Cross-country skier Coletta Rydzek demonstrated her top form with her second podium finish of the season. The 28-year-old surprised everyone by coming second in the freestyle sprint at the home World Cup in Oberhof, and less than three weeks before the Olympic Games, Laura Gimmler also impressed in fourth place. The victory went to Olympic champion Jonna Sundling from Sweden.
“It’s crazy, the audience today was amazing, I’ve never experienced anything like that,” said Rydzek on ZDF. The 28-year-old, who had already sprinted to second place in Dobbiaco at the end of December, relegated Olympic silver medalist Maja Dahlqvist from Sweden to third place in the final meters.
“The form is right, anything can happen at the Olympics,” said Rydzek. At the Winter Games, however, the sprint is run in the classic style, which she loves less.
Because Gimmler was also completely convincing, there are also hopes for the team sprint at the Olympics. “Coletta and I can have a lot of fun there,” said Gimmler. National coach Peter Schlickenrieder was also satisfied: “It’s great how the two girls solved it. That’s the next level.”
Both Rydzek and Gimmler had to avoid a fallen competitor in the final, but they didn’t let themselves be disturbed. “They did a huge job,” said Schlickenrieder. Sofie Krehl took 15th place, Lena Keck recorded the second best result of her career in 20th place.
In the men’s category, another Norwegian, Lars Heggen, won in the absence of series winner Johannes Hösflot Kläbo. None of the seven DSV starters made it into the quarterfinals of the top 30 runners. Jan Stölben, who surprised with sixth place in the sprint in Val di Fiemme at the beginning of January, did not start in Oberhof.
On Sunday, men (10.45 a.m.) and women (12.55 p.m./ZDF and Eurosport) will compete over ten kilometers in Oberhof.
