Johaug and Bolshunov a league of their own in Nove Mesto
Jan 19, 2020·Cross-Country
Therese Johaug and Alexander Bolshunov faced a lonely competitions around todays 10/15km C pursuit courses in Nove Mesto. Their extraordinary performances remained untouched by the chasing athletes. However, the fight for the remaining podium spots turned out to be a spectacular one all the way to the finish line.
On the womens 10km C, Natalia Nepryaeva set out in second position and was ready to be caught by Heidi Weng and the following chasing group, led by Ingvild Flugstad Østberg and Krista Pärmäkoski who headed into the race shortly after.
Nepryaeva and Weng drove each other trying to ensure positions 2 and 3 and knowing that Østberg had her eyes set on the duo as well. Indeed, Østberg managed to closed the gap with each km.
Behind, Ebba Andersson caught up with Pärmäkoski and additionally had strong successor group with Raga, Diggins and Niskanen in the back.
Therese Johaug performed an outstanding race, giving it all she got and thus extending her lead, despite remaining untouchable for the following athletes.
Østberg had taken over the work and pace setting of the successors on the demanding course of Nove Mesto. Within reach of the finish area, Nepryaeva made the move to set off with her powerful diagonal strides uphill, leaving Østberg and Weng up for the fight for the 3rd spot. The decision for the remaining podium spot had to be made by a photo finish which Østberg won in her favour.
Alone in the lead but confident and focussed remained also Alexander Bolshunov. His performance impressed with a fantastic technique and timing. Bolshunovs direct successor, Iivo Niskanen was up for the chase but seemed not to be in best condition with his material. Niskanen was soon caught by Sjur Roethe. Klæbo and Krüger were the pace makers in the chasing group. Johannes Høsflot Klæbo started in 7th position but proved that he has developed his distance skills also on tough terrain as the course of Nove Mesto. Klæbo soon set out and hoped for Krüger to join along in order to profit from Norwegian team work. The duo managed to maintain the speed and steadily closed the gap to Roethe and Niskanen.
The final attack for the remaining podium spots behind Bolshunov was made by Simen Hegstad Krüger and Johannes Høsflot Klæbo who set out in a spectacular sprint towards the finish. Sprint expert Klæbo had prepared himself for the decisive moment and takes the 2nd rank before Krüger.
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