Frida Karlsson and Ebba Andersson Out Early in Tour de Ski Sprint Qualification, Impacting Standings

Swedish distance specialists Frida Karlsson and Ebba Andersson faced an early exit in the sprint qualification round of the 2025-2026 Tour de Ski stage held in Toblach, Italy. Both were eliminated and failed to advance to the final round, putting a strain on their overall competition prospects. Viaplay commentator Jonas Karlsson described Karlsson’s departure as "bedrövligt" (terrible) and noted her lack of speed as a crucial factor, adding that this setback is detrimental to her position in the overall standings.

The sprint final saw Kristine Stavås Skistad dominate the race to claim her second World Cup victory of the season, while Maja Dahlqvist secured third place. Johanna Hagström, the fastest qualifier with a two-second margin, fell in the final and finished fifth. Despite the disappointment for Karlsson and Andersson, the Swedish team did not expect either distance skier to score points in the sprint, viewing any future points as an additional advantage.

Karlsson and Andersson now trail competitors such as Jessie Diggins, who finished fourth in the sprint final, marking a gap in the early phase of the Tour de Ski. The next stage, a 10-kilometer classic individual start, is set for Monday in Toblach, where Karlsson and Andersson will have the opportunity to regain ground in the competition.