Can anyone challenge Klaebo – Sprint day at Ruka Nordic
The men’s and women’s sprint will start with the qualification rounds at 8.55 am (CET) on Saturday the 29th of November and The heats will begin at 11.25 am (CET). Classic style will be the format for the sprints.
The conditions for the races will carry on from Friday. The weather will be warm like Friday and tracks will be slippery with not a lot of grip.
– It was hard to find grip and with the snow and everything I feel like everyone was a little bit, Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo commented on the tracks after the men’s 10k on Friday.
Klaebo finished second in the men’s 10k Interval Start Classic on Friday at ruka. Last year’s Overall Crystal Globe and Sprint Crystal Globe winner is looking to be dominant in the men’s sprint. He won the sprint at Ruka Nordic last year as well.
Fellow Norwegians Erik Valnes and Even Northug will be ready to pounce if Klaebo is not at his best. Last year Erik Valnes was second finishing 2.01 seconds behind Klaebo and Evan Northug was fourth 5.60 seconds behind the winner.
Edvin Anger from Sweden was third in the men’s sprint ranking last season. He could well have a podium up his sleeve if he is on his game.
Lauri Vuorinen will be hungry and will be looking for a podium. A win is unlikely but maybe not out of the picture. Last year Vuorinen finished third at Ruka Nordic in the sprint.
After a great Women’s 10k Interval Start Classic the Swedes are looking to dominate again in the Women’s Sprint. Swedes were dominant in the Sprint at Ruka Nordic last year as well. Johanna Hagstroem took home the women’s sprint last year, and could go back to back like her fellow Swede Frida Karlsson did in the Women’s 10k Interval Start Classic on Friday at Ruka Nordic.
Other Swedes in contention for winning the Sprint are Maja Dahlqvist who was third at Ruka last year and Jonna Sundling who was fourth.
The Swiss Nadine Faehndrich is also in contention. She finished second in the race for the Sprint Crystal Globe last season.
Last year’s Women’s Sprint Crystal Globe winner Jasmi Joensuu is looking to challenge for the win. She finished tenth on Friday in the women’s 10k and was fifth in the sprint last year at Ruka.
Text: Pietu Enne
Image: Noora Luukkanen