Moch finishes tenth at Norwegian Cross-Country Skiing Championships

Friedrich Moch has achieved a notable success at the Norwegian cross-country skiing festival, although he was unable to secure the desired World Championship medal. The 24-year-old from Allgäu finished in tenth place in the Skiathlon event over 2×10 kilometers, having been defeated in the final moments among the leading group in Trondheim.

Victory for Kläbo

The gold medal was awarded to local hero Johannes Kläbo, who showcased his exceptional sprinting ability and tactical intelligence in a thrilling finale before an audience of 22,000 in the sold-out ski stadium. Kläbo’s victory marked his eleventh World Championship title during a grand skiing celebration, where thousands of fans had joyfully flocked to the course earlier that day, donning national colors and sometimes bringing large speakers.

Moch falters in the final sprint

Moch, who is regarded by national coach Peter Schlickenrieder as a potential World Champion or Olympic gold medalist, had previously secured seventh place in the Skiathlon two years ago in Planica. This time, Germany’s top skier kept up excellently until the final stretch. However, Moch was unable to muster enough for a surprising upset in the final sprint. The silver and bronze medals went to Kläbo’s compatriots Martin Löwström Nyenget and Harald Östberg Amundsen.

“Friedrich Moch is doing well, very well. If he stays in contention, he will become a threat to the others,” Schlickenrieder remarked during the race on ZDF. The other German competitors, Florian Notz (27th), Elias Keck (30th), and Albert Kuchler (38th), fell behind early and had no chance of competing for medals. “I am very satisfied,” Schlickenrieder concluded.