First men’s podium since 2011
German squadrons surprise in the Swedish ice cellar
December 3rd, 2023, 2:44 p.m
The German cross-country skiing relay teams are back among the world’s best and are remembering their World Cup successes. First the women take their first podium finish of the season, then the men follow up. Their third place comes as a surprise after poor performances at the start of the World Cup.
The German cross-country skiers caused a surprise in Sweden with their first relay podium since 2011. Janosch Brugger, Albert Kuchler, Friedrich Moch and final runner Anian Sossau finished third behind Norway and Sweden at the World Cup in ice-cold Gällivare after 4×7.5 kilometers. It was the first podium since third place in Rybinsk in February 2011.
A few hours earlier, the German women’s relay team had stormed onto a World Cup podium for the first time in almost seven years. Laura Gimmler, Katharina Hennig, Pia Fink and Victoria Carl only had to admit defeat to hosts Sweden in second place. “We girls are super proud – also of the boys who delivered today,” said Olympic champion Katharina Hennig.
A bigger surprise, however, was the performance of the men’s quartet. Kuchler, Brugger and Moch had already sensationally won bronze at the World Championships in March together with Jonas Dobler, who has since retired. But in the World Cup the dry spell lasted even longer – and now ended with double-digit temperatures below zero in Sweden. This was not to be expected after the previous performances in the World Cup. Sossau, who was called up as the final runner for the first time, took third place after a strong performance from his three teammates. The 23-year-old justified his formation by confidently defending his position.
The German women had previously performed similarly strongly. Starting runner Gimmler initially handed over to Hennig in fifth place, a little behind, who fought her way to second place with a very strong performance. Fink fell back a little before Carl overtook the USA and even attacked Sweden in the end – 13.5 seconds short of victory. World champion and Olympic champion Norway only stayed in fourth place after 15 victories in the last 16 races. “We all showed a very good performance. Personally, I am very relieved that a different Katharina was on the skis today than last time,” said Hennig, referring to her mixed performance the day before.
In the World Cup, it was the first German relay podium since second place in January 2017 in Ulricehamn, Sweden. The DSV team was subsequently deprived of second place in Toblach, Italy, at the beginning of February due to a reporting error. The last German relay victory dates back to March 2007.