Cross-country skiing: Léonie Perry and Mélissa Gal in contact
On Friday, the cross-country skiing World Cup resumed in Goms (Switzerland) with the skate sprints on the programme. First up were the women cross-country skiers who competed in this format, which will be used at the Olympic Games in Val di Fiemme (Italy).
In this demanding and always spectacular format, the French duo of Léonie Perry and Mélissa Gal had a great race. Despite a small fall for the Bressaude during her first relay, the French remained in contact with the best and played their chances to the full.
Mélissa Gal moved up to fifth place at the start of the final relay , and victory was decided in a group of seven teams. On the very difficult Swiss course, the Haut-Savoyard conceded a few lengths in the final, before crossing the line in seventh place, the best French result on this format since 2010.
On the other hand, the race proved more complicated for the duo of Margot Tirloy and Julie Pierrel. Trailing halfway through the race, the Frenchwomen eventually finished thirteenth in the final.
German women in the lead
Among the day’s big favourites, Germany’s Laura Gimmler and Coletta Rydzek delivered a perfect race. Always well placed and with no superfluous effort, they controlled the race from start to finish.
In the final relay, Coletta Rydzek used her power in the final straight to take victory. In the sprint, the Germans beat the first Norwegian team of Astrid Oeyre Slind and Julie Bjervig Drivenes, and the second Norwegian team of Karoline Groetting – Tiril Udnes Weng.
Full results
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- Cross-country skiing | Goms: Léonie Perry and Mélissa Gal seventh in the sprint skate team qualifier, Margot Tirloy and Julie Pierrel also in the final
- Cross-country skiing | Goms: start lists for the sprint skate team
- Cross-country skiing | Delphine Claudel, Léna Quintin and Mathis Desloges return: Les Bleus at 18 for the World Cup in Goms
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- Cross-country skiing: Norway’s Lars Heggen withdraws from the World Cup in Goms
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- Cross-country skiing | Goms: a solid Swedish team despite some notable absences
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