Cross-country skier Victoria Carl narrowly missed the podium at the final World Cup race in Minneapolis.
As in the sprint the day before, the 28-year-old Thuringian took fifth place in the 10-kilometer freestyle race. At the finish she was 43.6 seconds behind the winner Jonna Sundling from Sweden, who had already won the sprint. Her compatriot Frida Karlsson came second in the USA (+15.4 seconds).
The American World Cup leader Jessie Diggins finished third (+31.8) in her home race in front of many enthusiastic spectators. Katharina Hennig (11th), Coletta Rydzek (18th), Lisa Lohmann (26th) and Katherine Sauerbrey (29th) all collected World Cup points. Laura Gimmler finished 33rd. “With the girls’ top performances, we have once again contributed a small piece of the mosaic to success,” summed up national coach Peter Schlickenrieder.
Americans surprised, Moch twelfth
In the men’s category, US cross-country skier Gus Schumacher celebrated his first World Cup victory. The 23-year-old relegated Norwegian World Cup leader Harald Östberg Amundsen (+4.4) and his compatriot Paal Golberg (+5.8) to second and third place. Friedrich Moch was the best German and came twelfth (+16.8).
“I lost too much in the first lap and started off a little too slowly. But I’m still very satisfied,” said the 23-year-old after the 10-kilometer race. His teammates Florian Notz (20th), Anian Sossau (36th) and Lucas Bögl (44th) ended up further back in the field. After a short break, the cross-country skiers will continue in Lahti, Finland, at the beginning of March.