Once again, she leaves no doubt about her form. The Frenchwoman Loana Lecomte sets a horrendous pace in the starting lap, which only Pauline Ferrand-Prevot can keep up with. She is followed almost immediately by Haley Batten (USA), Rebecca McConnell (AUS) and Jolanda Neff. In the first full lap, even world champion Ferrand-Prevot (FRA) is soon unable to follow. Her compatriot took advantage of the long, tough climbs and began to extend her lead.

Lecomte rides the fastest time for five out of six laps and leads with a comfortable cushion of over two minutes. Behind the Frenchwoman, local heroine Stigger, Ferrand-Prevot and Neff are fighting for positions. And while Neff falls back a little on the fifth lap, she is joined by Olympic champion Jenny Rissveds. The Swede, temporarily in twelfth place, is on the advance, sets the fastest lap at the end and also pulls away from Stigger and Ferrand-Prevot.

Lecomte loses a few seconds, but celebrates an unchallenged victory ahead of Rissveds and Stigger, who is still trying to fend off the Swede. Meanwhile, the world champion slumps a little and finishes fifth behind Jolanda Neff. Sina Frei and Linda Indergand miss out on the top 10 by a few seconds in eleventh and twelfth place respectively.

Results

Rough duel between Cink and Flückiger

In the men's race, it is Ondrej Cink (CZE) who sets the pace after the start and, together with Anton Cooper (NZL) and Mathias Flückiger, pulls away from the chasing pack on the first lap. Meanwhile, Thomas Litscher and Reto Indergand are within reach of the top 10, while Nino Schurter has worked his way up from an awkward starting position into the top 20.

While Cooper is increasingly struggling to catch up, a three-man chase is forming behind him with world champion Jordan Sarrou (FRA), the surprising U23 rider Jofre Cullel Estape (ESP) and Thomas Litscher. Cink also repeatedly struggled to keep Flückiger's rear wheel, but somehow the Czech rider always managed to catch up.

But then the positions are swapped and Cink pushes the pace. However, the Bernese was able to keep up his pace. And while the chasers maintain the gap of around 50 seconds, Cooper also gets closer to the leaders again. But now Flückiger no longer waits and tries a dry start. Cink immediately falls back a few seconds and so he enters the final lap around ten seconds behind the Swiss champion. Cooper, on the other hand, is now around 30 seconds behind.

Mathias Flückiger extends his lead a little further and, after winning the short track on Friday, also wins the cross-country World Cup in Leogang ahead of Ondrej Cink and Anton Cooper. Meanwhile, Thomas Griot (FRA), Vlad Dascalu (ROM) and Thomas Litscher are fighting for the last two podium places. However, Litscher finds himself in an unfortunate position on the home straight and loses the sprint for fourth and fifth place, nevertheless a top result for the Swiss rider. Nino Schurter was able to mobilize his strength again towards the end and just managed tenth place.

"Today was more of a mental race for me than a physical one. I was still a bit tired from Friday, but got better and better during the race and was then able to launch the decisive attack two laps before the end," said Mathias Flückiger, summing up his race.

Results

After this weekend, Mathias Flückiger leads the World Cupoverall standings for the first time. In the women's race, Loana Lecomte already leads by 365 points - a double victory gives 375 - ahead of Pauline Ferrand-Prevot. Linda Indergand is the best Swiss skier in fifth place.

Roth on the podium

In the U23 men's race, Joel Roth was a little behind at times, but was able to turn things around in the second half of the race. In the end, the European champion finished third behind Riley Amos (USA) and Martin Vidaurre Kossmann (GER). The winner of the first two World Cup races, Canada's Carter Woods, had to settle for fifth place. Fabio Püntener and Luca Schätti are two more Swiss skiers to ride into the top 10.

The best Swiss rider in the women's U23 race is Tina Züger in eighth place. The victory again goes to the Austrian Mona Mitterwallner.

Results U23 M

Results U23 W