The world elite in cross-country skiing are honing their nascent World Cup form in Toblach this weekend. The freestyle sprint kicks off the World Cup weekend in the Italian Alps.
The importance of today’s competition should not be underestimated, even if the WC sprint in Planica is run in classic style. The Genre rope in Toblach can have a big impact on the skiers’ confidence.
At 12.55 World Cup in cross-country skiing, sprint qualifying, freestyle
Finland, ladies: 7 Jasmi Joensuu, 24 Kerttu Niskanen, 35 Maaret Pajunoja, 47 Tiia Olkkonen.
Finland, gentlemen: 28 Niilo Moilanen, 30 Joni Mäki, 32 Juuso Haarala, 40 Lauri Lepistö, 41 Verneri Poikonen, 47 Verneri Suhonen.
Commentator: Chriso Vuojärvi
Blue-yellow on the women’s side?
Sweden has a sprint width on the women’s side that the other nations can only dream of. The Olympic champion Jonna Sundling made a comeback a couple of weeks ago in Livigno and won immediately. Linn Svahn has also looked sharp since returning from shoulder surgery. Emma Ribom, Maja Dahlqvist and Johanna Hagström are also among the biggest favorites today.
The sharpest freestyle sprinter of the winter so far is still Nadine Fähndrich. She has won two of the four freestyle World Cup competitions she has competed in.
Tiril Udnes Weng returns to the World Cup circus in Toblach. She has been cranky and missed the last two weekends. She is probably Norway’s sharpest card in the absence of Kristine Stavå’s Skistad.
Among the contenders we can also count the US duo Jessie Diggins and Julia Kern. Diggin’s form has faltered a bit this winter but her capacity is sky high. Kern, in turn, has taken a step forward on the development curve and may well be the best American skater again.
Does the sprint king take revenge?
Johannes Høsflot Klæbo surprisingly got the sweet bump from Frenchman Richard Jouve in the sprint in Les Rousses last week. Klæbo has not been as superior in sprints this season as many times before, but on the other hand he has progressed as a distance runner. The superb victory at the Tour de Ski and the win at the two-mile in Les Rousses are proof enough.
But trust that Klæbo wants revenge for the defeat against Jouve today.
Can Klæbo stand on the highest podium today?
Image: IMAGO/Nordphoto/All Over Press
cross-country skiing, Johannes Høsflot Klæbo
In addition to Jouve, Federico Pellegrino has also had the Norwegian fall in a sprint this winter. Pellegrino is of course a hot winner candidate as he plays on home ground.
Jouve’s teammate Lucas Chanavat is also a strong final candidate. Like the season’s big sprint sensation, Sweden’s great talent Edvin Anger.
Freestyle sprint not the Finns’ favorite event
Only four Finnish ladies are competing. In advance, the strongest of them is Jasmi Joensuu.
Joensuu has twice in her career made it to the semi-finals in a freestyle sprint and she also had a chance at it in Val Müstair this winter but had to settle for 13th place. If she secures a place among the top twelve today, it is a sign that her WC form is approaching.
On the men’s side, all eyes are on Joni Mäki and Niilo Moilanen. Mäki was fourth in the freestyle sprint at the Olympics in Beijing, but hasn’t quite got it in skate this winter. Niilo Moilanen, just like Mäki, picked up his best World Cup position of the season in classic sprint in Beitostølen, but the former junior world champion’s capacity is also sky high in freestyle.
At 15.25 World Cup in cross-country skiing, sprint, freestyle
Commentator: Chriso Vuojärvi
