MILAN/TESERO, Feb 21 - Olympic medallists Federico Pellegrino of Italy and Ben Ogden from the United States will not participate in Saturday's 50km classic cross-country ski race due to illnesses.

"The wrist tendinitis was 'under control', but since Friday morning I have been in bed with flu-like symptoms, and I am enormously sorry to tell you that today I will not be at the start of the 50 km", Pellegrino wrote to fans via the Italian ski federation website.