Milestones set at Drammen City Sprint
Mar 03, 2022·Cross-Country
With the City Sprint in Drammen, the FIS Cross-Country World Cup headed into the prestigious Norwegian Cross-Country weekend, combining Drammen city Sprint with the 30km/50km at Holmenkollen. All events are scheduled to be held in Classic Technique.
Drammen City Sprint
On the women’s side, the favorized Swedish Sprint team managed to take three spots in the Finals. Current Sprint World Cup leader Maja Dahlqvist, Olympic Champion Jonna Sundling and Anna Dyvik represented Sweden along Anamarija Lampic from Slovenia, Nadine Fähndrich from Switzerland and Maiken Caspersen Falla.
Maiken Caspersen Falla has a special bond with her favorite race venue at Drammen. With already five wins in Drammen, the 31 year-old Olympic Sprint Champion of 2014 knew how to approach today’s Finals.
Into the Finals, it was Jonna Sundling taking over the pacing work right from the start and had Lampic and Falla staying on her heels. Maiken remained patient until the final straight back into the stadium where she paced impressively against Sundling and crossed the finish line in first position.
“I just love Drammen and it is great back to be in front of spectators again. It was just an amazing day,” stated the winner in the finish.
Jonna Sundling takes the second place before Anamarija Lampic, the Sprint World Cup winner of 2021.
In the Men’s Final, all eyes were on the French Sprint duo Richard Jouve and Lucas Chanavat. Jouve put the hammer down right from qualification as he set the fastest time and won every heat in pole position. Also when facing his team colleague Chanavat, the two Norwegians Wiig and Aune, Italian Sprint expert Federico Pellegrino as well as Chinese Sprint star Qiang Wang, Jouve did not let go of his leading role.
Thus, the 27 year-old can finally celebrate his well deserved maiden World Cup victory. Wang Qiang from China doubled up with another milestone. As the first Chinese athlete, Wang Qiang did not only land his own maiden World Cup podium, but also the first one for China overall in Cross-Country skiing.
Third on the Men’s podium is Lucas Chanavat who – as all contenders on the start line – enjoyed being back in front of a cheering crowd.
