Watch the broadcast from the WC sprint in the video player above: Johannes Høsflot Klæbo has won the sprint in four championships in a row, but in Thursday’s WC prologue he had to see himself beaten by Erik Valnes. With starting number 11, Klæbo went into the lead, but a few minutes later Valnes arrived. He had the fastest speed throughout the course and won the prologue 1.01 seconds ahead of Klæbo. When news referred to him as “the man of the day after the prologue”, Valnes was quick to respond: – Now we’re going to calm down a bit. There is a long time left in the day, he says with a smile. – The balance of power between Valnes and Klæbo, how do you assess it? – It is hard to say. There will be a list here in the prologue that shows that I am alert today, so we have to interpret those signs, says Valnes. The two already meet in the quarter-finals, where they both go in the first heat. Thus, they will have the same path to a possible final. Troubled season Valnes won World Cup silver two years ago, behind Klæbo, but this season has “only” fourth place as its best result in the World Cup. In the last classic sprint before the WC, in French Les Rousses, he finished in a disappointing 26th place. – Erik Valnes has not shown anywhere near what he has been good for this season, says news’s cross-country expert Fredrik Aukland about the prologue. Nevertheless, Valnes has been in exuberant mood leading up to the WC sprint, which led to him getting a small finger from coach Arild Monsen in training earlier this week. – It has been a bit off in some classic sprints this year, but I have not become a worse skier. I know that myself. I hope I get even more out today, says Valnes. – Erik will not take off, no. But he is very happy both inside and out that he is solidly back. He’s still hot. I try to make sure he doesn’t go on a blister with a fall or something. He is solidly back and is so, so eager to show it, says Monsen. Klæbo finished second in the prologue, with Pål Golberg in the rear. Håvard Solås Taugbøl and Even Northug also progressed well to the knock-out rounds, in 10th and 14th place respectively. Although Klæbo has made a habit of winning most of the prologues he runs, it should be added that in the WC and Olympics he has only won one out of five prologues in previous championships – which has thus ended with four gold and one bronze. NUMBER TWO: Klæbo was beaten by one second in the prologue. Photo: BORUT ZIVULOVIC / Reuters Skistad showed good pace In the women’s prologue, Kristine Stavå’s Skistad was the best of the Norwegians in third place, 2.36 seconds behind prologue winner and reigning world champion Jonna Sundling. Sweden’s Emma Ribom was second. – That is impressive. It was loose, soft and heavy conditions. Not ideal for Stavås Skistad, but she is not put off by it. She makes a very solid prologue, said news’s expert commentator Torgeir Bjørn about Skistad. Coach Lage Sofienlund was very pleased with what he saw of the student. – There are tough conditions and a long running time, so I think it’s a great prologue by Kristine. Skistad himself also says he is satisfied with the prologue. – That was fine. It is a demanding road. It was good to be me, she says. Tiril Udnes Weng was number nine in the prologue, while Anna Svendsen (15th place) and Lotta Udnes Weng (number 17) also made it through to the knock-out rounds. The women’s quarter-finals start at 14.30, while the men’s quarter-finals start at 14.57.
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Valnes surprised – beat Klæbo by a second in the WC prologue – news Sport – Sports news, results and broadcasting schedule
