Nadine Fähndrich flies to maiden World Cup win
Dec 19, 2020·Cross-Country
Before the Christmas break, the FIS Cross-Country World Cup family met up for the thrilling City Sprint in Dresden (GER). The 650m long sprint course features a short uphill, a banked curve as well as waves which demands full focus and control during the heats.
Nadine Fähndrich from Switzerland has previously experienced successes and defeats on the Dresden course and knew how to tackle the sprint course at her own rhythm. After the second fastest time in qualification, Fähndrich set the pace throughout the heats, defended her spots among top Sprinters such as Natalia Nepryaeva (7th) and Jessie Diggins (4th). Nadine Fähndrich celebrates her maiden World Cup podium and takes the red Sprint World Cup leader bib as the first women from Switzerland.
In each of the past three seasons, Sophie Caldwell Hamilton has stood at least once on the podium of a Sprint competition in Free technique. The 30 year-old from the US team remained steadily on the heels of Fähndrich until the finish stretch where she had to launch for the finish line, ending in a photo finish with Anamarija Lampic. Sophie Caldwell Hamilton celebrates her 10th World Cup podium.
Only 0.03 seconds separated Anamarija Lampic from the second ranked but being able to claim the podium at all was not taken for granted in this final as Lampic had to fight with a broken pole along the way. The Slovenian who took control over last season’s Sprint races had proven her talents on the tactical course of Dresden already the previous year when she was ended in second. Anything could happen on the Sprint course of Dresden and so Anamarija Lampic was thrilled about her fighting back and taking the remaining spot on the podium.
Top 10 check
Nadine Fähndrich (SUI) wins her maiden World Cup victory and takes over the Sprint World Cup lead as the first Swiss women.
Eva Urevc (SLO) reports back from having set out the last season due to an injury. Recovered and back on track, Eva races to a great 8th rank.
Coletta Rydzek (GER) races the best german result of this weekend and a personal best of a 10th rank at her only fourth World Cup start.
