Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo and Erik Valnes pip Italians to final team sprint of the season in Lahti

Erik Valnes and Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo of Norway pipped Italy to the final men’s team sprint of the season in Lahti on Friday.

The two-man team sprint contest went right to the wire, with the Norwegian duo leading from the front, but barely ahead of chasers Francesco De Fabiani and Federico Pellegrino.

In the end, not even seven tenths of a second separated the champions from the runners-up.

Norway’s second team of Harald Oestberg Amundsen and Sindre Bjoernestad Skar had a similar battle to hold on to third place.

Sweden’s Marcus Grate and Edvin Anger were left frustrated, missing out on a podium by 0.27 seconds.

In the women’s event, Emma Ribom and Jonna Sundling had a much easier final straight, but still had to come from behind to topple a tiring Norwegian duo of Julie Myhre and Anne Kjersti Kalva.

The two teams were neck-and-neck by the three-quarter stage, however the Swedes eventually crossed the finish line with a 4.57-second buffer.

There was a four-way fight for third, which was claimed by Germany’s Laura Gimmler and Coletta Rydzek.

Lahti Ski Games’ 100th anniversary celebration continues over the weekend with the men’s sprint and 20km mass start double header rounding off the cross-country World Cup season.

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