FasterSkier · December 4, 2003
Italian Pietro Piller Cottrer won the season’s World Cup opener’s 15 kilometer skate race at Beitostolen, Norway. Last season’s World Cup highlights included a second place in the 10k skate race in Kiruna and 4th in Davos and Kavgolovo. He was 9th in the Pursuit and 14th in the 50 K skate at the 2003 World Championship.
At the 2002 Olympics he was 5th in the 30K, 7th in the Pursuit and skied on the Italian relay team that captured the Silver Medal.
How was your victorious World Cup race, were you leading the whole time or did you win at the end?
“I felt very good and had a great race. I took the lead at the 2-kilometer mark and held it until the end. The winning margin was only 4 seconds, but that’s enoughâ€.
Who do you consider your hardest competitors and favorites to win the overall World Cup?
“The German’s like Sommerfeld and Teichmann, the two Fredriksson brothers and maybe Norwegian Svartedalâ€
Have you made any changes in your training before this season compared to your training last year?
“I have been training very similar as in the past. I try to be in good shape at the beginning of the year and then improve from thereâ€.
Are you a skate specialist or do you do as well in classic races also?
“I’m a skate specialist but I’m trying to improve in classic as wellâ€.
Are you training equally for both skating and classic?
“I’m actually devoting 60% of my training to classic and 40% to skatingâ€
Good luck in the World Cup 30 kilometer mass-start race at home in Italian Toblach this weekend!
