09:05
Switzerland still on seven
The Swiss keep their seventh place unchanged. However, the distance to the front is steadily increasing.
09:04
Sweden and Finland 25 seconds behind
The Swedes and Finns are just behind Helene Marie Fossesholm, 25 seconds behind the ROC. You should definitely not write off these seasons just yet.
09:02
Sorina takes the lead
Tatiana Sorina has caught up the four seconds and is a bit ahead of Victoria Carl. Norway remains in third place.
09:00
Germany leads when changing
The Germans are now handing over as the first team! Four seconds later, the ROC changes. Johaug blew up the chasing group, Switzerland and the USA had to be torn down. Half of the race is done!
08:57
Henry in the lead
Awesome, Katharina Hennig can now even get a small lead of three seconds.
08:56
First seven within 30 seconds
The first seven seasons are all within half a minute. The squadrons behind now probably no longer have a chance of placing in the front. At the top, Hennig passes Nepryayeva on the climb. Johaug is catching up.
08:53
Nepryayeva and Hennig in front
Nepryayeva and Hennig keep the pace high and make it difficult for the pursuers. The gap is even growing, Therese Johaug is now in third place, 24 seconds behind. So everything is going according to plan for the Germans so far, so it can continue! 7.5 kilometers are completed, it’s on the second and last lap for Hennig.
08:48
How is Hennig doing?
Can Hennig imitate Sauerbrey? Finland with Johanna Matintalo is in third place, almost 14 seconds behind the DSV team. Switzerland is seventh, 22 seconds behind the German-Russian leaders.
08:45
First change
The first five classic kilometers have been completed. In the Chinese cold, it’s time for the first change. Sauerbrey can almost catch up with Stupak shortly before the change. This is a great performance by the young Germans! The team of the Russian Olympic Committee changes just before the German team. The pursuers are already behind, with Norway it is almost half a minute.
08:41
Also Switzerland in the chasing group
Norway’s Tiril Udnes Weng falls and loses more seconds. Like the Germans, the Swiss are represented in Stupak’s first chasing group. Van der Graaff is 15 seconds behind the leader.
08:38
Stupak increased
Stupak picks up the pace and is already ripping a gap. 2.5 km have now been completed. The chasing group is twelve seconds behind, with Dahlqvist leading this group.
08:35
Sauerbrey keeps in touch
Katherine Sauerbrey will be particularly nervous about her first Olympic relay. So far she’s doing well and in third place is keeping in touch with the leaders. At the end of the field, a few cross-country skiers have to be torn off.
08:31
It starts!
The starting signal sounds, the field of 18 relays goes on the track together. Yulia Stupak takes the lead.
08:25
Switzerland included
The Swiss women have experienced mixed games so far. Laurien van der Graaff, Nadine Fähndrich, Nadja Kälin and Alina Meier are starting for the Swiss team and will try to fight for the top positions as long as possible. The Austrians do not provide a cross-country relay.
08:16
Germany with medal hope
The DSV quartet with debutant Katherine Sauerbrey, Katharina Hennig, Victoria Carl and anchor Sofie Krehl hopes to take advantage of the outsider chance and is flirting with a medal. The last time this happened was in Sochi in 2014, when the Swedes sensationally secured the bronze medal. Maybe there will be a similar surprise today? All four can show good results – Carl and Krehl made it to the semifinals in the sprint, Hennig and Sauerbrey convinced in the classic race over 10 kilometers. Hennig in fifth just missed the medals there.
08:09
The favourites
Who are the favorites over 4×5 kilometers? Definitely the Norwegians, who celebrated the gold medal in Pyeongchang in 2018. With Therese Johaug, the double Olympic champion runs in second place. However, things are not going as expected for the rest of the Norwegians. Also of note is the team of Finland and the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC).
08:00
Warm welcome!
Warm welcome! The Olympic women’s relay race begins at 8:30 a.m. on the cross-country track in Zhangjiakou. We look forward to an exciting competition.