The FIS Cross-Country World Cup series continued in Drammen, Norway, where the sprint races took place this past Thursday. Unfortunately, Estonian skiers did not make the cut for the top 30 competitors, with Mariel Merlii Pulles finishing 58th among 60 participants. She lagged behind the qualifying leader, Swedish skier Linn Svahn, by a notable margin of 20.5 seconds, indicating a significant gap in performance levels during the event.

Linn Svahn showed exceptional form during her qualification run, outpacing her nearest rival Jonna Sundling by 2.52 seconds and the German competitor Coletta Rydzek by 4.74 seconds. This performance highlights Svahn's dominance in the event, with all other competitors falling short by over five seconds in comparison. In the men's competition, two Estonian skiers, Marko Kilp and Henri Roos, also struggled to make an impact, placing 61st and 70th respectively in a field of 78 participants with times that reflected a considerable deficit.

The standout in the men’s sprint was Johannes Hösflot Kläbo, who secured victory by finishing ahead of the competition by more than 2.5 seconds. American skier Ben Ogden and Italian Simone Mocellini followed in second and third places, while Sweden's Al also qualified. The results from Drammen not only showcase the competitive landscape of cross-country skiing but also underline the challenges faced by Estonian athletes in keeping pace with the leading competitors in this international event.