LILLEHAMMER (VG) After facing Friday’s race with a sore throat, Johannes Høsflot Klæbo returned to the top step of the podium on Saturday.
The case is up to date!
In familiar style, Trønder relaxed from the start in the final moto, before progressing towards the end of the first lap. On the final hill, Klæbo took the lead and in the stadium fired up the turbo.
No one was able to follow him and the 26-year-old managed to slip across the finish line ten, eleven, twelve meters behind the Italian Federico Pellegrino, who finished second.
– It’s in a league of its own, exclaimed TV 2 cross-country expert Petter Skinstad of Klæbo’s win.
With victory in Saturday’s sprint, Trønder have won all four World Cup races they have contested this season.
Northug, who went into the final as a “lucky loser” after finishing fourth in his semi-final heat, also took third place. Thus Northug secured his second consecutive podium finish in the sprint.
One person who would not be seen in the Lillehammer final was Erik Valnes. The 26-year-old finished last in his semifinal heat, after nearly being eliminated in the quarterfinals.
In the final corner before the race, Briton James Clugnet came at high speed on the outside of Valnes. The Briton cut in front of the Norwegian and the two collided. Valnes remained standing, Clugnet did not.
– He came too close. She was cutting my skis. It’s a bit of reflexes on my part, but there was no maneuver by Blodstrupmoen, Valnes tells VG.
Facing the state channel, Clugnet is clear that he believes Valnes was to blame for his fall.
– I think yes. I don’t think it was my fault, but we’ll have to look at the photos and see what the jury says, said the Briton after his crash NRK extension.
The jury chose not to disqualify Valnes.
