Relay time in Zhangjiakou – ROC takes home the GOLD medal

With the Womens Relay competition, the first team event in Cross-Country took place at the Beijing Olympic Winter Games. Looking at the competition schedule, it was half time, with six titles delivered and another six to be decided.

With strong performances throughout the previous competitions, Team Finland took in a top favourite position along with Norway, Sweden and the athletes of the Russian Olympic Committee.

Only one Relay competition (Lillehammer) took place in the World Cup season prior to the Olympics which handed over a small sensation as the athletes of the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) broke the winning strike of the Norwegian female team who had won every Womens Relay for the past 10 years.

Team ROC went into the Relay with the exact same team composition as in Lillehammer. Yulia Stupak and Natalia Nepryaeva started out in Classic technique, Tatiana Sorina and Veronika Stepanova closed off in Free technique.

Right from the first leg, the athletes from ROC started in the lead and had a group in their back with Team Germany, Finland and Japan. Team Norway experienced a fall due to a race incident and was set back already in the first lap.

With Katherine Sauerbrey, an incredible young athlete of 24 years headed into the first leg for Team Germany. The young German whose World Cup experience is still young, was a late selection for the German Olympic Team. She earned her spot as she completed the Tour de Ski 2021 in 19th place.

Sauerbrey managed to catch up with Stupak as the tag went on to the second athlete in charge. Nepryaeva and Katharina Hennig went into the course and remained side by side for their leg.

The chasing group did not manage to catch up closer than 10 seconds to the two leading nations. The fight for the last remaining Olympic Medal had begun. Team Finland was on course, closely chased by Sweden. But Norway, with Therese Johaug skiing the second leg, caught up and increased the pace.

Into the third leg and the first in Free technique, Victoria Carl took the lead for the German Team and Tatiana Sorina paced along. The margin to the chasing group had grown to over 20 seconds.

Helene Marie Fossesholm took the pace making for Team Norway but had to give way to Frida Karlsson from Sweden who pulled all in from the first uphill, trying to ensure her team the final spot on the podium. Kerttu Niskanen for Team Finland would not let go of the medal chance and remained in the chasing group. The three Scandinavian countries fought hard to catch the last remaining spot on the podium.

The final leg beared pure spectacle. Veronika Stepanova was not to be caught. The 21 year-young supertalent from the Russian Olympic Committee crossed the finish line +18 seconds ahead of her successers and ensured the Gold medal for her team.

The German team could not believe their eyes as Sofie Krehl pushed towards the finish line, dragging Team Sweden and Norway at her heels. Just 2 seconds ahead of Olympic gold medalist in Sprint, Jonna Sundling, Krehl crossed the finish line and brought Team Germany the well deserved silver medal.

0.5 seconds before Krista Pärmäkoski, Jonna Sundling crossed the finish and claimed bronze for Sweden.

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