Falun World Cup – Men’s Freestyle Sprint – Preview

Johannes Høsflot Klæbo is one of the most successful sprint freestyle skiers of all time. With a track record that includes 37 individual World Cup sprint event wins, at least 20 more than any other man, Klæbo is undoubtedly the athlete to watch in the upcoming preview men’s sprint freestyle Falun event on Saturday, March 18, 2023.

This season alone, Klæbo has already won seven of the ten individual men’s sprint events in the World Cup. In only two other World Cup campaigns, a man has won at least eight individual sprint events, both by Klæbo himself. Klæbo’s record speaks for itself, having won 29 of the last 33 individual sprint World Cup events he has participated in, finishing second in each of the other four.

When it comes to Swedish snow, Klæbo is practically unbeatable. After finishing fifth in the individual freestyle World Cup sprint event in Falun in January 2017, he went on to win all four individual World Cup sprint events he competed in on Swedish snow.

Klæbo comes into Falun with a 224-point lead in the overall World Cup standings, with Golberg following behind with 1,934 points. If he can maintain a margin of 300 points after the freestyle sprint event, Klæbo will win the overall World Cup standings for the fourth time, joining the likes of Bjørn Dæhlie, Gunde Svan, and Dario Cologna, who have all won this crystal globe at least four times.

In the sprint World Cup standings, Klæbo leads by 235 points over Chanavat. If he can maintain a margin of 200 points after the freestyle sprint event, Klæbo will win the overall sprint World Cup standings for this season.

While Klæbo is undoubtedly the favorite in the upcoming race, there are other contenders worth keeping an eye on. Federico Pellegrino is the only man besides Klæbo to win an individual freestyle World Cup sprint event this season, with 16 of his 17 wins coming in freestyle.

Erik Valnes finished second in the classic style World Cup sprint event in Drammen on March 14 after finishing fourth in the freestyle sprint event in Toblach on February 3. Valnes’ only individual World Cup win was in a sprint classic style event in Ruka in November 2020.

Pål Golberg is looking for his first individual freestyle sprint World Cup event win since December 5, 2014, when he won in Lillehammer. Richard Jouve won the individual World Cup sprint event in Falun last season (Klæbo was absent), and he is the only man other than Klæbo to win multiple individual World Cup sprint events this season (2).

Lucas Chanavat is second in the overall World Cup sprint standings behind Klæbo, with just one individual World Cup podium finish this season in the freestyle sprint event in Davos on December 17. Chanavat finished third in last season’s World Cup individual sprint event in Falun.

As the preview men’s sprint freestyle Falun event approaches, all eyes will be on Johannes Høsflot Klæbo, the athlete with the most impressive record in this sport’s history. However, there are other talented skiers worth watching, and anything can happen in a sprint freestyle event.

Saturday, March 18: Sprint Freestyle (Find more details here)

• 10:50 CET: Sprint Quali F, Men
• 10:50 CET: Sprint Quali F, Women 
• 13:20 CET: Sprint Final F, Men
• 13:20 CET: Sprint Final F, Women

START LIST MEN

See below the complete program with facts, start lists, and results for the World Cup in Falun.

FACTS Falun World Cup Season 2022/2023

• When: Friday, March 17, to Sunday, March 19
• Who: Elite national skiers
• Where: Falun, Sweden
• What: FIS Cross-Country World Cup in Falun, Sweden

PROGRAM

Friday, March 17: 10km Individual Classic (Find more details here)

• 12:00 CET: 10km Individual C, Women
• 13:45 CET: 10km Individual C, Men 

Saturday, March 18: Sprint Freestyle (Find more details here)

• 10:50 CET: Sprint Quali F, Men
• 10:50 CET: Sprint Quali F, Women 
• 13:20 CET: Sprint Final F, Men
• 13:20 CET: Sprint Final F, Women

Sunday, March 19: 4x5km Mixed Relay C/F (Find more details here)

• 11:15 CET: 4x5km Relay C/F, Mixed Team 

New this season is the same race distances for women and men in all World Cup events, as the International Ski & Snowboard Federation (FIS) decided in May. Several other changes have also been introduced to the World Cup.

Read More: Cross-Country Skiing Changes And World Cup Calendar For The 2022/2023 Season

Also Read: New Distances At The Cross-Country Skiing World Cup