The Swedish female skiers had a difficult day in Östersund. Eveliina Piippo returned to the race tracks.
of the United States Jessie Diggins took his mental journey in an overwhelming way in the ten kilometer free time trial in Östersund, Sweden. The experienced and versatile skier won the race in a snowdrift with a difference of 23 seconds before Norway’s runner-up Heidi Weng.
Diggins, who is clearly better in freestyle skiing, skied to the world championship for that distance at last winter’s World Championships in Planica.
Third place went to Germany Victoria Carl, for whom the top scorer was the third in his career. The race was close to a giant surprise, because the French youngster Flora Dolci was stuck in third place for a long time.
Before today, Dolci had been at best ninth in the World Cup. He ended up fourth.
The Swedes had a difficult day as a whole. Brilliant from the beginning Ebba Andersson only fell to ninth and another star Frida Karlsson even worse for 23rd place.
Kerttu Niskanen was the best Finn by 11 minutes and 14 seconds, losing to Diggins. Opened its racing season Eveliina Piippo was a promising 16th defeating the Swedish stars Moa Ilarin and Karlsson.
Ilar won the free co-start competition held in Ruka.
Niskanen returned to his starting point
Before the competition, Piippo had set himself the goal of placing in the top 20. Otherwise, he will train until March.
Piipo had training challenges in the fall, which is why the opening of the competition season has been postponed.
– Time was tight. It came just and right. However, it was nothing compared to what autumn has been like. It has been boring to watch the games on TV, Piippo stated on Viaplay.
Piippo will compete next weekend in Trondheim, Norway. The traditional way of skiing is done there.
– I bet there will be quite a fight when you see the tasurer. I don’t really have any expectations when you put your butt’s skis under it.
Kerttu Niskanen was the last to go on the track. He resented the circumstances.
– Now it was bad luck. The road got worse during the race. The weather was completely different in the first and second rounds. The starting point is incredibly sad.
– I don’t understand why there was no track patrol. On top of that, the weather is annoying.
1. Jessica Diggins USA 27.05,6
2. Heidi Weng NOR + 23.0
3. Victoria Carl GER + 29.1
4. Flora Dolci FRA + 32.3
5. Rosie Brennan USA + 47.5
6. Delphine Claudel FRA + 50.0
7. Anne Kjersti Kalvå NOR + 56.8
8. Sophia Laukli USA + 59.7
9. Ebba Andersson SWE +1.01,7
10. Emma Ribom SWE +1.09,4
11. Kerttu Niskanen FIN +1.14,6
16. Eveliina Piippo FIN +1.23,2
40. Johanna Matintalo FIN +2.49.2
43. Anne Kyllönen FIN +3.05,2
47. Tiia Olkkonen FIN +3.27,5
Updated 15.15: Added comments to the article.