The Swede Linn Svahn made the fight for victory in the overall World Cup even more exciting on Tuesday (March 12, 2024) in the cross-country sprint in Drammen. In contrast, there were only disappointed faces among the DSV athletes. Among the men, Johannes Hoesflot Kläbo also came closer to his leading compatriot Harald Östberg Amundsen in the fight for the big crystal ball.
Jessica Diggins has to worry a little more about the big crystal ball among the cross-country skiers. While the American failed in the classic sprint finish in Drammen in her quarterfinals, her pursuers from Sweden scored points.
Linn Svahn in particular gained a lot of points on Diggins, who is leading the overall World Cup: The Swede took second place on the course in the center of Drammen, collected 95 points and is now only 102 points behind Diggins with three races still to go. As in the previous year, the Norwegian Kristine Stavaas Skistad secured the day’s victory.
Svahn’s teammate Frida Karlsson also made it to the final, where she slowed down on the home straight and settled for sixth place. Karlsson also had a mathematical chance of competing for victory in the overall World Cup. But now it will be difficult to endanger Diggins and Svahn.
No German runners in the semi-finals
The German cross-country skiers tended to have long faces. For all five athletes who survived the prologue, the final stop was in the quarterfinals. Laura Gimmler, fourth in the prologue, only came in third in her quarter-finals and was eliminated, as were Coletta Rydzek in fourth, Katharina Hennig in fifth and Pia Fink in sixth in her heat. As day 13th Gimmler was at least the best German.
“I’m a bit disappointed. I had big plans for Drammen and I felt very good too”said Gimmler afterwards and looked for the causes: “Things went well in the prologue, but not at all in the quarter-finals. I had very slippery skis and had an argument with a Norwegian on the home straight. We struggled for the lane, which definitely cost us a few more meters .”
Victoria Carl had also secretly hoped to progress and get a few more World Cup points. And for the 28-year-old from Zella-Mehlis, who had just qualified for the quarter-finals in 30th place, it looked for a long time as if she could actually make it one more round. In her quarter-finals she worked her way from last to first place, only to be intercepted by four competitors on the long home straight. Carl ended up 25th on the day. at least 32 World Cup points.
Kläbo increases pressure on Amundsen
There is also a lot of movement among the men in the fight for the big crystal ball: Johannes Hoesflot Kläbo won the sprint in Drammen and is now putting pressure on his compatriot Harald Östberg Amundsen, who is leading in the overall World Cup. He already failed in the semi-finals and is still 100 points ahead of Kläbo before the final three competitions. But Kläbo has already secured the “little crystal ball” of the best sprinter.
Stölben as best German 21.
In the daily rankings, second and third places also went to two Norwegians: Havaard Solaas Taugboel and Even Northug. The only German in the quarterfinals was Jan Stölben (Ernstberg). As sixth place in his heat, the 22-year-old had no chance of progressing – the man from the Vulkaneifel came 21st overall.
In addition to Stölben, only one other German, Anian Sossau, was at the start. The 24-year-old finished in 36th place but missed out on the top 30, who qualified for the quarter-finals, by 1.06 seconds.