Johannes Høsflot Klæbo was in a class of his own again and took the 18th World Cup victory of the season (!), while even Northug could cheer for a podium finish.
The Frenchman Lucas Chanavat was better during the prologue of the Tallinn urban sprint, with a lead of six hundredths. Klæbo.
But in the quarter-finals, it was the opposite: Klæbo beat Chanavat and so on. Klæbo beats the Frenchman in the semi-final and final.
SUPERINTENDENT: Johannes Høsflot Klæbo was in a class of his own in Tallinn.
And in the stands in Tallinn there was a very special spectator who made Klæbo’s triumph even more fun.
– This victory means a lot and especially here in Estonia, my 85-year-old grandfather lives here and stands here with his cane and his watches, Klæbo tells Viaplay.
Grandfather Trygve is the father of father manager Haakon Klæbo. He hasn’t met his grandson who has become the biggest active cross-country star in the World Cup in recent years, but the 85-year-old has also seen his grandson win, as in Otepää, which is also located in Estonia, in 2017.
In the final, it was Klæbo who beat Chanavat. This was Klæbo’s 18th World Cup victory this season. Trønder flexed his muscles on the final hill before descending and entering the stadium. While paddling, he moved away at high speed and left his competitors behind.
Even Northug was third. And it was a very good performance just to reach the final, little brother Northug broke pole in the semi-final, but managed:
Even Northug finished fourth in the prologue and had a solid day of work. But there was a push with Edvin Anger in the final. He didn’t understand what the 190 centimeter Swede was doing.
– It was war and that’s how it should be. To fight the greatest Swede who ever skied and win, then I’m satisfied, Northug tells Viaplay.
There were three Norwegians in the final, in addition to Klæbo, Erik Valnes and Even Northug were in the final. The Swedes Edvin Anger and Marcus Grate were to give them competition alongside Chanavat.
– I could never get into it, Valnes told Viaplay after the race.
Klæbo had a whirlwind season which also brought him three more gold medals at the World Championships. Here’s Saturday’s Trønder sprint, because this is what it looked like when Klæbo crushed the competitors in Falun:
VG+ Sport: Watch the Helsinki Ski Week sprint with, among others, Johannes Høsflot Klæbo and Even Northug in action, live on VG+ Sport on Wednesday from 6:00 p.m.. Commentators: Vegard Aulstad and Kari Øyre Slind.
“Hardcore coffee specialist. Unable to type with boxing gloves on. Devoted internetaholic.”
