No Norwegians Reach Final Without Skistad — Drivenes Impresses

Sprinter Kristine Stavås Skistad (26) had to withdraw from Saturday’s classic sprint in the Tour de Ski because of illness. In her absence no Norwegian progressed further than the quarterfinals.

Heidi Weng, Ingrid Bergene Aabrekk and Julie Bjervig Drivenes were the three Norwegian women to make the knockout rounds in Saturday’s classic sprint. Karoline Simpson-Larsen, Nora Sanness and Eva Ingebrigtsen were eliminated in the prologue, while favourite Kristine Stavås Skistad pulled out of the Tour before the sprint due to sickness.

Weng — who is in contention for an overall Tour de Ski podium — was eliminated in the quarterfinals. Before the penultimate race on the Tour schedule she sat fifth overall, one minute 55 seconds behind leader Jessica Diggins.

Aabrekk also fell at the quarterfinal stage, while Drivenes impressed by reaching a semifinal. There she was beaten by Sweden’s Johanna Hagström and Finland’s Johanna Matintalo.

Drivenes fought well in the semifinal, but the finish was tight and she faced difficult conditions on the final straight.

“It’s very, very unfortunate for Julie! Iris de Martin Pinter (Italy) comes into the lane and prevents Julie from poling freely on the finish,” commented Viaplay expert Niklas Dyrhaug.

“Julie had a really good quarterfinal and takes many good bonus seconds and a lot of confidence with her. She’s had a very good season from the opener in Beitostølen up until today,” Dyrhaug added.

Sunday will decide the Tour de Ski in the notorious “monster climb” — a 10 km mass start that finishes with the climb up Alpe Cermis.

Skistad had won the freestyle sprint earlier in the week in the Tour de Ski. The classic sprint was meant to be her final big test before she lines up as a gold favourite in the same event at the Olympics in about a month.

“She developed cold symptoms yesterday evening and unfortunately must abandon this year’s Tour. Kristine is now on her way home,” national team doctor Ove Feragen said in a press release sent out by the Norwegian Ski Federation.

“It’s of course heartbreaking that she can’t do today’s sprint. You almost get the feeling of the opening-day sprint — and today’s sprint is the only reason she’s here,” said Viaplay expert Mikael Gunnulfsen.

“Whether she could have pushed through the Tour I don’t know, but having reached this point it’s certainly a bitter pill that she cannot take this test,” the former cross‑country skier added.

The Tour de Ski continues Sunday with the Alpe Cermis finale that will finalize the overall standings.