‘Feels a like a home court’

While many skiers may look forward to a well-earned rest as the Coop FIS Cross-Country World Cup season comes to an end this weekend, Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo and Kristine Stavaas Skistad look like they would have wanted it to last for longer.

The Norwegian sprint aces had won two consecutive sprint races over the past week and continued to show the same fine form on Tuesday, claiming the first places in the men’s and women’s sprint free in an evening race in Tallinn, Estonia.

Klaebo claimed his 66th World Cup victory on a course that makes it extra special for the overall World Cup No.1.

“It was amazing,” he said.

“This feels like a little bit like a home court. My grandpa lives here in Tallinn so I really wanted to go fast today and it’s special having him here watching me as well. That’s a cool feeling.”

France’s Lucas Chavanat had the best qualification time, but only 0.06 second before Klaebo, who went on to win the quarter-, semifinal and final, all races with the French 28-year-old in second place. Norway’s Even Northug finished third.