at the World Championships in Cortina, a combative Lara Della Mea, who appeared to be growing in the second slalom of the World Cup in Levi, Finland, falls again on the snow.

The 22-year-old Friulian athlete of the Army Sports Center had fallen in the first run of the quarter-finals of the 2021 mixed team race. Rescued by the Fisi Medical Commission and transported to the Codivilla hospital in Cortina d’Ampezzo, the magnetic resonance was performed he had given a harsh verdict: rupture of the cruciate ligament. Tears and anger on that occasion.

“I will fight to return,” she reassured from the Innsbruck clinic where she had been operated on. No doubt about the grit and determination of this rising star of skiing (world bronze in 2019 and winner of the European Slalom Cup) who has never stopped training and working for recovery ever since. A month ago, his desire to return, declared between the weightlifting sessions and the first skiing sessions, transpired.

“I haven’t been able to train like in previous years, but I’m aiming to recover my preparation as soon as possible.” The numbers say that Lara has been busy: Sunday in race 1 the Tarvisian had reached 58th at 3 ”35 from the leader Vlhova (also before the final finish line) and at 1” 12 from the last useful place for qualification.

Thirty-fifth at 2 ”46 from Vlhova (therefore almost a second less than the Slovak, also today the leader) and only 44 cents from the thirtieth place. «It is wonderful that it is already back in the race – enthusiastically comments Maurizio Dunofer, president of Federsci -. Now we expect him to return permanently in the top 30. It is the Olympic year and we warmly await him for the appointment in Beijing ». Della Mea will return to the race on Sunday in the Killington slalom, in the United States, still valid for the World Cup.

And also in North America, but in Lake Louise in Canada, today the first timed downhill test also for the Sappada rider Emanuele Buzzi. The carabiniere on Friday and Saturday will be engaged in the downhill and on Sunday in super-G.

The biathlon World Cup is also starting with the other sappadina Lisa Vittozzi fresh from excellent performances at the Swedish Championships in Idre after the last collegiate retreat with the Azzurri. The carabiniera had behaved well on skis and at the shooting range. Only Elvira Obering had done better than Lisa.

Waiting for the first race on Friday 26 for the bottom with the Paluzzana Martina Di Centa, 21, who inherits the prestigious witness of her father Giorgio and aunt Manuela, four Olympic gold medals in two to talk about the finest silverware, and promises succulent surprises.

It competes in Ruka in Finland. And always in the Nordic resort there is also Raffaele Buzzi, but not Alessandro Pittin, in the expedition to Ruka for the first World Cup race. It starts with the traditional Provisional Competition Round and then off until Sunday. –