Dhe German cross-country skiers surprisingly won the silver medal in the Olympic 4×5 km relay in Zhangjiakou. Starting runner Katherine Sauerbrey, Katharina Hennig, Victoria Carl and Sofie Krehl finished 18.2 seconds after the Russian Olympic Committee relay.
Sophie Krehl had started the last section as the last runner in the lead, but could not keep up with the pace of the Russian Veronika Stepanova. Krehl saved a two and a half second lead over the sprinting squadrons from Sweden and Russia. The favorite Norwegians only came in fifth.
Katharina Hennig had taken over from Katherine Sauerbrey in second place and was able to catch up with the Russian Natalja Neprjajewa. She handed over to Victoria Carl with a lead of 4.3 seconds. Norway’s Therese Johaug was already 22.8 seconds behind Hennig after the Norwegians fell right at the start. Hennig handed over to Victoria Carl with a lead of 4.3 seconds.
Carl defended his lead and switched to anchor Krehl. In the end she had to give up the lead, but she defended second place with a lead of 2.5 seconds and was enthusiastically received by her teammates at the finish. For the German cross-country skiers, it was the first medal at the Winter Games since 2014. At that time, the women’s relay had won bronze.
