New record for Debertolis: 10th in Sprint World Cup
After Riccardo Scalet’s historic world bronze medal in the forest in 2021, the best Italian ranking ever in the Sprint distance arrived thanks to Mattia Debertolis’ excellent performance in the World Cup stage in Genoa, which closed in 15:14.
The athlete, who switched just this season to PWT Italy, is racking up one success after another, now projected among the top orienteers at the international level: after victories in the first round of the Italian Cup and the Italian Middle Championships at the end of April, he gained access to the quarterfinals of the Knock-Out Sprint, in the World Cup in Switzerland last week, and now he has taken tenth place individually in the World Cup, Italian stage.
These results enshrine the Trentino athlete’s achievement of a solid awareness of his own possibilities, which also bodes well for future goals. “The race was not totally clean but the result was definitely good – Debertolis comments – I didn’t expect tenth place but I knew I was ready for a level test. I tried to do what I could in the best possible way”.
Mattia, what do you think made the difference? “Definitely this is the result of a lot of work that started a long time ago. I managed to train well during the winter without big problems. Very important was the specific preparation with training camps on terrain similar to the World Cup along with dry training, with the help of maps and simulations, prepared by the National team coaches. Also, in my opinion, both the MOC and the training camp with the Swiss National Team in Gargano organized by PWT Italy were really useful. They helped me perform at my best by being able to compare myself with top athletes”.
Goals for the coming months? “I am very satisfied with this first part of the season: I focused on a few races in Italy but always getting very good results. Now the head goes to the World Championships in Scotland in early July, for the second part of 2024 I haven’t decided yet but it will be back in the woods for sure”.
“We are proud of Mattia’s achievements – Team Manager Gabriele Viale says – His skills were and are undoubted, then his arrival at PWT Italy helped trigger a process of growth by giving more attention to his needs to make him perform. He lives in Sweden as a researcher, so being able to combine the two activities is an extraordinary added value, a demonstration of great tenacity and determination. With him, PWT Italy has found Riccardo Scalet’s heir”.
The World Cup stage was won by Kasper Harlem Fosser (NOR 14:27), followed by Martin Regborn (SWE 14:48) and Tomas Krivda (CZE 14:53).