Sixth-time lucky for Weng with 10km win in Val Müstair

It was a very happy new year for overall World Cup leader Tiril Udnes Weng, who finally claimed her first tour win in a thrilling women’s 10km classic pursuit at Val Müstair, Switzerland on Sunday.

The 26-year-old Norwegian, who had secured five other World Cup podium finishes, including four this season, let out a cry of joy when crossing the line, after a four-way sprint for the finish with compatriot Anne Kjersti Kalvaa, Finland’s Kerttu Niskanen and Frida Karlsson of Sweden, who occupied the three podium places at the last World Cup 10km classic race in Beitostølen, Norway in December.

In clear sunshine on a tough 2.5km course that combined multiple climbs in the first half with a largely downhill second section, Tour de Ski leader Nadine Faehndrich was first through the starting gate after dominating Saturday’s sprints. But the Swiss skier soon had Tiril Udnes Weng and twin sister Lotta Udnes Weng as well as Karlsson and Kalvaa for company.

With Faehndrich dropping back, the leading group were eventually joined by Niskanen. The Olympic 10km silver medallist started down in 16th place but made up more than five seconds on the penultimate lap to hit the front for the first time at the 8.7km split.

She and 10km world silver medallist Karlsson seemed to have broken clear but the two Norwegians clearly had more glide in their skis on the final downhill section, making up more than 10 metres to set up a thrilling finale.

Despite Niskanen’s pedigree and Karlsson’s reputation as a strong finisher, Weng wasn’t to be denied, finishing just 0.4 and 0.6 seconds ahead of the Fin and the Swede respectively.

“It was so tough out there,” Weng, who now leads the Tour de Ski, admitted. “Frida [Karlsson] was going pretty fast – the downhills saved me today, I had some fast skis, so even if I gave [the leaders] a gap of five seconds, I felt I could make it up in the downhill sections.

“My plan was to do my best but I had it in my head ‘do not follow if it goes too fast’ because in the altitude it can be pretty hard if you get tired.”

Instead, it was Karlsson who did most of the front running. "I actually had as a tactic not to waste energy and just lie on the back for the first few laps," she said. "But then I heard people coming from behind and I thought it was stupid to let them in too easily, so I went up [to the front] anyway and kept a good pace."

Karlsson sits third in the overall World Cup standings and in the Tour de Ski, which continues in Oberstdorf, Germany on Tuesday.

Click here for the full results from Val Müstair.