Sprint, Mass Start and Final Climb for a three-day show in Val di Fiemme (Italy)
OC Fiemme Ski World Cup ready for Tour de Ski last stage
First impressions from the pre-season event in Muonio (FIN)
Norway confirms as the best, Germany surprises
About 50 days to enter the most interesting phase of Tour de Ski. Val di Fiemme and OC Fiemme Ski World Cup call for World Cup cross-country skiing stars to show up during the ending three days of the 17th Tour de Ski, from 6th to 8th January. First act at the Cross Country Stadium in Lago di Tesero with a 1.2 km CT Sprint, on the soft ascents “Valena” and “Pojer”; on Saturday, 15 km CT Mass Start also along “Zorzi” ascent, named by the area’s owners, and the popular “Brink”, named after the Swedish athlete Jörgen Brink during a difficult trial at the World Championships 2003. Final Climb on Sunday represents a “brand”, with the traditional 10 km FT starting from the Cross Country Stadium in Lago di Tesero and ending on Alpe Cermis, taking skiers to climb on “the edge”.
World Cup season is coming soon and last weekend in Muonio (FIN) took place a three-day of FIS competitions, open to World Cup and Ski Classics athletes. Skiers had the possibility to get an idea of the average level among teams, looking forward to the first WC stage in Ruka, on November 25th. A surprising Germany took over the 10 km CT thanks to a brilliant performance by Katharina Hennig, Olympic gold medal in Beijing 2022 with her team, and 10 km FT with Victoria Carl, able to give home-star Kerttu Niskanen 21’’. The German team sent clear messages among men too, with the young Friedrich Moch in the 15 km, able to keep away Iivo Niskanen, Olympic gold in Beijing 2022.
If on one hand Germany was the surprise, Norway was a confirmation. Double Sprint victory with Anna Svendsen and Even Northug – Petter’s brother – and with a Top5 in the 10 CT won by Simen Hegstad Krüger, 30 km Olympic bronze in Beijing 2022, followed by his compatriots Golberg, Nyenget, Toenseth and Stock.
As far as today, the most eligible countries are Norway, Germany and Finland…but who knows, with Russia out, the game is as afoot as ever.
© Newspower
