Johaug inherits Björgen
Johaug is the successor to another great Norwegian: Marit Björgen won the long edges in Sochi in 2014 and in Pyeongchang in 2018. Even Johaug, with a total of six medals, cannot compete with the most successful participant in the Winter Olympics with 15 medals. In Vancouver, Johaug had won gold in the relay, in Sochi silver over 30 kilometers and bronze over 10 kilometers classic. In 2018 in Pyeongchang she was absent due to a doping ban.
Carl finishes twelfth
In the last cross-country race in Zhangjiakou, Victoria Carl was initially in a chasing group. the team sprint– Olympic champion from Zella-Mehlis had to pay tribute to the high speed after a good ten kilometers and let it tear down. For many kilometers she fought alone against the biting wind that kept blowing the snow over the track. She ended up finishing a respectable twelfth place (+5:14.4).
“That was one of my hardest 30s”said Carl, who won gold in the team sprint with Katharina Hennig. “I had to walk a lot alone, alas. And the wind makes it so difficult.” In the last lap she had to watch out for the wind “don’t knock me out yet”. But she got back “great material” had on his feet.
Antonia Fräbel from Asbach was 19th (+6:29.6), Pia Fink from Münsingen was 25th (+7:12.3).
Nepryaeva gets out early
Natalia Neprjaeva capitulated to the difficult conditions. The co-favourite, who had already won a full set of sprint, skiathlon and relay medals in Beijing, dropped out before the end of the first round. She was already more than 40 seconds behind the leader, her skis didn’t seem to work at all.
Olympic novelty for men
The women’s race had been brought forward to the morning to avoid the anticipated cold and worst of the wind. The day before, due to the difficult weather conditions, the men had also only run 30 instead of the traditional 50 kilometers for the first time in the history of the Winter Games. The Russian Alexander Bolschunow had won his third gold.