Erik Valnes: the Norwegian ahead of everyone in the 15 km in classic
The Swedish Svahn at her third success in this Tour de Ski
On the virtual women’s podium Diggins, Sundling and Karlsson
Norway monopolizes the podium of the Tour. Tomorrow the Final Climb

Saturday - She spent the race with a low profile, but always in the first positions of the group of the bests, Linn Svahn (SWE) who, today in the last 100 metres of the 15 km in classic in Val di Fiemme, competition of the Tour de Ski, launched herself in a real sprint at the end of which she came out as the winner. After the victories in the two sprints of Dobbiaco and Davos, the Swedish centres the success in the distance.

At the Cross-country Stadium of Lago di Tesero, Svahn “makes fun” at the last minute of her compatriot Frida Karlsson, author of a superb race but has to settle for second place (+0.4 of gap). She still gets her fill of bonus points passing ahead of everyone at the 2.3 km and the 8.5 km. “It’s been a peculiar race, with difficult weather conditions. I feel good and was able to keep the high pace set by Frida and at the end…I know how to sprint”, says the winner Svahn, and Karlsson replies: “I had fun and for a moment I thought I could win. When I saw Linn getting near me I understood that she would have won, but I’m happy, I know how much she’s worth and the important is that I feel good”.

Completing the podium is the German Katharina Hennig; while the American Jessie Diggins ends 8th but still leads the Tour ranking. Behind her in the overall, the Swedish Jonna Sundling, wood medallist in the 15 km of today and separated with 43” from the first position. A second behind and so third on the virtual podium is Frida Karlsson who defends the Tour title and has pulled the group of the bests for the most part of the race, always staying in the firsts positions accompanied by the German Hennig and Carl (Victoria, 7th at the finish line).

In the men’s race, instead, it is the Norwegian Erik Valnes the winner of the 15 km in classic technique in Val di Fiemme. He triumphed at the finish line under a snowfall that accompanied the whole race, whitening even more the Olympic valley that this weekend hosts the finals of the 18th Tour de Ski.

The always-united group of athletes started at 3.25 pm with just the French Lucas Chanavat, the sprinter who wears the silver bib of the points ranking leader, which lost “drastically” contact. The race is decided in the final, when the men in the first positions hit the gas and started at full force. At the end Erik Valnes (NOR) precede at the finish line a wild William Poromaa (SWE) and an even wilder and very active Cyril Faehndrich (SUI). Sixth at the finish line Harald Oestberg Amundsen with his shiny golden bib, with the leader of the ranking who handled his advantage and controlled the race always leading the group.

The overall ranking of the Tour de Ski at just one race of distance from the assignment of the title speaks Norwegian: on the virtual podium “the three Wise Men” from Norway Amundsen, Valnes and Nyenget.

Tomorrow the Final Climb on Alpe Cermis, start at 2.30pm for the men and at 3.45pm for women.

© Newspower