Victoria Carl is World Cup winner! The team sprint Olympic champion won on Sunday (December 17, 2023) in Trondheim thanks to a fantastic performance in the classic race over 11 kilometers and is now at the top of the podium in the World Cup for the first time.
Carl had already set an exclamation mark in Östersund a week ago with third place over ten kilometers in the freestyle, and now the first victory for the 28-year-old from SCM Zella-Mehlis followed. When the last of the favorites crossed the finish line, the winner covered her face in disbelief and was hugged by her teammates.
It was the first victory by a German athlete over this distance in the classic technique. Behind Carl came the American Rosie Brennan in second place (+19.6 seconds) and Ebbe Andersson from Sweden (+21.6 seconds).
At the top right from the start
Carl showed a super strong race from the start and was in the lead at all intermediate times. After almost seven kilometers it seemed to be getting tight again when Andersson was suddenly only six seconds behind Carl.
But the Thuringian still had a few grains left and ran away from the world elite on the final lap. By the time she reached the finish, she was able to increase her lead to just under 20 seconds. And all of this in their actually weaker discipline.
Fink also in the top 10
In Carl’s slipstream, the other German runners also had a great day. Pia Fink came seventh (+56.2 seconds). Coletta Rydzek made it to 16th place (+1:30.1 minutes).