Johannes Kläbo has won all Tour de Ski races so far. Perttu Hyvärinen, who reached 15th place on Saturday, is not looking forward to the final climb of Alpe Cermis.
Joel Sippola,
Laura Arffman
7.1. 16:10•Updated 7.1. 16:28
Six races, six wins. Johannes Kläbo has been on an unstoppable streak at this year’s Tour de Ski.
On Saturday, at the traditional joint start of the 15-kilometer Val di Fiemme, the Norwegian star decided the game in his true fashion on the final stretch. The other was from Norway Paul Golberg before Italy made a small surprise Francesco de Fabiania. The bigger surprise was the Canadian who finished fourth Antoine Cyrwho missed the podium by only one hundredth.
– De Fabiani has always been strong here. He showed again that this is his journey, Urheilu’s commentator Toni Roponen analyzes the Italian’s third place.
Despite his victory, Kläbo was only able to increase his lead by four seconds to Sweden (1.02), who is second to Calle Halfvarsson. Golberg is third in the Tour, one minute and 14 seconds behind Kläbo.
Kläbo will start the final stage of the Tour on Sunday as a big favorite to win, but there will probably be a tough competition for second place. The ascent of Alpe Cermis is generally well skied in Norway Simen Hegstad Krüger is fifth, 43 seconds behind Calfvarsson. Norwegian Hans Crister Holund is 17 seconds behind Krüger.
– Both Kruger and Holund can get into the top three. At their best, they are so much better climbers than Calle, Golberg and Federico Pellegrino. An interesting setup for tomorrow, predicts Roponen.
“Don’t tell competitors”
Perttu Hyvärinen was 15th as the best Finn. He rose three places to 19th place in the overall race.
– Don’t tell the other partners, but I’m starting to get pretty tired. We took everything we could get away with. It’s not a wedding place, but a small time difference to the bow.
– I’m still not as good as I was at my best. It was a tired body, but the maintenance went really well today.
What enthusiasm for the final ascent?
– It’s not nice at all. On top of that, I hate it. When it became a joint start, during the first 2.5 kilometers it is a rush to get a good place in the tube. No overtaking at all on the long straight. It is also of great importance from which settings you can take off.
1) Johannes Hösflot Kläbo Norway 39.59,2
2) Pål Golberg Norway -0.4
3) Francesco de Fabiania Italy -1,2
4) Antoine Cyr Canada -1.3
5) Calle Halfvarsson Sweden -1.6
6) William Poromaa Sweden -1.9
7) Simen Hegstad Krüger Norway -2.1,
8) Didrik Tönseth Norway -3.1
9) Hans Christer Holund Norway -3.6
10) Federico Pellegrino Italy -4.7
15) Perttu Hyvärinen Finland -11.1
26) Markus Vuorela Finland -34.2
1) Kläbo 2.12.23
2) Halfvarsson -1.02
3) Golberg -1.14
4) Pellegrino 1.27
5) Kruger -1.45
6) Holund -2.02
20) Hyvärinen -3.34,
29) Vuorela -5.36.