After advancing from 14th place in qualifying in the race, Novák moved in the leading positions alongside the star Russian Alexander Bolshunov. In the finish line, however, in addition to the defender of the triumph in the SP Bolshunov, Nor Even Northug, the younger brother of the famous Petter Northug, got ahead of him. It was four tenths apart from Novák’s advance.
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“Today the semifinals could have been there, so I’m quite sorry how it turned out. I felt really great. In addition, I had incredible skis again. It didn’t work out in the finals, so it’s disappointing. On the other hand, I’m happy for the 14th. places from the qualification and for the result, which is better than last week in Ruka, “said Novák in the press release of the association, which classically took 51st place in Ruka in the sprint.
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Janat, who qualified 24th, finished fourth in the opening quarterfinals. Later medalists Jessie Diggins from the USA and home Tiril Udnes Weng took the places in her race. Even Janat’s time was not enough to advance.
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Czech cross-country skier Kateřina Janatová.Photo: SLČR
“I’m a little sorry I didn’t make it from the lucky loser to the semifinals. It was only 0.2 seconds. But the race went well for me, I deliberately started it from behind because I knew the hill before the end was long, but unfortunately I didn’t manage to find a better position and slip forward. At the same time I still had the strength. But overall I evaluate it positively, the placement in the top 20 is great for me, “she said.
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No other Czech skier in Lillehammer competes, the women’s team is complete at the 1994 Olympics. With the exception of Janatová, however, they failed in qualifying. Petra Hynčicová in 32nd place and Tereza Beranová in 35th place were less than a second apart from the process. Zuzana Holíková took 38th place and Petra Nováková 47th.
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The second sprint of the season was also won by Dahlqvist, who also dominated skating a week after the triumph. On the 1,600-meter-long track, she did not find a winner from qualifying across all races until the final. The position of the winner of the qualification was confirmed by Klaebo, who at the end of the final could wave to the spectators and scored the 26th triumph in the sprints of the World Championships. He was followed by another Norwegian, Thomas Helland Larsen, who does not even belong to the national team and started in the national group. The Frenchman Richard Jouve finished third.
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| Cross-country skiing in Lillehammer (Norway) – sprint free: |
|---|
| Men: |
| 1. Klaebo 2: 52,48 |
| 2. Larsen (oba Nor.) -0.58 |
| 3. Jouve (Fr.) -0.78 |
| 4. Taurus (Nor.) -2.98 |
| 5. Mountain (Fin.) -4.43 |
| 6. Grate (SWE) -20.73, |
| … 14. M. Novák (CZE) – eliminated in the quarterfinals. |
| SP standings (after 4 of 32 races): |
| 1. Klaebo 234 b. |
| 2. Bolshunov (Rus.) 215 |
| 3. Valnes (Nor.) 160 |
| 4. Ustugov 143 |
| 5. Terentěv (oba Rus.) 141 |
| 6. Jouve 138, |
| … 14. M. Novak 78, |
| 63. Šeller (CZE) 4. |
| Women: |
| 1. Dahlqvist (Sweden) 3: 14.07 |
| 2. Digginsová (USA) -0,35 |
| 3. T. Wengová (Nor.) -0,86 |
| 4. Ribom (Sweden) -1.68 |
| 5. Brennanová (USA) -2,45 |
| 6. Lampičová (Slovenia) -2.62, |
| … 18. Janatová – eliminated in the quarterfinals, |
| in qualification 32. Hynčicová, |
| 35. Beranová, |
| 38. Holíková, |
| 47. Nováková (all Czech Republic). |
| SP standings (after 4 of 32 races): |
| 1. Dahlqvist 227 |
| 2. Karlsson (SWE) 220 |
| 3. Johaug (NOR) 180 |
| 4. Digginsová 150 |
| 5. Brennanová 150 |
| 6. Pärmäkoskiová (FIN) 121, |
| … 41. Janatová 13, |
| 45. Beranová 11. |
— .
