Nordic skiing
Women’s cross-country skiing relay takes second place in Oberhof
Olympic champion Victoria Carl came second with the German relay team. photo
© Martin Schutt/dpa
After a successful Saturday, the German cross-country skiers also showed their class at the end of the home game in Thuringia. Only one nation is stronger.
The German cross-country skiers once again demonstrated their strong form at the home World Cup in Oberhof with second place in the relay. Katherine Sauerbrey, Katharina Hennig, Pia Fink and Victoria Carl only had to admit defeat to the Swedish quartet Linn Svahn, Frida Karlsson, Ebba Andersson and Jonna Sundling. Third place went to Finland after 4×7.5 kilometers.
Sweden was clearly in the lead before the last change. With an outstanding performance that brought the German team closer and closer, Carl even briefly gave rise to small hopes of victory at the end. “One lap longer and then the victory is ours,” said team boss Peter Schlickenrieder, but he wasn’t annoyed. The goal is one podium per weekend, he said on ARD. “Now we have the second one. What more do you want?”
The team sprint Olympic champions Hennig and Carl had already ensured success the day before. Hennig came second behind winner Karlsson in the 20-kilometer mass start in the classic technique on Saturday. Carl took fourth place.
Schlickenrieder’s women’s team has established itself among the world’s best. A German quartet also finished on the podium in the only relay race of the season. Carl and Hennig have also secured six individual podium finishes so far.