Zhangjiakou (dpa) – The German cross-country trio Sofie Krehl, Victoria Carl and Pia Fink survived the sprint qualification at the Olympic Winter Games in China.
Krehl finished eighth in Zhangjiakou, China. Carl was tenth, Fink was 21st. All three have the chance to qualify for the medals in the quarterfinals and semifinals.
Coletta Rydzek, the younger sister of combined Olympic champion Johannes Rydzek, did not get past rank 37 and thus missed the entry into the next round.
In the men’s category, Janosch Brugger was the only German runner to drop out after 38th place. Skiathlon Olympic champion Alexander Bolshunov from the athletes of the Russian Olympic Committee did not start two days after his first gold coup. Swede Jonna Sundling and French Lucas Chanavat were fastest in qualifying.