Double delight for Sweden’s new cross-country queen Karlsson

Less than a year after the international retirement of Charlotte Kalla, Sweden has a new cross-country skiing star.

Frida Karlsson’s win in the 20km freestyle pursuit in Oberstdorf, Germany on Wednesday – her second in as many days after her 10km classic success on Tuesday – not only extended the 23-year-old’s lead in the 2022-23 Tour de Ski but also enabled her to leapfrog Jessie Diggins into second place in the overall World Cup standings – albeit still some way behind the consistent Norwegian, Tiril Udnes Weng.

Diggins did manage to limit the damage somewhat. Following a tough start to the Tour, the US skier climbed from 40th to 8th in Wednesday’s race to sit third overall in the World Cup standings.

After the tactics in the morning’s men’s race played into the hands of Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo, the women’s 20km was never likely to be a sprint for the finish and, by the third lap, Karlsson’s 16-second lead had been eaten up by the chasing group of Weng, compatriot Anne Kjersti Kalvaa and Finland’s Krista Parmakoski.

“I was a bit tired in the beginning,” admitted Karlsson, “but then they came and helped me hold the speed.”

With the chasing pack more than a minute behind for most of the race, it was Parmakoski – a four-time Olympic medallist in distance races and runner-up to Karlsson on Saturday – who did most of the work, with the three other leaders reluctant to make the running.

The succession of big climbs coming out of the stadium section proved decisive, with Kalvaa starting to drop back at the start of the fourth loop and Udnes Weng doing likewise one lap later.

Then, around the 18km mark, Karlsson – who has yet to complete a Tour de Ski – caught Parmakoski napping, opening up an 11-second gap by the final split. The smiling Swede eventually won by 14.1 seconds, punching the air with delight as she crossed the line.

“Today was really good,” Karlsson said. “And in the finish I felt strong. The 20km suits me.

“For the rest of the tour, I just want to take it step by step and keep doing my best. [The yellow bib] feels good and I know that I can go well in the classic sprint [on Friday] so I’m looking forward to it.”

Parmakoski is now fourth in both the overall World Cup standings and the Tour de Ski.

The five-time Olympic medallist said: “I am satisfied. I’ve had two good races so I’m happy. It’s quite a tactical track so it’s nice to compete here.

“We leave for Italy today by car so it’s important to have enough rest and food ahead of some tough races the day after tomorrow.”

Karlsson takes a lead of 1 minute 28 seconds into the next stage of the Tour de Ski in Val di Fiemme, Italy, with just 27 seconds separating the next four skiers.

Click here for the full results from Oberstdorf.