Johanna Matintalo also did well.
Beitostölen’s trip was Kerttu Niskanen’s favorite dish. Stock photo. PASI LEISMA
Beitostölen World Cup: women’s 10 km time trial (p)
1. Kerttu Niskanen, Finland 26.56,3
2. Anne Kjersti Kalvå, Norway +12.7
3. Frida Karlsson, Sweden +16.5
4. Katharina Hennig, Germany +23.0
5. Johanna Matintalo, Finland +31.0
…
10. Jasmi Joensuu, Finland +48.6
11. Krista Pärmäkoski, Finland +59.1
24. Anne Kyllönen, Finland +1.43,3
Anni Alakoski interrupted
Kerttu Niskanen skied wonderfully to victory in the Beitostölen World Cup. Niskanen was completely superior in the 10-kilometer traditional way intermediate start race.
Norway was second Anne Kjersti Kalvå and Sweden’s third Frida Karlsson. A wonderful Finnish day was completed Johanna Matintalo, who skied the best World Cup place of his career on the normal distance. Matintalo was fifth.
Niskanen’s good condition has been talked about throughout the early season, but relaxation has been lacking in skiing. The race in Beitostölen was supposed to be Niskanen’s display.
The beginning was great. Niskanen hit the ground running in the five kilometer interval and left Jessie Diggins behind.
The American showed signs of clotting in the second five kilometer lap. Niskanen stepped on the gas and took an overwhelming lead of more than half a minute in 8.2 kilometers.
Niskanen’s final time was 26:56.3.
The last top skier to set off was Karlsson. The pace was fast at the very beginning, and he beat Niskanen by eight seconds at the first intermediate point.
At the halfway point, however, Karlsson lost his top spot when the pace slowed down. After the first round, he was third. Karlsson and Kalvå skied almost at the same speed at the beginning of the second round.
The fact that Kalvå fell farther and farther towards the end said a lot about the Finn’s final crunch. And Karlsson didn’t make it either. Niskanen got to celebrate his opening win of the World Cup season. At the finish line, the difference to Kalvåho was 12.7 seconds.
Joensuu beat Pärmäkoski
Krista Pärmäkoski the speed was not at the level of the top women. At each intermediate point, he was close to tenth place.
The final ranking was 11th. Above Pärmäkoski was ranked tenth Jasmi Joensuu.