He came, saw and conquered! Ladies and gentlemen, it's no secret that Alessandro Pittin is a good shape this season. But what he could achieve last weekend in Chaux-Neuve might have also been a surprise for him. Three competitions - three wins, that's the impressive result of the 21-year-old after the second "super weekend" this winter. And not only that: With Friday's victory he was the first Italian to ever win a nordic combined World Cup.
"I can't believe it! Three victories in a row, that's simply fantastic", Pittin was looking for the right words after his hattrick. He didn't forget to thank those who helped him. "These were wonderful days. We can still learn a lot from the French when it comes to sporting spirit! I was cheered on and the people here in Chaux-Neuve are so warm hearted. Thanks a lot to everyone!"
Pittin is already three-time Junior World Champion, Olympic bronze medallist from 2010, but so far he was not able to reach the top of the podium in the World Cup. Now, after last weekend, he already celebrated three victories, and that almost made his coach Fabian Ebenhoch speechless. "Happy is not the right expression, I'm so very impressed and surprised by my whole team, that was a great performance."
Alessandro Pittin made his debut in the World Cup a bit more than four years ago in Ramsau am Dachstein - at this point the 17-year-old had already participated in the Olympic Games 2006 in Torino. The athlete who lives in Cervivento and studies sports management and whose strength is cross country skiing, achieved his first Top 10 result in January 2009. Nine more podium finishes followed in the past three years until he reached the long-awaited goal of winning in the World Cup now.
He alredy earned the respect of his colleagues in nordic combined and many congratulated him after the weekend in Chaux-Neuve. "Hats off for this hattrick", Japanese Akito Watabe said about Pittin's performances. And Magnus Moan told: "Congratulations to a great and clever race. That was really strong!"
When the World Cup will continue after a two-week break early February in Predazzo, there will again be three days of competition. Alessandro Pittin will want to present himself in a great shape on his home turf and in front of his home crowd where the next Nordic World Championships will take place next year. But the competition never sleeps! "Watch out in Predazzo", US head coach Dave Jarrett already issued a challenge.
Mariele Stockinger