Sprint superstars ensure a grand show at Davos Nordic
Dec 11, 2021·Cross-Country
A full line up was ready to tackle todays Sprint in Free technique at Davos Nordic (SUI). The contenders did not leave anything on the course as already in the quarter finals, each heat had to fight until the very last stretch to ensure the best options to proceed into the next round. For the finals, it was then the grand meet-up of the current Sprint superstars.
With Johannes Høsflot Klæbo from Norway, the current Overall World Cup leader was ready for a face-off with his top contenders. Along with the 25 year-old Norwegian superstar, it was Sergey Ustiugov who paced throughout the heats. Right from the quarter finals, Klæbo and Ustiugov remained on each other’s side and chased after each other in the two laps around the “Bünda” stadium in Davos. In the semi-finals, Richard Jouve from France joined the Sprint stars for a thrilling heat.
On the steady Sprint course, only a few cm decided on the composition for the finals.
Along with Ustiugov, Klæbo, Jouve and Erik Valnes (NOR), Lucas Chanavat (FRA) and Even Northug (NOR) joined the final round.
Chanavat took the lead in the first lap but a very strong Ustiugov constantly remained on his heels. Despite a small margin and smooth skiing in the first lap, Chanavat could not keep his position and was overtaken by Ustiugov and Klaebo, who swooshed up from behind with some fantastic skis on their feet. At the decisive final turn into the finish stretch, Klæbo took the pole position and crossed the finish line before Ustiugov. With a final leap, Richard Jouve ensured his place on the podium before Valnes, Northug and Chanavat.
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