13:37
Andersson remains ice cold
No, it doesn’t look like it! Ebba Andersson increased the pace again and suddenly extended the lead on Kerttu Niskanen by another ten seconds. The Swede would now have to suffer a very unexpected slump for this victory to be in danger again.
13:34
Niskanen won’t give up
It’s impressive how Kerttu Niskanen doesn’t finally let Ebba Andersson distance herself from her. After 16.5 kilometers, the Finn is just over eleven seconds behind her Swedish competitor. Can Niskanen pull himself together again?
13:32
The status of the DSV runners
From the point of view of the German Ski Association, Katherine Sauerbrey is in 16th position, but of course the train towards the top ten has long since left the station. Victoria Carl and Pia Fink are even further down the field.
1:30 p.m
Andersson pulls away!
Ebba Andersson also bites his teeth after the renewed effort, but the gap to Kerttu Niskanen widens. Behind them, Astrid Øyre Slind and Ingvild Flugstad Østberg are still fighting for third place with a respectable gap.
13:27
Stadlober still in the top ten
Teresa Stadlober continues to cut a fine figure in the larger chasing group and is currently ninth in the top ten. Katherine Sauerbey is also doing well. She is a good 16th and is just getting closer to the athlete in front of her.
13:25
Andersson mercilessly!
Ebba Andersson is simply merciless! The Swede is pushing hard again on the difficult climb and this time there is a decent gap. It seems like that’s it for Niskanen with the slimmest of chances.
13:24
Niskanen is back!
Kerttu Niskanen shows that she hasn’t lost the possible victory yet! The Finn has fought her way back up to her competitor Andersson. Ingvild Flugstad Østberg has also caught up with Slind again and no longer has to fight her way through alone.
13:20
Stadlober in tenth place
Teresa Stadlober is tenth after 11.4 kilometers in a demanding race. Katherine Sauerbrey has fought her way up and is now in 17th place, running together with Linn Svahn.
13:18
Niskanen bites
But Kerttu Niskanen is not yet giving up on the matter here! The Finn tries not to let the gap get too big and stays 3.4 seconds behind Andersson. Further back, Slind also easily broke away from her compatriot.
13:16
Is Andersson moving away?
Is Ebba Andersson now also moving away from her last competitor? At least it looks that way! The Swede is picking up and Niskanen is now dropping meter by meter.
13:14
Half done
The athletes have now completed half of it. Ebba Andersson and Kerttu Niskanen remain the top favorites and are now 20 seconds ahead of the Norwegian duo. The next group of pursuers, in which Stadlober is running, is already 55 seconds behind. So far everything indicates that Niskanen and Andersson will decide the victory among themselves.
13:12
What are the Norwegians doing?
Ingvild Flugstad Østberg and Astrid Øyre Slind have not given up yet and are currently fighting through together. However, the gap to the front has already increased significantly at 13 seconds.
13:10
Chasers swallow Stadlober
Teresa Stadlober is swallowed up by the chasing group on the third lap. This group is already a good 40 seconds behind in the direction of Andersson/Niskanen, who are on the way to bringing home a solid performance here.
13:09
DSV duo continues to fall
The German duo, meanwhile, continues to fall and Carl and Fink now find themselves beyond the top 20. There is more than a minute between them and the strong front duo.
13:08
Andersson revs up again!
When it comes to the bonus points for the extra classification in the World Cup, Andersson turned it up again and only takes Niskanen with him. The Norwegians have to hope that the pace will slow down again if they want to get close again!
13:06
The gap is there
Stadlober is trying everything, but the gap is getting bigger and she’s already lost six seconds to the leading group. Niskanen, Andersson, Østberg and Slind are currently running away and continue to seek a preliminary decision in the early stages of the race. The second largest group is already 20 seconds behind.
13:03
Stadlober has to fight
After Teresa Stadlober invested so much in the first group, the Austrian now has to fight to stay in the top group. The first meters open up. Can she run it again?
13:01
Where is the DSV duo?
Victoria Carl and Pia Fink are still on the road together, but after 4.8 kilometers they lost a good half a minute to the leading group. Lea Fischer is also far behind as the best Swiss.
13:00
Andersson leads group away!
Is this the first preliminary decision about the podium? Ebba Andersson sits in front of the group and it seems few athletes can follow. Niskanen stays on and so are Østberg, Stadlober and Slind. The rest is already a few meters behind.
12:57 p.m
DSV duo is having a harder time
While Stadlober continues to invest a lot to reduce the field, the German athletes are already having difficulties staying in the group. A few seconds open up on the long climb!
12:55 p.m
Stadlober wants the gaps
Teresa Stadlober is back on top and the Austrian is currently working hard so that she can further split the field. Since she is not considered a strong sprinter, she is of course interested in as many as possible dropping out. Carl has fallen back a little but is still at the top of the group.
12:53
The pace stays high
The women don’t think much of a technical race again today and they really go full throttle right from the start. Athletes can always push their way into the group from behind, but there are always gaps. Stadlober, Andersson and Diggins are currently putting a lot of pressure on the field at the top.
12:50 p.m
First gaps
It doesn’t take long before the first gaps appear in the field. Stadlober and Carl cut a good figure alongside the Scandinavian athletes and remain in the top group. Pia Fink is still good as 14th.
12:47 p.m
Niskanen at the top
After the first meters, Kerttu Niskanen has taken the lead. Jessie Diggins has also made it to the top.
12:45 p.m
Here we go!
The start has taken place and the field is moving together on the track. For the first few meters, the athletes have to be careful in the hustle and bustle and not fall.
12:40 p.m
Swiss duo
With the Swiss women, a duo is starting today with Désirée Steiner and Lea Fischer. For both of them, however, it shouldn’t be about the places at the top of the rankings, but above all about gaining more experience in the World Cup.
12:35 p.m
Stadlober for ÖSV
Among the Austrians, only Teresa Stadlober is at the start, who is returning to the competition after a three-week break. After she was able to secure a solid twelfth place in the distance race in free technique on Friday, her favorite race format awaits today with the mass start. Stadlober was 19th in the first race over this distance in Lillehammer, but since then her form has steadily improved.
12:31
Three DSV athletes
For the German team, three athletes are still at the start in today’s competition, including the returnees Victoria Carl and Katherine Sauerbrey. Carl had to take a break from competition due to a knee injury in the Tour de Ski, Sauerbrey was disabled by a gastrointestinal infection. Pia Fink joins them over the 20 kilometers. The trio Victoria Carl should have the best chance of a good result.
12:20 p.m
Only a small starting field
The starting field in France is comparatively small. 46 athletes have registered for the final mass start over the 20 kilometers. The list of favorites is once again led by the Scandinavians. Ebba Andersson from Sweden should have big plans and Kerttu Niskanen is also considered a specialist in classic technique.
12:13
Mass start finishes
After a single start race on Friday and the sprints on Saturday, the cross-country skiing competitions in Les Rousses will be followed by the grand finale and finally a mass start race over 20 kilometers in the classic technique. It starts at 12:45 p.m.!
Warm welcome
Hello and welcome to Les Rousses women’s cross-country skiing! The live ticker starts in good time before the start of the race.