With Johannes Høsflot Klæbo back in the menagerie, the stage was set for a party in the World Cup opening in Ruka. But it was another Norwegian who was the strongest. Last weekend’s sprint winner Erik Valnes took a clear victory ahead of French Richard Jouve and Johannes Høsflot Klæbo. – He is in a class of his own right now, says news’s cross-country expert Fredrik Aukland. Last Friday, Valnes was the strongest in the classic sprint in the national opening at Beitostølen. On Friday, the man from Sørreisa took his second World Cup victory. Three years after he just beat Klæbo in Ruka. Klæbo had to stand over the national cross-country opening at Beitostølen last weekend, when he tested positive for covid-19 the week before. The sprint in Ruka is his first race outside the national team. Swedish best in the prologue Valnes had fresh legs from the start in Kuusamo and had the second best time in the prologue, beaten by 0.65 seconds by Sweden’s Marcus Grate. – Where most people would use fish bones, Valnes runs up the hill, said news’s expert commentator on news Sport. BEST IN THE PROLOGUE: Marcus Grate. Photo: NTB Expectations were high with Klæbo back at the start, but the Trønder was unable to beat his countryman or the Swede and ended up with the fourth best time in the prologue. – We are excited to see if Klæbo has a gear to press with on the last hill. We expect him to have it, Aukland said. All eight Norwegian athletes qualified for the quarter-finals. Sweden’s Calle Halfvarsson, on the other hand, had to give up already in the prologue. BACK ON TOP: Johannes Høsflot Klæbo. Photo: NTB Prologue winner dropped from semi-final place The two big favorites Klæbo and Valnes met in heat one of the quarter-finals. Both kept their composure. Although they were challenged by Frenchman Jules Chappaz, Klæbo followed by Valnes crossed the finish line first. Challenger Grate, who was the best in the prologue, was eliminated after falling in the quarterfinals. In the same heat, Even Northug dug deep and advanced. All the other Norwegian athletes progressed to the semi-finals, apart from last year’s third place Pål Golberg. – Enormous Norwegian effort here. We have seven more. Pål Golberg narrowly out, otherwise we dominate the sprint here. No doubt about it, said Aukland after the quarter-finals. MORE: Ansgar Evensen was second in his quarter-final heat, where American Ben Ogden was fastest. Photo: NTB Played their way to the final In the first semi-final, four Norwegians competed against Finnish Lauri Vuorinen and American Ben Ogden for the final places. Again, Klæbo and Valnes proved to be the strongest. The Finn got ahead in time, while Harald Østberg Amundsen and Northug were knocked out. STRONG: Federico Pellegrino impressed in the semi-finals. Photo: NTB In the second semi-final heat, things went very fast, and Italian Federico Pellegrino showed his muscles. The pace meant that both Ansgar Evensen and Matz William Jenssen qualified for the final, even though they finished third and fourth. When everything had to be decided, it was Valnes and not Klæbo who pulled away on the last steep hill. Last year there was a triple Norwegian in Ruka with Klæbo on top, Northug in second place and Golberg in third place. This year, Norwegian came top, and in third place. Skistad defended the honor of the Norwegian women The Norwegian women fell like flies in the prologue and in the quarter-finals, while most of the Swedes played on. Lotta Udnes Weng already smoked in the prologue. In the quarter-finals, all the Norwegians, apart from Kristine Stavå’s Skistad, had to give thanks. In the semi-final there was a time drama, but Skistad advanced in time. Against four Swedes and a Finn, the drammenser finally captured third place behind Emma Ribom and Jonna Sundling respectively.
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Valnes crushed Klæbo in Ruka – news Sport – Sports news, results and broadcasting schedule
