Even over 50 km, Johannes Hösflot Kläbo in Trondheim cannot be beat and cracks the record of the Russian Jelena Wälbe.
Dream end against the dream backdrop: Norway’s cross-country skiing hero Johannes Hösflot Kläbo has finally crowned the World Cup king of Trondheim and wrote history with its sixth gold in the sixth race.
On the penultimate day of the title fights in his hometown, Kläbo also won the marathon over 50 km and cracked the 28-year-old record of the Russian Jelena Wälbe, who had also won five gold in Trondheim in 1997.
After 1: 57: 47.1 hours before a total of 100,000 spectators, Kläbo prevailed in the traditional race, which has been held at World Championships since 1924, thanks to his irresistible final at the Sweden William Poromaa (+2.1 seconds). The superstar then crouched alone in a corner in the finish area and enjoyed the big moment in silence before he was celebrated by the masses around Norway’s Crown Prince couple Haakon and Mette-Marit. Third finished Kläbos compatriot Simen Hegstad Krüger (+8.5).
Ski World Championships: Fall drama shortly before the finish
The decision about the podium in the ski spectacle could have become even narrower, but on the final round, the Norwegian Martin Löwström Nyenget became a tragic hero.
The Norwegian was in one of the demanding descents at the head of the management quartet before he stumbled and fell without the influence of the three competitors.
“Fall, attention, fall. Then he plunges in this supposedly simple situation. Actually inexplicable. Maybe he looked into the audience? ”ARD commentator Jens Jörg Rieck reacted shocked to the avoidable fall.
In fact, the fall must have been a concentration error. His competitors were a few meters behind the Norwegian, who simply got caught in the snow with his skis and fell. He threw away his chance of a World Cup medal. Nyenget fought again, but came up with the trio at the top and ultimately finished fourth.
Kläbo dominates the ski World Cup
The German top man Friedrich Moch ran a very strong race for a long time, was always at the top and ultimately came 15th with 6:28 minutes behind.
The 28-year-old Kläbo, who had won in the sprint and team sprint in the past few days as well as over 10 km, in skiathlon and with the season, won his 15th World Cup title. In this way he pushed in second place in the “eternal” leaderboard behind his compatriot Marit Björgen, who had won 18 times cross-country gold. Kläbo had replaced Landsmann Petter Northug (13 titles) as a record champion for the men.
Kläbo’s triumphal march in Trondheim fits into the series of the greatest success stories of winter sports. Its dominance is reminiscent of that of the US ice skating runner Eric Heiden, who won Olympic gold in 1980 on all five individual routes from 500 to 10,000 m.
Almost 30,000 spectators in the Granasen Skistadion and tens of thousands more in the forests on the edge of the eight-kilometer round after many days of constant rain, sunny weather finally ensured a fascinating folk festival atmosphere. The 50 km marathon in Trondheim was the very best advertising for Nordic skiing at a traditional setting. Similar fan masses have also announced for Sunday, when the women start for the first time at a large championship over 50 km.