Frida Karlsson celebrates her first victory of the season at the start of the Cross Country World Cup. Three German runners end up in the top 15.
Ruka suits her like no other: Like last year, Frida Karlsson once again wins the cross-country skiers’ season opener in Ruka, Finland. No one was as fast as the Swede over 10 km. Second place went to Heidi Weng (+10.50s), third place also went to Sweden with Ebba Andersson (+21.20s).
Top result for Germany
Katharina Hennig Dotzler became the best German. The 29-year-old started well, but struggled especially with the 600-meter climb. Recently she had been ailing for a long time, but she still wanted to compete in Ruka and did well. In the end she got a twelfth. Place.
Pia Fink and Katherine Sauerbrey lined up directly behind them. The three top 15 placements of the DSV team also mean half the Olympic standard. Helen Hoffmann came 18th. Coletta Rydzek came 27th.
Starting the season without Carl
But the best was missing from the German team – and that will be the case throughout the season. Victoria Carl remains suspended due to a positive doping test. She will also miss the Winter Olympics. It is not yet clear how long the total ban will be.