Keystone
After the individual race on New Year’s Eve, Harald Amundsen also wins the pursuit race in Dobbiaco on New Year’s Day, but loses time in the Tour classification. The best Swiss is Beda Klee in 30th place.
In the first competition of the new year, World Cup leader Harald Amundsen is both the winner and the loser. Starting with a good 21-second lead from the skating race the day before, the Norwegian had to run all alone at the front and saved 2.5 seconds on the strong Swede Edvin Anger at the finish.
However, he lost time in the overall standings and dropped back to 3rd place behind Anger. Johannes Klaebo defended his lead as third on the day and after four of seven stages is 36 seconds ahead of Anger and 57 seconds ahead of Amundsen.
Beda Klee, who finished a brilliant fifth overall last year, is not in top form after suffering from coronavirus before Christmas and explained in the SRF interview that he had “no good feeling and no strength” and also “didn’t run well technically.” With a 2:13-minute deficit and 30th place, the Toggenburg native was still the best Swiss athlete. Four places behind him was Cyril Fähndrich.
Jason Rüesch, who would have been the most promising Swiss-Ski athlete in 21st place, had to withdraw from the race at short notice due to back problems.
After a rest day on Friday in Val di Fiemme, the race continues with a classic sprint on next year’s Olympic course. Hopes are once again pinned on Janik Riebli and Valerio Grond after their final places in the first sprint of the tour.
Swiss
