Sweden takes the stage at Sprint C in Val di Fiemme
Jan 09, 2021·Cross-Country
In the 7th and second last stage of the Tour de Ski 2020/21, the remaining athletes fought for the top positions in the Sprint C in Val di Fiemme (ITA). Today, the Swedish team took the stage with a podium sweep by Linn Svahn, Maja Dahlqvist and Emma Ribom on her first World Cup podium as well as the maiden World Cup podium and victory for Oskar Svensson. Second and third placed Gleb Retivykh and Alexander Bolshunov from Russia gave a big boost in the final stretch but lost the victory by 0.24 and 0.32 seconds.
Linn Svahn knew that today was her time to challenge the Tour standing and that she needed to go all in. After winning the first stage of the Tour de Ski 2020/21 in the Sprint F in Val Müstair (SUI), she knew her chances. Qualifying with the fastest time, Svahn kept top position throughout all heats on the hilly Sprint course of Val di Fiemme. The 21-year old breaks the record and becomes the first woman to win multiple Sprint stages in one Tour de Ski before her 23rd birthday.
Second ranked Maja Dahlqvist returns to the podium after her 2nd rank in the World Cup opener in Ruka and leaves space for third ranked Emma Ribom who celebrates her maiden World Cup podium.
The men’s competition
The men's competition was struck by tactical moves in one particular final high point before heading into the downhill towards the finish. Oskar Svensson took a leap of faith in the decisive moment in the finals, clearing him the stage for his maiden World Cup victory.
Despite a strong competitor field, the successors did not manage to find the ideal line and catch up with the Swede until the finish line. Gleb Retivykh misses the victory by 0.24 seconds and Alexander Bolshunov by 0.32 seconds. To fourth position races Italian favourite Federico Pellegrino, missing the podium by only 0.38 seconds before Valentin Chauvin 0.06 seconds behind.
With a margin of 54 seconds, current Tour de Ski leader Jessie Diggins (USA) heads into the final stage of the Tour to the FINAL CLIMB to Alpe Cermis before Yulia Stupak (RUS). Krista Pärmäkoski (FIN) will have to catch up a 1:51 minute gap to ensure the prestigious victoory. Click here for the current Tour de Ski standing (women).
In the men's FINAL CLIMB to Alpe Cermis, Alexander Bolshunov has a more comfortable margin of 3:22 minutes to defend his Tour de Ski winning title from last year before Maurice Manificat from France. Within 25 seconds, the Russian trio of Yakimushkin, Maltsev and Spitsov will be on the hunt for the remaining podium spots of the Overall Tour ranking. Click here for the current Tour de Ski standing (men).
