Vermeulen absent - Johaug dominates while Stadlober disappoints

In the women's Skiathlon competition held at the World Cup in Lillehammer, Therese Johaug demonstrated her dominance upon her return after a two-year hiatus. The 36-year-old Norwegian athlete easily outpaced her competitors, securing victory with a time that placed her 42.6 seconds ahead of teammate Heidi Weng. Meanwhile, Teresa Stadlober faced a difficult race, finishing in 16th place with a considerable time deficit of 2 minutes and 45.1 seconds, leaving her outside the expected rankings.

Notably, Mika Vermeulen, who has recently secured top-ten finishes, opted to withdraw from the men's race due to feeling unwell, citing symptoms of a cold. The absence of Vermeulen meant that the Norwegian team capitalized on the opportunity, achieving a four-way victory led by Harald Østberg Amundsen.

Despite Vermeulen's recent successes, he is focusing on regaining his full fitness in time for the prestigious Tour de Ski, expressing a desire to compete at his peak to contend for wins and podium finishes.