10:03
Germany takes fifth place
Lucas Bögl can secure fifth place for the German team. The distance to the podium is clear at more than two minutes, but the top six goal was still achieved. Well done! The Swedes are fourth. With a deficit of more than four minutes, Switzerland finished in eighth place and should not be completely satisfied with the performance.
09:59
finish line
Congratulations to the team of the Russian Olympic Committee! They have impressively confirmed their position as favorites and have been on course for gold since the first kilometers. Ustiugov crossed the finish line first, waving a flag, and secured the gold medal for himself and his team. Johannes Høsflot Klæbo maintains his lead over Manificat and takes silver for the Norwegians! Completely knocked out, but jubilant Maurice Manificat crosses the finish line. The French celebrate their bronze medal – they can do that even after a great performance!
09:54
Silver for Norway?
Klæbo is the better sprinter, he has now put a few meters between himself and Manificat. The Frenchman is finished.
09:53
The last meters
While the fight for silver and bronze is still hot, Ustiugov can already high five with his supervisors.
09:51
Who gets silver?
Manificat grit his teeth, he still has two kilometers to go. But Johannes Høsflot Klæbo makes no attempt to overtake the Frenchman. Does it amount to a target sprint?
09:49
Last round
Another 3.3 kilometers and then we finally know who will get the medals. Ustiugov for top favorites ROC continues a lonely race in the flurries of Zhangjiakou, gold is up for grabs. But what happens behind? Sweden is out of the medal lottery, France and Norway are fighting for the color of the medal.
09:45
Manificat sets attack
Klæbo’s plan didn’t work out! The Frenchman was able to make up the deficit and overtakes the Norwegian. The Swedes cannot follow. Nothing has been decided here yet!
09:41
France and Sweden on the road together
Manificat and Häggström are still running together, but only one nation can win a medal. Gold seems to have been taken, and Klæbo won’t want to let silver be taken away either. Lucas Bögl continues to run in fifth place.
09:38
Norway on course for silver
The Russian Olympic Committee team is still on course for gold. Ustiugov has now completed his first lap, he still has two laps to go. Johannes Høsflot Klæbo was able to pull away in second place, 13 seconds ahead of the chasing duo. Will the silver go to the Norwegians?
09:35
Manificat running
Maurice Manificat has accumulated a small gap to Norway and Sweden. The race of these nations will now also be marked by tactics.
09:33
Germany two minutes behind
Florian Notz found it very difficult on the track. Final runner Lucas Bögl now has a rucksack of almost two minutes. He runs alone to fifth place, the gap to both the front and the back is about a minute.
09:30
Last change
The last ten kilometers have begun! Sergey Ustiugov should have a lead of 45 seconds to bring the gold medal to the finish. They are followed by Norway and Sweden, who are now sending high-flyers Johannes Høsflot Klæbo and Johan Häggström into the race. Clément Parisse, a little behind the duo, switches to Maurice Manificat, the 35-year-old veteran.
09:24
50 seconds
50 seconds separate Spitsov and Holund, who sets the pace of the pursuers. Notz is now 30 seconds behind the trio. Is the medal dream of the Germans already over?
09:21
gap arises
Now it will be very difficult for the German team! Florian Notz had to continue to let go and now has to fight alone to catch up. Meanwhile, Norway, Sweden and France are speeding up together.
09:19
Notz fights
Florian Notz fights, there is a small gap. Soon 26.6 kilometers of the race have run. Can Notz keep up? It would be so important to be able to keep dreaming of a medal.
09:16
Four pursuers, two medals
Germany, France, Sweden and Norway are currently competing for silver and bronze. Denis Spitsov for the ROC is still on course for gold.
09:12
Finland fights
The quintet is now a quartet again – Perttu Hyvärinen, who actually showed very good performances here in Beijing, cannot keep up.
09:10
Chaser Quintet
Insanity! All the pursuers are now running together, it has become a quintet. The gold medal should almost be gone, Spitsov has a lead of 51 seconds. Hans Christer Holund leads the chasing group, in which Florian Notz is also doing well.
09:07
What else is up for Finland?
Still hopeless at the first change, thanks to Niskanen the Finns are back in the fight for medals. Perttu Hyvärinen is now running for the Scandinavians and will try to keep the medal dream alive.
09:04
halftime
The race increases in drama. Halfway through the race, the Russian Olympic Committee team leads by a minute. Behind them are Norway and Sweden running together. Iivo Niskanen actually managed to bring the Finns back to the front and is currently fourth. No wonder he had the best part time – chapeau!. Friedrich Moch also showed a very good race and moved up to sixth place. The Germans are still on course, the gap to third place is only ten seconds.
08:59
French want medal
Like in Pyeongchang and Sochi, the French want to get a relay medal again today. Hugo Lapalus gives everything and overtakes Moch. William Poromaa has now moved the Swedes up to third and is six seconds ahead of Moch. Strong race of the Swede!
08:56
field mixes up
Hugo Lapalus and the only 21-year-old William Poromaa are fast. The two overtake de Fabiani and are now behind Moch. So the field is shifting, it remains exciting.
08:52
Completed 16.6 kilometers
Bolshunov is almost 45 seconds ahead of Golberg. Moch continues to run a strong race, even though the gap to the front will soon be a minute. Switzerland had to let Iivo Niskanen pass.
08:50
distances almost the same
Did Pål Golberg start his race too fast? He now loses seconds. Moch and de Fabiani get closer to him again. The duo’s distance to the second chasing group also remains the same. Meanwhile, the Finn Iivo Niskanen is running a very strong race in a hopeless position and could soon catch up with Jonas Baumann.
08:45
Big lead
Bolshunov’s lead is steadily increasing slightly, with Moch and de Fabiani in third and fourth, 52 seconds back. France and Sweden are in danger from behind. Jonas Baumann has to be demolished.
08:42
Bolshunov remains sovereign
Francesco De Fabiani and young Friedrich Moch continue to run together, but Pål Golberg jumps away from them. ROC leads Norway by 37.8 seconds. Switzerland is in a group with France and Sweden, a good minute behind Bolshunov.
08:37
Duo becomes trio
Pål Golberg has caught up the ten seconds, Bolshunov’s chasing group is now a trio. 35 seconds behind is the gap to the athletes of the Russian Olympic team.
08:34
Finland already without a chance
The Finns already have no more chances for the medals with a gap of almost two minutes. This is a disappointment for the cross country nation. Switzerland has fought its way up to seventh place.
08:31
First change
And so we are already at the first change. Chervotkin showed a very strong performance and Alexander Bolshunov left the track with a lead of 23.5 seconds. Janosch Brugger changes as second! A very strong race by the German! The Italians change almost at the same time as the German team. Norway lost their feathers, they are now ten seconds behind the German-Italian duo.
08:28
Also Jouve with problems
France’s Richard Jouve and Norway’s Emil Iversen are also struggling as Pellegrino picked up the pace of the chasing group.
08:26
Svensson can be demolished
In the chasing group, the Swede Svensson is finding it difficult to keep up the pace. Chervotkin is now more than half a minute ahead of the competition. Is that already the preliminary decision so early in the race?
08:23
Brugger is doing well
Janosch Brugger has done a good race so far and is in the chasing group with France, Norway, Sweden and Italy. Switzerland with the experienced Dario Cologna is in eighth place. The Finns are even one place behind and are almost 47 seconds behind. Ristomatti Hakola is weakening.
08:17
lead is growing
The lead for the top favorite ROC is growing and is now around 20 seconds. The chasing group now consists of five cross-country skiers, the Germans are also there. Switzerland can no longer be found in this group.
08:14
Chervotkin tries
Chervotkin, looking strong, tries to make the first attack and jump away. He can walk a few meters between himself and the pursuer. Brugger is twelve seconds behind in second place, followed by the Norwegians. Switzerland is already 25 seconds behind.
08:11
First round completed
The first round of 3.3 kilometers has been completed. The gaps are small, Chervotkin is still at the top.
08:09
Chervotkin leads race
Alexey Chervotkin picks up the pace and slightly rips the field apart, but most relays can follow him. Janosch Brugger is currently third, the Swiss are eighth.
08:06
Don’t go too fast
The field is still together after one kilometer. On the difficult course it is important to find your own rhythm and not to go too fast.
08:02
Germany at the forefront
Norway, ROC and Germany lead the field and play the snowplough for the teams behind.
08:00
kickoff
It starts! Fifteen squadrons go in search of the medals. The conditions are difficult, it’s snowing in the freezing cold. The route is also considered to be very demanding.
07:53
4×10 kilometers
The competition is about to start. Each of the four athletes has to complete ten kilometers. The first two cross-country skiers will complete their ten kilometers in the classic style, followed by two sets of ten kilometers in the freestyle technique.
07:47
The Swiss
Dario Cologna, Jonas Baumann, Candide Pralong and anchor Roman Furger will be on the track for Switzerland. They too will try to keep up with the front runners for as long as possible.
07:41
The DSV team
Coach Peter Schlickenrieder has nominated Janosch Brugger, Friedrich Moch, Florian Notz and Lucas Bögl as the final runners for the relay. The Germans are the clear outsiders, a medal is not to be expected. Nonetheless, they will try to put in a great race and get a good placement. The Germans should be inspired by the women’s silver coup – will the men achieve a similar sensation? A place in the top six would already be a success.
07:37
favorite question
Norway and Finland got nothing in the women’s cross-country relay yesterday – that shouldn’t happen today under any circumstances. The Norwegians will fight for the medals with the formation Emil Iversen, Pål Golberg, Hans Christer Holund and high-flyer Johannes Høsflot Klæbo. However, with the exception of Johannes Høsflot Klæbo, the Norwegians have disappointed in the last few races. Let’s see what they are capable of today. Another top favorite is the Russian Olympic Committee team with Alexey Chervotkin, Alexander Bolshunov, Denis Spitsov and anchor Sergey Ustiugov. The Swedes and the team from France should not be underestimated either.
07:30
Warm welcome!
Welcome to Zhangjiakou. The next medal decision will be made here today in men’s cross-country skiing. The cross-country relay race begins at 8 a.m. We are excited to see who will win the medals!