Para-cross-country skiing: the French reach the semi-finals of the classic sprint at the World Championships
This Tuesday morning, the qualifications for the para cross-country skiing classic sprints were taking place in Trondheim (Norway) as part of the world championships. Under heavy snowfalls, two Frenchmen were competing in the standing events: Karl Tabouret and Benjamin Daviet.
The two Tricolores easily secured their ticket for the finals scheduled for Wednesday. The former took an excellent third place behind Japan’s Taiki Kawayoke, the winner, and Germany’s Sebastian Marburger. Le Bornandin was ninth.
Of particular note were the surprise eliminations of Ukraine’s Serhii Romaniuk, thirteenth, and Germany’s Marco Maier, fourteenth.
The women’s qualifier was dominated by Canada’s Natalie Wilkie. On fire, the North American got the better of the Norwegian favourite Vilde Nilsen. Ukraine took third place with Oleksandra Kononova, while Yurika Abe, Kathrin Marchand and Bohdana Konashuk rounded out the top 6.
Carina Edlinger and Jake Adicoff qualify in the visually impaired category
In the visually impaired category, Austria’s Carina Edlinger (guided by Jakob Kainz) set the fastest time of the morning, almost 10 seconds ahead of the Czech Republic’s Simona Bubenickova (guided by David Srutek).
Germany’s Linn Kazmaier (guided by Florian Baumann), Leonie Maria Walter (guided by Christian Krasman) and Johanna Recktenwald (guided by Robin Wunderle) followed.
In the men’s race, American favourite Jake Adicoff (guided by Peter Wolter) was fastest ahead of Sweden’s Zebastian Modin (guided by Emil Joensson Haag), Germany’s Theo Bold (guided by Jakob Bold) and Finland’s Inkki Inola (guided by Arttu Kaario).
Kendall Gretsch and Cristian Ribera Westemaier lead the way in the seated category
In the women’s category, American Kendall Gretsch logically set the best time of the morning. Winner of the overall para-cross World Cup globe at the end of last week, she beat her German rival Anja Wicker by almost 5 seconds. South Korea’s Yunji Kim was third.
On the men’s side, victory in this qualifying race went to Brazilian Cristian Ribera Westemaier. Also world number one, he narrowly edged out Kazakhstan’s Yerbol Khamitov. Ukrainian Pavlo Bal was third, followed by American Daniel Cnossen, Ukrainian Oleksandr Aleksyk and Italian Giuseppe Romele.
Full results
Men
Ladies
- The full programme for the cross-country skiing, Nordic combined and ski jumping world championships in Trondheim, the highlight of the 2024/2025 season
- Organisers of the Trondheim 2025 World Championships add a classic para-cross-country sprint to their programme
- Para-cross-country skiing: the French selection for the world championships in Trondheim
- “They’re taking a step forward”: what the French team thinks of the programme for a disabled sprint classic during the Trondheim Worlds
