Launching the New Year with stage 4 of Tour de Ski
Jan 01, 2022·Cross-Country
The FIS Cross-Country family headed into 2022 with a Sprint in Classic technique in Oberstdorf (GER). With the fourth stage, already the second half of the COOP FIS Tour de Ski performance by Le Gruyère 2021/22 was launched. The exciting but tough Sprint course of Oberstdorf ensured tight fights for the top spots.
Women’s Sprint C
With Natalia Nepryaeva, an experienced Sprinter reported back to the podium. The Russian skier, who had to limit her World Cup racing last season after the fracture of two fingers, was thrilled to be back in the top positions. No way led past the 26 year-old today as she won every heat.
After a crash between Frida Karlsson and Jessie Diggins in the first heat, the two contenders for the Overall Tour lead were set back massively. For the move, caused by Karlsson, she was “ranked as last” - a sanction that comes with a yellow card. As this was the second yellow card for the athlete, she received a disqualification. The regulation for a DSQ during the Tour de Ski is that the athlete receives a 3 minute time penalty, so she or he can continue the Tour.
Nevertheless, this situation left no chances for Diggins to defend her Tour lead. So the yellow Tour de Ski leader bib as well as the Tour de Ski Point standing lead went to Natalia Nepryaeva.
The second place – for the second time this season – went to Swedish Sprint rocket Johanna Hagström. Chasing the second fastest time in the qualification, the 23 year-old managed to claim the last spot for the finals as the “lucky looser” position of the semi-finals. She would however not let go of her contenders heels and was took the second rank after a great finish Sprint.
Johanna Matintalo from Finland was ready to set a milestone to her career. After setting the fastest time in the prologue, the 25 year-old stated that today’s task of staying out of trouble throughout the heats will not be easy but that she feels ready to give it all. Indeed, Matintalo confidently paced through the heats and qualified in top positions for the finals. When Nepryaeva and Hagström pulled away in the final downhill however, Johanna could not close the gap. Nevertheless, the Finn celebrates her maiden World Cup podium with todays third rank.
Men’s Sprint
The man in yellow remained today’s pace setter during the Sprint in Classic technique. Johannes Høsflot Klæbo was on fire and raced up front from the qualification to the finals. The Norwegian who had specialized his “Klæbo step” at steep major climbs could make good use in the final Egli hill on the course, that had already become one major decisive point of attack during last years World Ski Championships in Oberstdorf.
In the meantime, many athletes have copied the move and remained on the heels of the 25 year-old.
Throughout the quarter final to the final, Erik Valnes held the second position behind Klæbo. Five of Valnes’ previous seven World Cup podiums came in Sprint Classic and naturally, the 25 year-old was one of the favourites today. In second place, Valnes catapults himself to the 4th position in the Overall Tour de Ski standing.
To complete the Norwegian podium strike, Paal Golberg took the last remaining spot. However, his decisive move awaited him at the finish line where he had to launch for the podium. In a chilling photo finish, Golberg’s stretch on the podium was worth 0.04 seconds before fourth ranked Even Northug.
