Kerttu Niskanen stayed in the lead into the final stretch and skied to a well-deserved third place in the women’s 15 km classic mass start in Val di Fiemme. Victorious German Katharina Henning surprised the favorites in the final sprint.
– I feared at the beginning that no one would want to take the lead. I am amazed why Frida Karlsson and Katharina Henning did not set the pace together. All the work fell on me and I knew it would cost me dearly in the end, comments Niskanen to Yle.
In the final sprint, only the winner Henning and the Swede Frida Karlsson were stronger than Niskanen.
Anne Kyllönen fought her way up to eighth place.
Frida Karlsson (right), Katharina Henning (centre) and Kerttu Niskanen (right)
Image: Lehtikuva
cross-country skiing, Kerttu Niskanen, Frida Karlsson
Coach Jussi Piirainen was satisfied with the Finns’ performances.
– Without further ado, good efforts from both of them. The skiing went as planned, you had to maintain a high speed. Kerttu was clearly the competition’s most active skier, analyzes Piiranen.
Pärmäkoski’s stomach ailment increased the workload
The announcement that Krista Pärmäkoski was forced to leave the Tour de Ski due to illness put increasing pressure on Niskanen, who knew she had to fight for the top spots alone.
– I just tried to think about the overall tour today, my goal was to break away from those who are fighting for the same positions with me. If I had wanted to win today, I should have gone in a different way, Niskanen states.
Niskanen had to work hard in the lead with the competitors constantly close behind.
Image: Lehtikuva
cross-country skiing, Kerttu Niskanen
Karlsson leads the tour by 1.12 ahead of Norwegian Tiril Udnes Weng. Niskanen rises to third place in the overall tour, 25 seconds behind.
– It looks pretty good, it will be a tight fight. To achieve a second place requires a successful effort, the hill is different from what you are used to, says Piiranen before Sunday’s final competition.
The Tour will be decided on Sunday in Alpe Cermisi.
Tour de Ski – overall table after 6/7 stages
1. Frida Karlsson SWE 2.31.16
2. Tiril Udnes Weng NOR + 1.12
3. Kerttu Niskanen FIN + 1.37
4. Katharina Hennig GIVES + 2.00
5. Rosie Brennan USA + 2.28
6. Lotta Udnes Weng NOR + 2.37
7. Astrid Öyre Slind NOR + 3.03
8. Heidi Weng NOR + 3.47
9. Teresa Stadlober AUT + 3.51
10. Silje Theodorsen NOR + 4.57
…
14. Anne Kyllönen FIN + 5.14
The text updated at 14.55
