While Austria’s parade cross-country skier Teresa Stadlober is now facing a lactate party in Val di Fiemme instead of an extensive New Year’s Eve celebration at the final of the Tour de Ski, her ÖSV colleague Marita Kramer once again made a difference in the World Cup doubles at the New Year in Ljubno. Austria’s new ski jumping star, who has already won five this season, took second and third place in the overall ranking of the mini-tour, which earned the Salzburg woman a golden owl and 10,000 Swiss francs (9653 euros).
“I’m really happy. This is how you can start the new year,” said Kramer. At the same time, she also expressed her respect for the Japanese Sara Takanashi. This celebrated its 61st World Cup success, making it the record holder. “That is an absolutely incredible number.” The three-time Ljubno winner Daniela Iraschko-Stolz was sixth in the second competition on Saturday, Eva Pinkelnig tenth. Jacqueline Seifriedsberger from Innviertel came in 15th place.
Seifriedsberger to the games?
Like Kramer, Iraschko-Stolz and Pissing have already secured their places for the Olympic Games. The last ticket is between Seifriedsberger and Lisa Eder, although it can no longer be decided in a sporting competition. Because of the pandemic-related cancellation of two Japan World Cup competitions, it will not continue for four weeks in Willingen (D), where the dress rehearsal for Beijing will take place at the same time. But too late for the nominations.
Cross-country skiing up the slopes
In the cross-country skiing center Lago di Tesero, where the Olympic Games 2026 will also have their competition venue, the two final acts of the Tour de Ski will traditionally take place today and Tuesday. Austria’s only participant, Stadlober from Salzburg, recently showed an upward curve in the multi-day stage race. “Now my competitions are coming,” said Oberstdorf, fourth in the World Cup. Today there is the 10-kilometer mass start race in the classic style before the infamous “Final Climb” on the Alpe Cermis. The run in skating technique up the alpine ski slope awaits with a difference in altitude of over 400 meters over 3.6 kilometers. “That certainly benefits me as a lightweight, I have already finished second. In general, the Final Climb is no harder than any other World Cup race. There is no better feeling than arriving at the top and knowing that you have completed the Tour de Ski” says Stadlober. She is currently in twelfth place 1:44 minutes behind the Russian overall leader Natalia Neprjajewa.
In the men’s category, Norway’s Johannes Hösflot Kläbo, who originally only wanted to run the first two stages in preparation for the Games in Beijing, is still ahead. On New Year’s Day he achieved his third leg success in the Oberstdorf Classic Sprint and currently has 45 seconds credit on his compatriot Paal Golberg and 47 seconds on the Russian defending champion Alexander Bolschunow. (fei)
Source: Nachrichten
