Svahn-inspired Swedes secure mixed relay 1-2 in Goms

Sweden’s women proved their sprint supremacy to lead their country to a 1-2 in the 4x 5km Mixed Team Relay in Goms on Friday.

With Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo(NOR) and Kristine Stavaas Skistad (NOR), among others, absent from the two Norwegian quartets, this was a golden opportunity for Sweden to close the gap on Norway – who led by more than 1000 points – in the Nations Cup rankings. But in truth, even if all of Norway’s stars had been present, with the world’s form sprinter Linn Svahn (SWE) on the final leg, Sweden 1 would have taken some beating. And so it proved…

This was the only FIS Cross-Country Skiing World Cup mixed relay of the season but with so many variables at play, it was always likely to be a memorable one.

With temperatures well above freezing, the skiers opted for the stickiest of waxes on their skies for maximum grip. But it didn’t stop the course claiming several fallers and one disqualification as the racers struggled to main control coming out of the 55km/h downhill sections and into the tight turns.

A course of several sharp climbs and descents, the Goms layout consisted of two separate 2.5km loops with each racer – alternating men’s-women’s-men’s women’s – skiing the first using the classic technique and the second in freestyle.

Tactics were also key, with Norway’s team manager admitting beforehand that the strength of Sweden’s women put pressure on the Norwegian men to force the pace. Even with Norway’s incredible strength in depth, though, this wouldn’t be easy in the absence of Klaebo, Pal Golberg and recent Tour de Ski winner Harald Oestberg Amundsen.

Martin Loewstroem Nyenget (Norway 1) and Mattis Stenshagen (2) did their best, opening up nearly a 10-second gap on Sweden 2 after the first leg.

William Poromaa of Sweden 1 was 15 seconds back. “It was tough,” he admitted. “The first lap, I had a great feeling, but the second lap … I tried to keep up. But the other guys on our team were strong.”

It was certainly the case with Frida Karlsson (SWE) on leg two. A much-improved sprinter, the 24-year-old clawed back nearly 10 seconds in the first half a kilometre and was in the lead entering her freestyle lap. She stretched her advantage to five seconds over the two Norwegian teams before handing over to Jens Burman (SWE). “I was happy I could give him a good position,” Karlsson said.

Karlsson’s sprint improvement continues

Back came Norway, though, with Jan Thomas Jenssen (NOR) giving their second team a 4.5-second lead over Sweden 2 at the final changeover, just ahead of Norway 1 with Sweden 1 in fourth, 17.2 seconds behind.

But working together with distance specialist Krista Parmakoski (FIN), Svahn reduced the gap to just four seconds within one kilometre. Entering the final 2.5-km freestyle lap, just three seconds separated the top five.

Continuing her comeback from injury, a fully fit and firing Tiril Udnes Weng (Norway 1) – last season’s World Cup winner – might have pushed Svahn close. But the resurgent Swede – back at the top after two injury-ravaged seasons – was merely biding her time.

A short burst into the final climb and she was away, opening up a nine-second lead in the blink of an eye, even managing to cruise through the stadium section and across the line to be greeted by her jubilant Sweden 1 teammates, 8.3 seconds ahead of Sweden 2, who pipped Norway 1 at the line.

The rain came pouring down in the Goms Valley at the end of the race but clear blue skies are expected for Saturday’s men’s and women’s sprints.

In the Nations Cup standings, meanwhile, Sweden cut Norway’s lead to what still looks like an unassailable 963 points. The USA failed to finish on Friday, leaving them even further back in third.

Click here for the full results from Goms