Olympian storms onto the podium
Hennig makes an astonishing statement at the Tour de Ski
January 6, 2024, 1:31 p.m
Cross-country skiing Olympic champion Katharina Hennig stormed onto the podium on the penultimate stage of the Tour de Ski. The 27-year-old, freshly recovered from a corona infection, impressed in the mass start and moved up a bit in the overall rankings.
The German cross-country skiing team made a sporting statement one day before the final of the Tour de Ski. Olympic champion Katharina Hennig held her own against strong competition in the 15-kilometer mass start in the classic technique and took third place. Only the two Swedes Linn Svahn and Frida Karlsson were faster in the final sprint in the snow-covered Val di Fiemme.
Hennig celebrated her only success in the World Cup to date at the Classic 15er in Fiemme Valley last year. After a corona infection in December, she went into the Tour de Ski with rather low expectations this time, but was almost back in top form. After two second places from Victoria Carl on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, it was already the third podium place for the German team at the traditional event around the turn of the year. The 28-year-old Carl held on until the final this time and finished seventh.
Carl also takes seventh place in the Tour de Ski overall ranking, which is still led by the American Jessie Diggins. Hennig is eleventh in the ranking, 2:27 minutes behind. On Sunday (3:45 p.m.) The traditional final climb to Alpe Cermis is on the program in Italy. Despite being only 1:36 minutes behind, seventh-placed Carl is also unlikely to be in contention for a place on the overall podium. The steep climb doesn’t suit the strong athlete.
Suspended national coach hands team over to sporting director
Germany’s starters will have to compete in the final weekend without team boss Peter Schlickenrieder. The former top athlete had his accreditation revoked because he placed his skis across the track in difficult conditions during the pursuit race on Thursday in order to free the German athletes’ material from the snow load. His athletes should run over it “so they can get rid of the cleats that have formed because the aggressive snow has stuck.” He admitted that this was a violation of the rules: “Of course I accepted the punishment, even if it was a bit blatant.”
In addition to the withdrawal of his accreditation, he was also fined 1,000 Swiss francs (equivalent to 1,070 euros). On Friday, Schlickenrieder announced via Instagram that he was handing over his team to the sporting director Andreas Schlütter.