Ebba Andersson roars back onto World Cup stage with victory in 10km individual cross-country

Sweden’s Ebba Andersson marked her World Cup comeback in style with gold in the women’s 10km individual cross-country in Les Rousses.

The 25-year-old was back on the snow for the first time since catching Covid in December but showed no signs of rust, winning in a time of 24:08.8

The Swede clinched victory over France’s Delphine Claudel with a 13.4 second advantage, with the USA’s Jessie Diggins in third.

Diggins started strongly in absence of the World Cup leaders Frida Karlsson and Tiril Udnes Weng but was quickly overhauled by Andersson, who had a 10-second lead at the halfway stage.

The win marks Andersson’s first World Cup victory since Ruka in November.

In the men’s event, Norway’s Harald Oestberg Amundsen took top spot in a time of 21:26.5.

In his first World Cup career-victory, the 24-year-old finished 11.9 seconds ahead of silver medallist Sjur Roethe and 17.9 seconds ahead of William Poromaa in third.

Bronze marked 22-year-old Poromaa’s first World Cup podium of his career whilst overall World Cup leader Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo finished back in eighth place.

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