Skis-a-Rama: Johaug Nails 50th Career Win, Hennig & Carl Snag Top 10 Finishes at Lahti World Cup
- Hennig and Carl Excel at Likely Final Johaug-Gala Event
Cross-country skiing titan Therese Johaug wrapped up her potential swan song with her 50th World Cup individual victory in style. At the World Cup finale in Lahti, Finland, Johaug left 'em in the dust in the 50km classic mass start, crossing the line 1:03.03 minutes ahead of teammate Astrid Oeyre Slind. Sweden's Ebba Andersson finished a distant third, 3:28.1 minutes off the pace. Johaug avenged her underwhelming home World Championship performance with this commanding display.
German Olympic team sprint champions Katharina Hennig and Victoria Carl failed to extend their winning streak in Lahti but left no doubt about their status among the global elite. Hennig placed an impressive fifth, while Carl nabbed eighth. Carl's second-place overall finish was historic for Germany, requiring consistent top performances across various competitions - not just distance events, but also in sprints. National coach Peter Schlickenrieder shared his admiration on ARD, stating, "Victoria's second-place overall finish is historic for us. To achieve that, you have to be at the front of many competitions. If you can do that and finish second overall, you deserve to be among the best in the world."
While the team underperformed at the World Championships in Trondheim, Schlickenrieder remained optimistic about their prospects for future success, mentioning, "Maybe we'll have more luck at the next Olympics." Before the final 50km race, Coletta Rydzek achieved a couple of groundbreaking victories - triumphing in both the sprint and the team sprint events in Lahti, securing her first two World Cup wins of the season.
Having dominated the 2024/2025 World Cup, several cross-country skiers emerged as the cream of the crop based on the overall and discipline-specific rankings. On the men's side, Johannes Høsflot Klæbo (NOR) stormed the overall ranking with 2,200 points, followed by Edvin Anger (SWE) with 1,731 points and Erik Valnes (NOR) with 1,530 points. Meanwhile, Simen Hegstad Krueger (NOR) ruled the distance rankings while Klæbo shone brightest in the sprint events.
On the women's side, Jessie Diggins (USA) clinched the overall Crystal Globe with 2,197 points, with Victoria Carl (GER) hot on her heels in second place and Kerttu Niskanen (FIN) trailing in third. Diggins was a force to be reckoned with in the distance rankings as well, topping the charts. While Jasmi Joensuu (FIN) ruled the sprint rankings, Carl impressed with her distance performance.
- In the World Cup finale, Therese Johaug, Astrid Oeyre Slind, Ebba Andersson, and several other cross-country skiers demonstrated exceptional cooperation and community action, pushing each other to achieve their best results.
- Victoria Carl's impressive second-place overall finish in various competitions, including distances and sprints, showcases the importance of cooperation within the German Olympic team, enabling them to maintain their status among the global elite.
- Peter Schlickenrieder, the national coach for the German cross-country skiing team, recognized the importance of cooperation and consistent top performances across various events, stating that Victoria Carl's accomplishment is historic for Germany.
