Tuesday 08.02.2022 - Womens Sprint (Free Technique):

Winter Olympics Beijing 2022 - Cross-Country Skiing

Zhangjiakou Zone - National Cross-Country Skiing Centre

Event start: 09:00 CET (16:00 Local time)

Info: For the Sprint events, the 30 best skiiers advance from the Qual into the QF, SF, Finals stage.

The Womens Sprints have been dominated by the Swedish side the latest seasons.
The Gold medalist from the Classic Sprint in the Olympic Games in PyeongChang 2018, and Silver medalist from the Free Technique Sprint in the World Championships in Seefeld 2019, Stina Nilsson, is now participating in Biathlon, and will not start here.

Jonna Sundling won the Classic Sprint in the World Championships in Oberstdorf 2021 in front of Maiken Caspersen Falla and Anamarija Lampic. She ended 4th in the Free Technique Sprint behind Falla, Nilsson and Mari Eide in the World Championships in Seefeld 2019.
Sundling should be rated the main favorite in Beijing 2022, but Linn Svahns injury/recovery will matter a lot for Sundlings gold chances. Clear medal candidate no matter the opposition.

Linn Svahn had 4 Sprint wins in a row (Classic/Free Technique) in the 2020/21 season, and won most of them with ease. She would normally be the clear favorite in such an event, but the injury problems that ruined her World Championships ambitions then, has resulted into surgery two months ago. Her recovery and preparations for the Olympics will not be ideal, but it may be just in time. Big outsider.

Maiken Caspersen Falla got a Bronze in the Classic Sprint in the World Championships in Val di Fiemme 2013, she won the Gold medal in the Olympic Games in Sochi 2014, she got a Bronze in the Classic Sprint in the World Championships in Falun 2015, she won the Gold medal in the Free Technique Sprint in the World Championships in Lahti 2017, she got the Silver medal in the Classic Sprint in the Olympic Games in PyeongChang 2018, she won the gold medal in the Free Technique Sprint in the World Championships in Seefeld 2019, and she got the Silver medal in the Classic Sprint in the World Championships in Oberstdorf in 2021.
Even though Falla managed to claim the Silver in the World Championships last season, Falla struggled much more than usual to reach her top form, and Unibet offer 7.00 for Falla to claim a 8th straight medal in a major Sprint (World Championships or Olympics).

There are many good contestants here though, Maja Dahlqvist, the Weng twins, Anamarija Lampic, Carl, Faendrich, Diggins, Nepryaeva and hopefully some new talents in the mix for medals.

Summary:

Even though Falla struggled to find her top form for most of last season, and may never get the chance to travel to Beijing, I believe this is a must bet value wise, as she has full focus on the Sprint and perhaps Team Sprint this year. It would be insane to claim medals in 3 straight Olympic Games Sprints, and to claim her 8th straight medal in major Sprints (World Championships, Olympic Games), but she has done it time after time before. I believe she will find the form to join the squad, and her winning mentality is not in question.
The Swedes may be the main gold favorites, but Falla can absolutely end top 3 again.

Pick: Maiken Caspersen Falla (Norway) to end top 3, 9/10 stakes, odds 7@Unibet. Good luck!