Front-runner Frida brings the fun to take yellow bib
Jan 03, 2023·Cross-Country
Frida Karlsson made good on her pre-race promise to go out hard to win the women’s 10km classic in Oberstdorf, Germany on Tuesday and claim the yellow bib as the new leader of cross-country skiing’s Tour de Ski.
It was the consistent Swede’s third victory and sixth podium finish of the World Cup season and she should be confident going into Wednesday freestyle pursuit over 20km – the distance at which her two other victories have been achieved.
“I’m excited for tomorrow,” the 23-year-old admitted. “I felt good so it was fun today.”
The 38th woman out of the starting gate, Karlsson’s tactics were clear – she went more than a second faster than anyone else over the first 500 metres and never looked back. By lap two she has opened up a lead of almost ten seconds; by lap three it was more than 20 seconds.
With enough bonus points secured, she could afford to ease off slightly towards the finish, which is more than can be said for Krista Parmakoski – Finland’s Olympic bronze medallist lunged for the line and collapsed in a heap some 16.6 seconds behind in second place, 1.5 seconds ahead of Anne Kjersti Kalvaa (NOR). The 30-year-old, who has had to wait until this season for her first podium finish, now has two, and has moved up to second in the Tour de Ski rankings.
“After Covid-19, it’s really fun to have people here in Oberstdorf and they’re making a lot of noise,” Kalvaa said. “Even though today is really bad conditions, the organisers have made really good conditions. I like it here.”
Another Norwegian, Tiril Udnes Weng, retains her overall World Cup lead after finishing fourth – for the fifth time this season – following her maiden tour victory on Sunday. Second-placed Jess Diggins (USA) continued her poor run of form since winning the 20k freestyle in Davos, Switzerland only two weeks ago, finishing down in 40th position.
Click here for the full results from Oberstdorf.
