Cross-country skiing: Filip Skari on course for gold
Just minutes after Malin Hoelsveen won the women’s title, it was the turn of the junior cross-country skiers to compete for gold, silver and bronze in the classic sprint at the U23 and junior cross-country skiing world championships in Schilpario (Italy).
Filip Skari dominated the qualifying round earlier in the day, and lived up to his billing as the finals progressed. First in the quarters and semi-finals, the Norwegian had to work hard in the final to dispose of his compatriot Lars Heggen.
The son of Bente Skari, four-time winner of the overall World Cup ranking in the early 2000s and multi-medallist in the world and Olympics, the 19-year-old has also opened his account of world trophies. Having already come close to bronze last winter in the mass start skate event in Planica (Slovenia), this time the Scandinavian went straight for the gold.
Quentin Viguier did not disappoint
Behind the Norwegian duo who took the first two places, Isai Naeff managed to make Switzerland shine. As the day progressed, the 19-year-old continued to confirm the high hopes placed in him just one year after taking silver in the Slovenian individual classic behind the prodigy Alvar Myhlback, who was not selected for this event.
In the French clan, Quentin Viguier was the only representative of his country to reach the quarter-final stage. Although he was in contact with the best throughout, the Haut-Savoyard was unable to do anything in the final metres of the Lombard course. Finally in fourth place, the resident of the La Clusaz sports club (Haute-Savoie) showed that he can play his card on this type of event.
The full rankings
Read also
- Schilpario: Filip Skari qualifies for the classic sprint at the Junior Worlds, Quentin Viguier is the only Frenchman to qualify
- Schilpario: Iselin Bjervig Drivenes dominates qualifying for the classic sprint at the World Junior Championships, all the French women in the quarter-finals
- The full programme for the Junior and U23 World Championships in Schilpario from 3 to 9 February
- The French selection for the Junior and U23 World Championships in Schilpario
