Johaug reports back at Lahti Ski Games
Jan 23, 2021·Cross-Country
The FIS Cross-Country family starts into the third period of the 2020/21 season at the 96th edition of the Lahti Ski Games (FIN). With the first scheduled Skiathlon competition of the season, the race will be the only comparison in Skiathlon before the upcoming World Ski Championships in Oberstdorf.
Back in business reported Therese Johaug (NOR). In routined manner, Johaug set out full speed right from the start line. In the first laps in Classic style, Johaug was closely chased by Ebba Andersson (SWE), Natalia Nepryaeva (RUS) and Tour de Ski winner Jessie Diggins (USA). In the third lap, Johaug set out and arrived at the ski exchange with a comfortable margin of 14 seconds.
Ebba Andersson had taken the pace setter role in the successor group after changing to Skate techniqe which Natalia Nepryaeva could not keep up and fell back. Instead, the Norwegian duo Helene Marie Fossesholm and Heidi Weng caught up with Andersson and Diggins. In the final lap, the 19-year young Fossesholm set out with the eyes on the second place and her first ever World Cup podium. The young Norwegian managed to defend her position and claims her maiden World Cup podium in her only 7th World Cup competition.
Heidi Weng completes the Norwegian podium, fighing closely with Ebba Andersson on the final stretch towards the finish line and comments her success shortly after the race: "It is fun to be back in the World Cup and to come back with this result. It is so good to see all the people of the Cross-Country family again".
