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Sweden and Norway achieve clean sweep victories in FIS Cross-Country Sprint Classic in Oberhof
Linn Svahn secured a Sweden 1-2-3 in the women’s event, while Erik Valnes led a Norwegian top four in Germany. The Norwegian dominance continued in the men’s event, with Erik Valnes taking the top spot on the podium, solidifying his hold on the red bib. The women’s podium also featured Frida Karlsson and Jonna Sundling from Sweden, with Karlsson finishing just 0.33 seconds behind Svahn.
Sweden dominated the FIS cross-country women’s sprint classic finals in Oberhof, with Linn Svahn clinching victory in a time of 3:04.05. In the men’s event, Norway replicated the success, securing the top four positions, and Erik Valnes claimed the top spot, reinforcing his hold on the red bib.
Svahn was accompanied on the podium by her compatriots Frida Karlsson and Jonna Sundling, with Karlsson finishing just 0.33 seconds behind Svahn. Sundling crossed the line 2.06 seconds later, maintaining a significant lead over the nearest non-Swedish contender, Kristine Stavaas Skistad of Norway.
Laura Gimmler of Germany finished fifth, while world silver medallist Emma Ribom missed the top four, finishing 14.19 seconds off the pace. Despite posting the fifth-fastest time across both semi-finals, overall cross-country World Cup leader Jessie Diggins of the US failed to advance to the finals.
Diggins narrowly missed securing a lucky loser spot by only 0.93 seconds, allowing second-placed Svahn to reduce the gap in the overall standings to 268 points. Meanwhile, Svahn extended her lead in the sprint World Cup to 57 points.
In the men’s event, Valnes sprinted to victory, narrowly surpassing teammate Ansgar Evensen with a time of 2:42.75. Even Northug completed the podium.
Harald Oestberg Amundsen led the final at the halfway mark, but the overall World Cup leader couldn’t match the pace of the top three, finishing in fourth place. Switzerland’s Valerio Grond trailed by 6.74 seconds, missing out on his first World Cup podium, while Ben Ogden of the USA came in last in the final. Valnes has expanded his sprint World Cup lead to 62 points, as his closest competitor, fellow Norwegian Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo, only managed seventh. The action in Oberhof continues with the 20km mass start classic on Saturday and the men’s and women’s relays on Sunday.
