Favourites fire in first of season’s Team Sprints in Davos
Dec 13, 2024·Cross-Country
The first Team Sprints of the FIS Cross-Country World Cup season went very much to script as the big-name pairs of Sweden’s women and Norway’s men cruised to victory under Friday night lights in Davos, Switzerland.
Beneath clear skies and with a full moon helping to illuminate the mile-high resort, the competitors each skied two laps of the 750m circuit individually in qualifying with their combined times deciding their starting positions in the 15-team finals.
The women were out first with the all-star Sweden 1 line-up of Emma Ribom and Jonna Sundling – world champions when they combined in Planica, Slovenia in 2023 – expected to dominate.
And so it proved, as they finished 2.72 seconds ahead of the rest in qualifying to secure their place in the centre of the front row for the final.
With Sweden 2 fielding an inexperienced pair in the absence of Frida Karlsson, Johanna Hagstroem, Maja Dahlqvist and last season’s individual sprint champion Linn Svahn, the door was open for other teams to grab a place on the podium.
Unlike in individual qualifying, the highest-ranked skiers went out first meaning, in theory, that they would be well rested for the final, which would be raced over 12 laps with a changeover every two laps.
Sweden’s powerhouse pair were always near the front – a wise move in a freestyle race when the splayed position of the skies means staying out of trouble is key, particularly on a Davos loop that ends with a fast right-hand corner coming out of the second of two downhills.
By the time they reached this point on the final lap, Sweden 1 had a lead of more than ten metres, thanks largely to Sundling’s burst on the final climb. The individual Olympic and world sprint champion crossed the line 3.77 seconds clear of the field in a time of 15 minutes, 54.31s to leave the rest fighting for second place.
And a fight it most certainly was. Kristin Austgulen Foesnes managed to overhaul home favorite and sprint specialist Nadine Faehndrich on the final straight to give Norway second place ahead of Switzerland 1. Both seemed delighted with their podium finishes.
Not as delighted as Sweden 1, though.
“We had a good time out there,” Ribom said of her first podium of the season. “It was super fun but the high altitude is definitely tough.
Sundling added: “Our plan was to go and have fun and ski good. We haven’t decided how we are going to celebrate yet, but maybe with some good food?”
Of skiing with one of her best friends, Ribom said: “It’s super cool to ski with Jonna, she’s a great teammate.”
Klaebo the difference as Norway 1 dominate men’s race
The Davos course had firmed up by the time the men’s final began, with the icy corners providing added jeopardy.
Sprint legend Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo again paired up with Paal Golberg with whom he won gold for Norway at the 2023 world championships; the two also won last season’s only FIS World Cup Team Sprint, in Lahti, Finland.
The two qualified third fastest for the final – behind Switzerland 1 and USA 1 – but made most of the running in the final, with Italy 1 and two strong French teams – despite the absence of Lucas Chanavat – also in contention.
Klaebo often likes to sit in second place, ominously biding his time. He occasionally upped the pace, only to slow down as he hit the front – almost like he was toying with the field.
Finally, he made his move, a devastating burst at the start of the last lap quickly putting daylight between Norway 1 and the rest of the field. By the top of the final hill, the lead was five metres. As he came round the final bend, it was ten. He eventually slowed down to salute the crowd, finishing 1.75 seconds ahead of the field in a time of 14:00.54.
As in the women’s race, the real fight was for second place. Valerio Grond sent the crowd home happy by holding on for second place, Switzerland’s second podium of the day. A late burst from Edvin Anger gave Sweden 1 third place in a photo finish ahead of Federico Pellegrino of Italy 1.
“This was really cool,” Golberg, who has endured a tough start to the season, said. “Davos has been a bad venue for me – eighth place was my best in 13 years of racing here – so this was the time to get on the podium.
Klaebo, on the other hand, has made the Swiss venue a home away from home, with four sprint victories here. “It was amazing,” he said. “I always like to come back here to Davos, and to be able to do the Team Sprint on Friday evening with all the spectators and everything, it was amazing.”
And while Golberg laughed he would watch Saturday’s individual Sprint Freestyle on television, Klaebo said he would try to compete “one more time, and see how it goes” before deciding on Sunday’s 20km Classic.
