Cross-country skier Carl solid - Swedes dominate
Olympic cross-country skiing champion Victoria Carl also achieved a decent result in the mass start one day after her respectable success in the individual start. The 28-year-old finished eighth in the 20-kilometer free technique event in Ruka, Finland.
Carl was only beaten by the world elite from Sweden, Norway and the USA. The day's victory went to Sweden's Ilar Moa, who beat the US duo Jessie Diggins and Rosie Brennan in the final sprint. Ebba Andersson finished fifth the day after her victory.
Hennig looks exhausted
Katharina Hennig was unable to keep up with the absolute world leaders this time, looking exhausted after the two races on Friday and Saturday. The Olympic champion was unable to finish higher than 27th. On Saturday, Hennig and Carl, who sensationally won gold together in the team sprint in Beijing 2022, finished fifth and sixth. "My goal was top six, and I achieved that. But I really struggled. I'm very pleased that I still came fifth," said Hennig.
Team-mate Carl felt the same way. "I'm super proud. I was able to play to my strengths tactically and technically. I'm super happy. Katha also did a great job," she said. Repeated snowfall and temperatures well below freezing made for a winter sports feeling in Finland. In contrast to the women, the cross-country men in Peter Schlickenrieder's team are not currently among the world's best.
Victoria Carl continued her impressive form in the World Cup, securing a top-8 finish in Nordic skiing's 20-kilometer free technique event at the Ruka World Cup, despite being challenged by the world's best skiers from Sweden, Norway, and the USA. In a different event, Carl and Katharina Hennig, who won gold together in the team sprint at Beijing 2022, finished fifth and sixth in the mass start, respectively.
Source: www.dpa.com
