German relay teams surprise in the Swedish ice cellar
The German cross-country relay teams are back at the top of the world and reminiscent of their World Championship successes. First, the women's team secured their first podium finish of the season, followed by the men. Their third place comes as a surprise after a weak performance at the start of the World Cup.
The German cross-country skiers caused a surprise in Sweden with their first relay podium since 2011. Janosch Brugger, Albert Kuchler, Friedrich Moch and final skier Anian Sossau finished third behind Norway and Sweden after 4x7.5 kilometers at the World Cup in icy Gällivare. It was their first podium since third place in Rybinsk in February 2011.
A few hours earlier, the German women's relay team had already stormed onto the World Cup podium for the first time in almost seven years. Laura Gimmler, Katharina Hennig, Pia Fink and Victoria Carl only had to admit defeat to hosts Sweden in second place. A bigger surprise, however, was the performance of the men's quartet. Kuchler, Brugger and Moch had already sensationally won bronze at the World Championships in March together with Jonas Dobler, who has since retired.
But the dry spell in the World Cup had lasted even longer - and now ended in double-digit temperatures below zero in Sweden. This was not to be expected after the previous performances in the World Cup. Sossau, who was called up as the final skier for the first time, took third place after a strong performance by his three teammates. The 23-year-old justified his line-up by defending his position with aplomb.
The German women had previously put in a similarly strong performance. Starting skier Gimmler initially handed over to Hennig in fifth place, a little behind, who fought her way into second place with a very strong performance. Fink dropped back a little before Carl overtook the USA and even attacked Sweden in the end - 13.5 seconds short of victory. After 15 wins in the last 16 races, world and Olympic champions Norway only managed fourth place.
It was the first German relay podium in the World Cup since second place in Ulricehamn, Sweden, in January 2017. The DSV team's second place at the beginning of February in Toblach, Italy, was subsequently disallowed due to a registration error. The last German relay victory dates back to March 2007.
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Source: www.ntv.de
