Cross-country skiing | A first top-20 this season for Katherine Stewart-Jones

Katherine Stewart-Jones achieved her best result of the season on Sunday, moving up to 18^e place in the 10 kilometer individual start event in classic style at the World Cup in Trondheim, Norway.

“I’ve been a little disappointed with my start to the season so far, so it felt good to have a race where I felt in good shape. I knew it was close, but something was still missing. Sometimes everything has to be aligned for it to work and that was the case today (Sunday),” said Stewart-Jones in an interview with Sportcom.

Before Sunday’s race, the Chelsea athlete had achieved his best result of the campaign at Ruka, in the second race of the season with a 22^e time for the 20 kilometer freestyle.

She also took the 25^e ranked in the first classic style 10 kilometer of the season, also in Ruka.

“In classics, in general, things go well, so it was a good race for me today. It was a good course with several climbs. In the last few weeks, it was mainly 10 kilometers freestyle, which I personally find more difficult. I had good skis and a good feeling,” Stewart-Jones continued.

The Quebecer crossed the finish line 1 minute and 32 seconds behind the winner, Victoria Carl. The German was accompanied on the podium by the American Rosie Brennan (+19.6 seconds) and the Swede Ebba Andersson (+21.6 seconds), victorious the day before in the skiathlon.

On the men’s side, Antoine Cyr obtained the best result among the athletes from La Belle Province with his 38^e place. Olivier Léveillé and Léo Grandbois respectively finished 43^e and 69^e of this race won by the Norwegian Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo, he who won everything in his path this weekend in Trondheim.

Stewart-Jones will now enjoy a few days of rest before resuming training for the legendary Tour de Ski which will begin in Dobbiaco, Italy, on December 30.

The 28-year-old cross-country skier distinguished herself last year at the Tour de Ski, notably breaking into the top 10 in the 15 kilometers in classic style in Val di Fiemme, in addition to finishing in 18^e rank of the general classification of the event.

“It will be seven big races in nine days for the Tour de Ski! I want to be strong until the end of the year, I don’t want to lose energy mid-season and I think my plan is working. I did a lot of training hours in October and November with that in mind. I feel good and I want to build on my 18^e today’s place for the rest,” concluded Stewart-Jones.