Klæbo and Falla score in Trondheim Sprint C
Feb 22, 2020·Cross-Country
The FIS Cross-Country family arrived in Trondheim, the final destination of the Ski Tour 2020. Stage 5 awaited with a Classic Sprint. Homebound Johannes Høsflot Klæbo went for the victory in his first competition in front of his home crowd. On the womens side, Linn Svahn from Sweden took the first victory in the Ski Tour 2020 as a non-Norwegian.
The Granåsen skicenter is the place to meet for the Nordic family this weekend. The final stages of the Ski Tour 2020 - as well as the Nordic Combined World Cup - take place in front of the Norwegian ski enthusiastic crowd. Around 10'000 spectators found their way into the stadium where the Classic course was nestled into.
Young Swede, Jonna Sundling as well as local superstar Johannes Høsflot Klæbo raced the fastest time in the qualification.
Up into the womens semi finals, in each heat consisted of two Norwegians, two Swedes and a Swiss athlete in each of the heats. Falla (NOR) and Sundling (SWE) both qualified directly into the finals but current lucky loosers, Astrid Uhrenholdt Jacobsen (NOR) and Linn Svahn (SWE) had to give up their space to Anna Svendsen and Heidi Weng (both NOR) who raced the faster heat of the semi finals with Nadine Fähndrich (SUI) and Anna Dyvik (SWE).
Finally, the Classic sprint expert Maiken Caspersen Falla was rewarded with a victory. Throughout the ongoing Ski Tour 2020, Falla had to conquer many distance competitions and was happy to have some strength left for todays sprint. Second placed Jonna Sundling takes her first Ski Tour 2020 podium and third placed Nadine Fähndrich celebrates her first Sprint World Cup podium ever.
Especially the first mens semi final was driven by the Norwegian crowd as five Norwegian skiers and Alexander Bolshunvo had their eyes set on the top spots. With Klæbo as pace maker, the heat was a fast one and the four Norwegians Klæbo, Golberg, Valnes and Krogh managed to qualify for the finals. Bolshunov was on the hunt, positioned in 3rd place before a unlucky fall just when turning into the final stretch. Emil Iversen and Åre sprints third placed Federico Pellegrino from Italy qualified for the finals in the second semi final heat.
Johannes Høsflot Klæbo takes the victory in front of his home crowd before Paal Golberg and Erik Valnes.
