Linn Svahn back on top with World Cup victory at Tour de Ski after injury-hit three years

Linn Svahn pipped teammate Jonna Sundling in a photo finish to secure her first World Cup win in three years in the first stage of the Tour de Ski.

The 24-year-old’s career was derailed by a serious shoulder injury just weeks after she won five World Cup events in January 2021, causing her to miss more than a year of competition – including the Beijing Olympics.

However, after a quiet 2022-23 season, she looked back to her brilliant best in Toblach when beating a stacked field in the sprint final.

The result gives her an early lead in the Tour de Ski – a seven-stage competition each Christmas where the skier with the lowest cumulative finishing time wins.

Sundling finished just 0.07s behind Svahn, while Norway’s Kristine Skistad was 0.29s off the pace in third.

“It has been a long time and it has been tough but now I am happier than ever,” Svahn said.

“The finish was my downfall but now I am fully back.”

It was a much smoother afternoon for Lucas Chanavat, who dominated the men’s final en route to victory.

Chanavat was imperious through the quarter and semi-finals and carried that form to the final, where he won by 0.22s from team-mate Jules Chappaz. USA’s Ben Ogden finished third.

The Tour de Ski continues on New Year’s Eve with the 10km interval classic start.