Cross-country skier Nicole Fessel (Oberstdorf) clearly missed the Olympic norm at her first start of the season on a distance course. On Sunday, the 34-year-old came in 24th place as the best German at the World Cup in Davos/Switzerland over 10 km freestyle. Fessel, 2014 in Sochi Olympic third place with the relay, had celebrated her personal season opener on Saturday with 48th place in the sprint.
Fessel had missed the first World Cup stages due to lack of training. In Davos she had won her last podium position in 2014 with second place in the 10 km free style.
Thus Sandra Ringwald (Schonach) remains the only German cross-country skier for the time being, who will be responsible for the Olympic Games in Pyeongchang (9. till 25. February) is qualified. She had finished seventh in the Davos Sprint. The standard requires either a place among the top eight or two in the top 15.
The victory on Sunday was secured by the Norwegian team sprint Olympic champion Ingvild Flugstad Ostberg ahead of her compatriot Ragnhild Haga (+5.9 seconds) and the Finnish Krista Pärmäkoski (+7.9 seconds). The lead in the overall World Cup was maintained by two-time Olympic champion Charlotte Kalla (Sweden/+26.8 seconds) with eighth place in the day’s standings.
Fessel was 1:25,8 minutes behind Ostberg. Katharina Hennig (Oberwiesenthal/+1:57.1 minutes) and Stefanie Böhler (Ibach/+1:57.5 minutes) finished in 38th and 39th place.