Diggins came into the Tour de Ski as one of the biggest favourites, having won the last World Cup race in Davos before Christmas. After two relatively weak results in Val Müstair, the experts were anxious to see if the upturn would come at Tuesday’s classic interval start in Oberstdorf. – Poor thing, exclaimed news’s expert commentator Torgeir Bjørn when the American crossed the finish line more than two minutes behind the victorious Frida Karlsson. The supreme Karlsson Karlsson got a real revenge after the sprint defeat to Tiril Udnes Weng at the start of the chase in Val Müstair on Sunday. – It is phenomenal. She walks absolutely colossally, she is about to knock everyone out, news’s expert commentator Torgeir Bjørn noted when Karlsson rushed forward. ON THE PODIUM: Anne Kjersti Kalvå finished strongly and came third. Photo: Terje Pedersen / NTB Karlsson won 16.6 seconds ahead of Finland’s Krista Pärmäkoski and 18.1 seconds ahead of Anne Kjersti Kalvå, who took her second podium in the World Cup context. – I really ran. It may not have been perfect, but good enough, says Frida Karlsson to news, without wanting to exaggerate her own performance. – I don’t know about monster races. But I think it suits me when you can just run on. It takes quite a bit more on the pump and not so much muscularity, and it suits me well, says a cheerful Swede. – Miserable Jessie Diggins finished two minutes and ten seconds behind Karlsson in 40th place, and struggled from the first kick-off. – Diggins doesn’t get it right. It is sad to see her walking this hill up Burgstall, the seconds are ticking by, news’s commentator Jann Post noted already on the first of three laps. – There has been a lot of discussion about whether the skis have been too bad, but can they be bad three days in a row?, Torgeir Bjørn wondered. – What you conclude on is what you see, and it is a very powerless Diggins who walks diagonally, concluded fellow expert Fredrik Aukland. – I think I would have gone home, and if I hadn’t done it voluntarily, I think someone would have sent me home. There is no point in risking your way through a tour if your body doesn’t play as a team, says World Cup leader Tiril Udnes Weng to news after finishing fourth. NO CHANCE: Jessica Diggins was not close to fighting at the top in Oberstdorf. Photo: Terje Pedersen / NTB Diggins: – Made a mistake She then had as little idea as everyone else about the explanation Diggins was going to give. After the first two stages in Val Müstair, it was speculated that Diggins had misfired with her skis, which she would not confirm at the time. But after the race in Oberstdorf, Diggins justified the disappointing result with the skis in particular. – I have worked very hard, and I felt that the preparations went as well as they could. The body felt good and the energy feels good, today I made a mistake by not asking for enough support, and it was very challenging, says Diggins to news. Bjørn: – Rare thing – It’s tough when I have to run in fishbones, but I decided that this is my opportunity to work on this, and try to get better on my weak sides, so that’s what I did, elaborates she, before the American media manager drags Diggins on through the interview zone. The explanation came as a surprise to Torgeir Bjørn, to say the least. – It is quite interesting, because in that case she has had poor skiing in the first three stages. They have often had bad skis in one stage, but three stages, that is a rare thing, he analyses, and continues: – It is surprising that she says that, but I expect she is honest when she says that her body feels good, she has good energy and that the training has gone well in the run-up to the tour. When we move on to skating, which we get tomorrow at a hunting start, there should be a little swing of Jessie Diggins again. Frida Karlsson now leads the Tour de Ski 20 seconds ahead of Anne Kjersti Kalvå and Tiril Udnes Weng, who share second place after three stages. Diggins is number 35, four minutes and 17 seconds behind Karlsson.
ttn-69
Monster run by Frida Karlsson – all black for Jessie Diggins – news Sport – Sports news, results and broadcasting schedule
