Sweden defends World Champion title before Switzerland and Slovenia
Feb 28, 2021·Cross-Country
For todays Cross-Country Teamsprint at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships in Oberstdorf (GER), the sunny weather found its way back into the stadium and onto the 1.2 km sprint course and challenged the waxing crews once more. Due to the expected softer snow conditions from the first to the second semi-finals, the jury had announced two days earlier, that a rule change will apply for qualifying for the finals. The proposal to qualify the top-4 athletes from each semi-final plus two teams by time was approved by the teams as well as the chairmen of the Cross-Country, Rules & Control and World Cup committees.
All current top nations in the team ranking were lined up for the womens finals. Maja Dahlqvist and current Sprint World Champion Jonna Sundling took over the role as defending Champions for team Sweden. Despite all efforts, the Swedes could not pull off a gap to the successor group but showed strong and clean skiing and stood out of any potential caught ups throughout the laps. Jonna Sundling, who was in the anchor role of the team, was challenged by RSF athlete Natalia Nepryaeva as they headed into the final uphill. Nepryaeva, who still struggled with the recovery of her fractured hand could not keep up the pressure and was overtaken by Swiss anchor Nadine Fähndrich, who attacked from behind. Fähndrich leaped up the Egli hill and remained on the heels of Sundling in the downhill to the stadium.
With a thrilling final sprint, Team Sweden crossed the finish line seconds before Team Switzerland with Nadine Fähndrich and Laurien van der Graaff and Team Slovenia with Anamarija Lampic and Eva Urevc.
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