Lahti World Cup – Men’s Freestyle Team Sprint – Preview

On Friday, March 24, the men’s team sprint in freestyle technique will take place in Lahti. The competition will feature some of the top traditional cross-country skiers in the world, including skiers from Norway, France, Italy, Finland, and Sweden.

Norway is the team to beat in this event, winning the World title in the men’s team sprint this year. Johannes Høsflot Klæbo and Pål Golberg represented Norway in Planica, where they won their third successive World title in this event. In addition to their success at the World Championships, the Norwegians have also won the gold medal in the men’s team sprint at the last two Olympic Winter Games.

Despite their impressive record, Norway has faced some setbacks this season, finishing 15th and 16th in Livigno on January 22. Nevertheless, Johannes Høsflot Klæbo remains a force to be reckoned with, having won a record 39 individual sprint World Cup events and one team sprint World Cup event in Lahti on February 10, 2019.

France is another team to watch in this event, having won the only previous men’s team sprint event in this season’s World Cup. Richard Jouve and Renaud Jay competed for France in Livigno last January, securing their second World Cup win in the team sprint after a victory in Dresden in January 2020.

Italy is also a strong contender, having won eight men’s team sprint World Cup events, which is the third-most behind Norway (14) and Russia (11). Federico Pellegrino, who has won three World Cup events in this discipline, has the chance to equal the record for most World Cup wins in the Men’s Team Sprint held by Alexey Petukhov, Tor Arne Hetland, Cristian Zorzi, Ola Vigen Hattestad, and Nikolay Morilov, all with four wins.

Finland has yet to win this event in the World Cup, but they have claimed four World Cup podiums in the men’s team sprint, with their most recent podium finish being a third place by Mäki/Hakola in Planica on December 22, 2019.

Lastly, Sweden has finished runners-up in World Cup team sprint events a record 13 times. Their last win came in Düsseldorf in December 2011.

Overall, the men’s team sprint in freestyle technique promises to be an exciting and highly competitive event, with Norway, France, Italy, Finland, and Sweden all vying for the top spot on the podium.

Friday, March 24: Team Sprint F (Find more details here)

• 14:20 CET: Team Sprint F, Women
• 14:40 CET: Team Sprint F, Men
• 15:50 CET: Team Sprint Final, Men
• 15:50 CET: Team Sprint Final, Women 

START LIST MEN

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

FACTS Lahti World Cup Season 2022/2023

• When: Friday, March 24, to Sunday, March 26
• Who: Elite national skiers
• Where: Lahti, Finland
• What: FIS Cross-Country World Cup in Lahti, Finland

PROGRAM

Friday, March 24: Team Sprint F (Find more details here)

• 14:20 CET: Team Sprint F, Women
• 14:40 CET: Team Sprint F, Men
• 15:50 CET: Team Sprint Final, Men
• 15:50 CET: Team Sprint Final, Women 

Saturday, March 25: Sprint C (Find more details here)

• 10:30 CET: Sprint Quali C, Men
• 10:30 CET: Sprint Quali C, Women 
• 13:00 CET: Sprint Final C, Men
• 13:00 CET: Sprint Final C, Women

Sunday, March 26: 20km Mass Start C (Find more details here)

• 11:00 CET: 20km Mass Start C, Women
• 12:45 CET: 20km Mass Start C, Men 

New this season was the exact 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