Last year, Beda Klee skied to a sensational 5th place in the Tour de Ski. Now he is aiming for at least the top ten again. For the first time, the event is taking place exclusively in Italy.
28.12.2024, 05:00
28.12.2024, 07:59
SDA
The first part of the season did not go as planned for Beda Klee. A 17th place as his best result does not (or no longer) meet the expectations of the 28-year-old from Toggenburg, and his 26th place in the 20 km classic before Christmas in Davos was a huge disappointment.
Last year, Klee made his breakthrough on the big stage at the Tour de Ski. On the five stages, which were not sprints, the man from eastern Switzerland finished sixth twice, seventh once and eighth once, which resulted in an outstanding 5th place overall. To put this in perspective: apart from Dario Cologna, who is the record winner of the stage race at the turn of the year with four victories, only one Swiss has ever done better (Curdin Perl, fourth in 2011).
So what is possible now? After the disappointment in Davos, Klee was convinced that he would find his form in the two weeks of training leading up to the start of the tour in Toblach on Saturday. "Last year, the start of the season wasn't ultra-good either," he said, not too worried. "It might take a few more good intervals, a bit of self-confidence, a good technical feel on the skis and then maybe a good race and you realize you're okay again."
One thing is clear: Beda does not want to scale back his ambitions. "My own expectations are now the top ten," he emphasizes. "There's no going back to 'top 30 is okay too'."
Focus on the sprints
Swiss hopes are also pinned on sprinters Valerio Grond and Janik Riebli, who have already shown that they can reach finals. In Davos, they finished 2nd together in the team sprint. Sprints are on the program at the start on Saturday in Toblach (skating) and on 3 January in Val di Fiemme (classic). By then, the two of them will also be aiming to push themselves over the distance.
In the women's event, Nadine Fähndrich is currently alone in the extended world elite from a Swiss perspective. She impressed in Davos in the team sprint with Anja Weber (3rd), but disappointed in the individual sprint and over 20 km. "I think I was beaten there," said the 29-year-old from Lucerne.
She definitely wants to run the whole tour and actually wants to finish in the top ten. Her best result to date is 11th place. "We'll see if that's realistic with the results so far."
No Swiss stage for the first time in twelve years
This year's Tour traditionally ends after seven stages with the spectacular climb up the Alpe Cermis. Otherwise, however, a few things are different: the 18th edition is taking place exclusively on Italian soil for the first time. On New Year's Day 2013, a Tour de Ski stage took place in Val Müstair, the home of Dario Cologna, for the first time in Switzerland. After that, Lenzerheide and, exceptionally, Davos were also included last year. Now, however, Lenzerheide is concentrating on the Biathlon World Championships and the small Münstertal no longer felt able to host the major event.
In sporting terms, all eyes will be on the Norwegians Johannes Klaebo and Therese Johaug. Klaebo could catch up with Cologna with a fourth overall victory, Johaug with the record winner in the women's event (Justyna Kowalczyk from Poland).
