Czech cross-country skier Tereza Beranová during the classic technique sprint qualification at the World Championships in Planica, Slovenia, on February 23, 2023.
Planica (Slovenia) – Six of the seven Czech cross-country skiers advanced to the quarter-finals of the classic technique sprint at the world championships in Planica. The best was Michal Novák, who shone in the qualification with the fourth fastest time. Ondřej Černý and Luděk Šeller also reached the top thirty, among women Kateřina Janatová, Tereza Beranová and Barbora Antošová. Norwegian Erik Valnes and reigning champion Jonna Sundling of Sweden won.
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Photogallery: 2023 WC Classic Skiing in Planica
Twenty-six-year-old Novák confirmed his role as the Czech number one on the 1.4-kilometer track. The eleventh man in the World Cup standings lost 3.78 seconds to Valnes. Only other star Norwegians Johannes Hösflot Klaebo and Paal Gollberg finished before the native of Karlovy Vary. Novák's best result in the discipline is fourth place, which he won this season at the Tour de Ski in Val Müstair. Černý took eleventh place in the qualification, Šeller was twenty-third.
Of the Czech women's representatives, Janatová fared best, finishing thirteenth. She was 8.96 seconds behind the winner Sundling. Beranová finished three places lower, Antošová was twenty-first. Only 43rd Adéla Nováková did not make it to the top 30. The 24-year-old Beranová finished the best in the discipline, sixth in Beitestölen this year. Janatová was seventh in Val Müstair.
Defending gold medalist Sundlingová won by 1.12 seconds ahead of compatriot Emma Ribomová. Norwegian Kristine Stavaas Skistadová was third.
The fight for medals will start in Planica at 14:30.
