The Swedish cross-country skier Charlotte Kalla has won the first ski athlon of the Olympic season and thus extended her lead in the overall World Cup. The two-time Olympic champion won the World Cup in Lillehammer after 7.5 km in classic and free style with a lead of 19.7 seconds over the Norwegian Heidi Weng and celebrated her eleventh victory of the season.
Norway’s record world champion Marit Björgen (+54.3) had to settle for fourth place behind her compatriot Ragnhild Haga (+43.6).
The best German runner was the 36-year-old Stefanie Böhler (Ibach) in 20th place (+2:23.9 minutes). This means that no DSV athlete has even met part of the Olympic norm (once top eight or twice top 15). The best German distance runner Nicole Fessel (Oberstdorf) has not yet entered the season after health problems.
“With Steffi it was a step in the right direction. She needs a few matches to get to her level, she’s not 18 anymore. But of course, that’s not what we want to achieve,”said women’s coach Torstein Drivenes on ZDF.
Sandra Ringwald (Schonach), who had secured the best German result of the season so far with an 18th place sprint at the start in Kuusamo, was awarded 31st place (+2:30.7), Victoria Carl (Zella-Mehlis) in Lillehammer 24th (+2:59.2), Monique Siegel (Annaberg) in 38th (+3:18.5) and Katharina Hennig (Oberwiesenthal) in 42nd place.
“Katharina made a strong race up to the ski change and even fought for a top 10 position. Then she lost more than a minute when she changed skis. That was a real pity for them,”said Drivenes.