Swiss home hero Fähndrich claims second consecutive sprint victory

Switzerland's Nadine Fähndrich showed that last weekend's sprint victory was no fluke as she repeated the feat on home soil, claiming the first place in Saturday's women's sprint free final at the Coop FIS Cross-Country World Cup at Davos, Switzerland.

The 27-year-old, who won the classic sprint at Beitostølen, Norway, eight days ago, continued showing fine form as she beat USA's runner-up Jessie Diggins and Sweden's Johanna Hagström, who finished third, to earn her second World Cup top spot this season.

"It's very nice to win here, in front of a home crowd it is especially nice," Fähndrich said after celebrating her victory with the Swiss fans.

The win also meant redemption for having finished second in the Davos sprint last season.

"Today I'm a little bit tired, it's very hard in the altitude, but I could manage it very well."

Overall World Cup leader Tiril Udnes Weng, who is also the highest ranked sprinter this season, took charge of the final and looked determined to make up for last week's fourth-place. The Norwegian had showed strength all day and stayed in front for most of the race but never managed to break away from the other skiers.

Fähndrich, however, had got the best qualification time and had been unbeatable in the quarter- and semifinal. Coming into the last climb, she went past Weng. Cheered-on by the home crowd, the Swiss sprint specialist kept her position in the front until the finish line.

"I had so tired legs, I had the feeling I could not move, but I just thought 'just go on to the finish line, to the finish line'," Fähndrich said.

"I tried to keep energy until the final and until the last uphill and it worked out."

Overall No.2, Diggins, came into the last turn placed fourth but claimed the second-place after a strong sprint, 0.24 seconds behind the Swiss winner. Hagström, who had stayed in the front pack for the whole race, finished third as Weng had to settle for another fourth place.

"It was amazing," 24-year-old Hagström said.

"Amazing weather, amazing audience and I really enjoyed it. Today I had a mission that I would just enjoy the atmosphere, ski all that I could and be really tired at the finish. And I really was."

Click here for full results of the women’s sprint free final.