Para cross-country skiing: exceptional Karl Tabouret
A fortnight ago, the Savoyard Karl Tabouret climbed onto his very first World Cup podium in the para cross-country skiing classic sprint in Val di Fiemme (Italy). At the venue for the next Paralympic Games, he made his mark before coming close to a world medal in para biathlon in Pokljuka (Slovenia) last week.
At midday on Wednesday, Karl Tabouret continued with the individual 10km classic at the Para-cross-Country Skiing World Championships in Toblach (Italy). On the eve of an open relay awaited by the whole team, he flew the flag for France with a second place finish. He even came within just under 6 seconds of the gold medal, won by Japan’s Taiki Kawayoke.
With his silver medal, Karl Tabouret won his first career world medal, overtaking Canadian legend Mark Arendz, who finished more than 20 seconds behind him. Benjamin Daviet did not take part in this event.
A few minutes earlier, Norway’s Vilde Nilsen had dominated the women’s race, winning another world gold medal. World number one in her category, she won this individual 10km classic ahead of her Canadian rival Natalie Wilkie and China’s Zhao Zhiqing.
In the seated category, Alexis Sanchez finishes close to the top 20
As for the sit-skiers, who had opened the day at the start of the morning, Frenchman Alexis Sanchez, making his first start at the Worlds, finished an encouraging twenty-third, just over a minute outside the top 20.
Up front, China dominated with Mao Zhongwu winning 16 sec 0 ahead of Zheng Peng. Brazilian Cristian Ribera Westemaier was tanned.
In the women’s event, it was Germany’s Anja Wicker who took the world title. Brazil’s Aline Dos Santos Rocha took silver, more than a minute behind her, while American Kendall Gretsch, who won three para biathlon titles last week, was left with a tan.
A Czech and an American take gold in the visually impaired category
In the visually impaired category, the Czech Republic’s Simone Bubenickova (guided by David Srutek) won the women’s gold medal, beating Austria’s Carina Edlinger (guided by Jakob Kainz) and Germany’s Leonie Maria Walter (guided by Michel Huhn).
Finally, the men’s title went to American Jake Adicoff (guided by Reid Goble). More than a minute behind him were Norway’s Thomas Oxaal (guided by Geir Lervik) and Finland’s Inkki Inola (guided by Arttu Kaario). Anthony Chalençon was not on the start list.
Full results
Standing
Men
Ladies
Sitting
Men
Ladies
Visually impaired
Men
Ladies
- The full programme for the Toblach 2025 World Championships
- The French selection for the world championships in Pokljuka, Toblach and Trondheim
