Johaug is World Champion in Skiathlon
Feb 23, 2019·Cross-Country
It was a perfect performance by Therese Johaug – the Norwegian favourite won gold in the skiathlon for the second time after 2015. The distance to her second-placed compatriot Ingvild Flugstad Østberg, who crossed the finish line +57.6 seconds behind Johaug, underlines the strength of the performance of the new World Champion. Natalia Nepryaeva added her fair share to the leaders group and was rewarded with the bronce medal.
Winning a gold medal at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships in Seefeld was a long term goal for Therese Johaug. She proved her dominance however by taking the lead right from the start. In the first 7.5km classic race, she managed to extend the gap to the following group and went into the second half in free technique with a +24 second margin.
In the following group, also Astrid Uhrenholdt Jacobsen had her eyes set on a possible podium spot. Natalia Nepryaeva however managed to speed up again in the final 2km, making sure that the following athletes had no chance on the last spot of the podium. She finishes the 15km Skiathlon with 37:53.2, +58.7 seconds behind Johaug.
