What: Tour de Ski, stage six of seven, 15 kilometer mass start, women’s and men’s.
When: Saturday 7 January, ladies 11.45am, men 1.30pm.
Where: Val di Fiemme, Italy
TV/radio: TV6/Viaplay and P4 Radiosporten.
+ The distance decreases
After four stages, Frida Karlsson looked to have both hands on the Tour de Ski victory. All that was required was a stable sprint on Friday for the Swede not to lose her grip.
That was not the case.
Frida Karlsson already went out in the quarter-finals at the same time as the worst competitors were doing well and the distance has now reduced considerably. However, Karlsson feels in good shape for what is to come.
My body is fit, she said after the sprint.
+ Strong Halfvarsson
Calle Halfvarsson has impressed. After a slow start to the tour, he has two fourth places and in Friday’s sprint he was second. He advanced from tenth to second overall and is 58 seconds behind Johannes Høsflot Klæbo.
It will be difficult of course. He (Klæbo) wins every single stage on the tour and is still in very good shape, said Halfvarsson when asked if it is possible to upset the dominant Norwegian who has won all five stages.
+ Can Poromaa reload?
Two incidents in Friday’s sprint meant that William Poromaa was disqualified and in addition he went on a three minute time allowance.
Poromaa was sixth before the sprint but is now in 35th place, a full four minutes and 46 seconds behind Klæbo. The question is now how motivated Poromaa is before the end?
+ Overall standings in the Tour de Ski after five stages:
Ladies: 1) Frida Karlsson, Sweden. 2) Tiril Udnes Weng, Norway, +41 seconds. 3) Krista Pärmäkoski, Finland, +1 minute and 5 seconds. 4) Lotta Udnes Weng, Norway, +1.27. 5) Kerttu Niskanen, Finland, +1.32.
Other Swedes: 23) Moa Ilar, +5.25. 30) Anna Dyvik, +6.27. 36) Märta Rosenberg, +7.36.
Men: 1) Johannes Høsflot Klæbo, Norway. 2) Calle Halfvarsson, Sweden, +58 seconds. 3) Federico Pellegrino, Italy, +1 minute and 8 seconds. 4) Pål Golberg, Norway, +1.09 5) Sindre Bjørnstad Skar, Norway, +1.19.
Other Swedes: 25) Erik Rosjö, +3.49. 31) Johan Häggström, +4.20. 35) William Poromaa, +4.46. 43) Oskar Svensson, +5.13. 50) Anton Persson, +6.25.
+ So the tour continues after Saturday’s stage
Stage 7, Sunday: Val di Fiemme, 10 kilometers, mass start, freestyle (final climb), women and men (11.00/12.45).