In today’s 10 k story on FasterSkier, here’s how it began: “The high pressure continued at the 2021 World Championships on Tuesday in more ways than one. Oberstdorf, Germany’s temps hovered around 50 degrees Fahrenheit for the start of the women’s 10-kilometer individual freestyle, and a rarefied number of skiers poised to step on the podium. The pressure cooker that is the individual start, with skiers setting off at 30-second intervals was on display from the first earnest pole plants out of the start.”
Filling the lungs during the 10 k: Norway’s Therese Johaug. (Photo: NordicFocus)
The pressure that may have been building for this event was released as Norway’s Johaug won the race by 54 seconds over Sweden’s Frida Karlsson. All things considered, even going way back to the 2002 Olympics, a relatively massive time gap to second place. And for her part, Jessie Diggins of the U.S. did not disappoint. She came within a few seconds of bronze.
Diggins cooling off after the 10 k skate. (Photo: NordicFocus)
Cutting to the chase, we cover it all in the episode including a look at the American prospects in the upcoming 4 x 5 k relay.
Diggins (USA) lunges for the line after laying it all out to pull away from chasers Brennan (USA) and Karlsson (SWE). Photo: Nordic Focus
This World Cup coverage is made possible through the generous support of Marty and Kathy Hall and their A Hall Mark of Excellence Award. To learn more about A Hall Mark of Excellence Award or to learn how you can support FasterSkier’s coverage please contact info@fasterskier.com.
Sunday, Val Müstair, Switzerland hosted the last of three stages of the Tour de Ski in the picturesque alpen valley. With no fans present, and only traditional cowbells gonging as the audio backdrop, it was clear Jessie Diggins and Rosie Brennan, through their audible lung-gasps, were flexing for the stage win.
Before the drama of the day’s fine racing, first, some context. Last season, there was a new Swedish woman who barnstormed the World Cup. Already Frida Karlsson (21), a distance phenom, and Ebba Andersson (23) had taken bows on the big-stage – both part of a memorable World Championship 4 x 5 k gold medal team in 2019. Then Linn Svahn (21) came smashing through. She won last season’s World Cup sprint globe and returned primed to the Tour de Ski after a month away from the World Cup. (The Swedish National Team withdrew from World Cup competition in early December due to Covid-19 precautions.)
Today, Svahn led out first during the 10 k skate pursuit with a 19 second time cushion over second starter Jessie Diggins. Karlsson began another second behind Diggins, with Brennan the fourth starter (+0:22) .
Jessie Diggins, unleashed from the start and ready for an outrageous 10 k skate. (Photo: NordicFocus)
Frida Karlsson (SWE) digging deep for the finish line, coming in third behind Brennan and Diggins (USA). (Photo: NordicFocus)
It took a single lap of the 2.5 k loop during for Karlsson, Diggins, and Brennan to reel in Svahn. The catch came at 7:40, roughly 2.8 k’s into the race. Up to that point, Karlsson had set the pace allowing the two Americans to sit in her wake.
When the foursome coalesced, Svahn took her place at the back with Karlsson still upfront. Around they went beginning the third lap, Svahn still velcroed on. Yet her adhesion to the group eventually ripped and the sprint star began to bleed time. At 6.2 k she had lost 24.7 seconds to Karlsson in the lead.
Sweden’s Frida Karlsson leading Jessie Diggins and Rosie Brennan. (Photo: NordicFocus)
Here was the podium hustling along and jostling for the final 1-2-3 spots — Karlsson, Brennan, and Diggins. The order of the trio would vary here and there. What became clear around 9 k, was Diggins’ insistence on working every centimeter of the racecourse. Every opportunity to free skate was taken, as was a tuck to streamline as she eventually blasted into the lead. At 24:00 minutes, Diggins was decisive – and frankly impressive. Meter by meter Diggins gained ground on Brennan and Karlsson as she unrelentingly charged into the finish.
Jessie Diggins (USA) closing in on the finish line, followed by Rosie Brennan (USA) and Frida Karlsson (SWE). Photo: Nordic FocusGave it her all, Jessie Diggins (USA) after taking the win ahead of teammate Rosie Brennan (USA) and Frida Karlsson (SWE). (Photo: NordicFocus)Spent: Jessie Diggins stage 3 of the 2021 Tour de Ski. (Photo: NordicFocus)
26:54.1 was her official winning time in what was also Diggins’ first win of the season. Brennan who was as equally coy and powerful, placed second, 5.6 seconds back. Karlsson, perhaps the favored skier coming into the 2021 Tour de Ski, was third (+10.7). Svahn faded to sixth (+1:12.9).
“What a cool day!,” Diggins explained via email. “I was so excited to ski with Rosie and see what we could do out there, and we had great skis to help us on our way! I started out trying to help pull the group, but then nearly imploded in the altitude and spent the next few laps getting my legs back after feeling extremely wobbly! But on our last lap, I realized that once we got over most of the climbing I could still push without fear of totally blowing up, and knew I needed to send it on the downhill as hard as I could. It was such a cool feeling, sprinting it in for a win and getting to wear the yellow jersey. It’s important for me not to put pressure on myself and take the tour one day at a time, but it’s also important to not take these special moments for granted, and to enjoy a few moments knowing how hard so many people have worked to help me get here!”
Focusing: Rosie Brennan in for second overall in the Tour de Ski. (Photo: NordicFocus)
“Today was a day that required some sharp focus but the reward was well worth it,” Brennan emailed. “The fatigue of the tour starts to settle in about this time, but the time of day is what counts towards your overall tour place so it was not a day to only fight for place. I was fortunate to start in a strong group with Jessie and Frida. We are all work horses so I knew it was going to be game on from the start. Frida really took reigns and charged hard the whole race. Being more of a climber I tried to make a move at the top of the climb on the last lap. It worked to get a gap to Frida but also made a perfect launch for Jessie to utilize her fantastic downhill skills. I did my best to follow her counter move but didn’t quite have what I needed. It’s a pretty cool feeling to finish and realize that two Americans are 1-2 in the Tour right now! I am very proud of my effort today because it wasn’t a dream day of feelings in my body.”
Rosie Brennan (USA) celebrates as she crosses the line, taking silver in today’s 10 k pursuit. (Photo: Nordic Focus)
Sunday marked the seventh career individual World Cup win for Diggins which includes a best time of day in a 2018 10 k skate pursuit. Despite a stout classic race on Saturday in the 10 k classic, skating is Diggins’ bread and butter: All of her wins are in skate technique.
In 2018/2019, Diggins placed sixth overall in the TdS. Last season she was ninth overall. Brennan placed 15th overall in the 2019/2020 Tour but has entered this season with profound fitness and drive.
Hailey Swirbul who began in bib 17, moved up four spots to 13th in the stage (+2:03). Katharine Ogden, the 28th starter finished 25th (+3:43.6). Caitlin Patterson moved from 40th to 35th (+4:35.1), with Julia Kern, in bib 41, 40th (+5:00.7). Sophie Caldwell Hamilton placed 48th (+6:10.7).
Hailey Swirbul continues her strong skiing during stage 3 of the TdS. (Photo: NordicFocus)Katharine Ogden placed 25th in stage 3. (Photo: NordicFocus)
Diggins raced the fastest time of day, 26:35.1 minutes, with Brennan 2.6 seconds slower with this second fastest time. Swirbul skied the seventh fastest time (+39.6), and Ogden the 28th fastest (+1:13.6). Time of day is used for FIS points allocation.
The podium from the 10 k skate in Falun, Sweden. From left to right, Sweden’s Ebba Andersson in third, Norway’s Therese Johaug in second, and the U.S. Ski Team’s Jessie Diggins in third. (Photo: fis-ski.com screenshot)
FIS World Cup Falun, Sweden 10k/15k Inidividual Freestyle
The sun rises. The sun sets. And Norway’s Therese Johaug won the 10-kilometer individual start freestyle in Falun, Sweden. In 25:23.9 minutes, Johaug made her winning statement. Sweden’s Ebba Andersson placed second (+18.75), with the U.S. Ski Team’s (USST) Jessie Diggins in third (+30.3).
Fourth place went to Ingvild Flugstad Østberg of Norway who finished 30.8 seconds back.
Sadie Bjornsen (USST) raced to 12th (+1:05.7), Julia Kern (USST) 25th (+1:53.9), Rosie Brennan (APU) 27th, Kaitlynn Miller (CGRP) 34th (+2:21.5), and Rosie Frankowski (APU) 35th (+2:26.1).
The men’s 15 k skate was won by Russia’s Alexander Bolshunov in 33:18.6 minutes. Martin Johnsrud Sundby of Norway was second (+8.9) and Didrik Tønseth third (+17.7).
The top North American finisher was Canada’s Alex Harvey in 11th (1:10.9). Jack Carlyle finished in 66th (+5:55.5).
For the U.S., David Norris (APU) placed 16th (+1:15.3), Kevin Bolger (USST)45th (+2:41.9), and Scott Patterson (USST)54th (+3:39.8), Kyle Bratrud (SMST2) did not start.
IBU World Championships Östersund, Sweden 12.5 k Mass Start
Here’s the top-10 results from today’s 12.5 k mass start in Östersund, Sweden. The eyes need only read 10 skiers down for U.S. biathlete Joanne Reid’s name. There it is: 10th place for a career best individual result at a championship event.
Her teammate Clare Egan placed 26th (+3:01.4, 0+0+3+2).
Sergey Ustiugov of Russia topped the podium for a fifth straight stage of the FIS Tour de Ski, winning Friday’s 10 k skate by just 0.4 seconds over Maurice Manificat of France (left). Norway’s Simen Hegstad Krueger was third. (Photo: Fischer/Nordic Focus)
Big wins, small wins – wins of all sizes and over all sorts of rivals. That’s how Russia’s Sergey Ustiugov has built his lead, over a minute and a half now, in the FIS Tour de Ski.
For his fifth consecutive victory, Ustiugov started last in the field in the 10 k freestyle in Toblach, Italy. He knew exactly what he had to do: beat the pace set ten bibs earlier by Maurice Manificat of France.
Ustiugov built a lead of several seconds by the middle of the race. But Manificat had closed hard, and Ustiugov could barely hold on. In the end he took the win by just 0.4 seconds.
Alex Harvey en route to 11th in the 10 k skate. (Photo: Salomon/Nordic Focus)
“I pushed very hard from the start,” Ustiugov told FIS. “I wanted to extend the overall Tour de Ski lead.”
He did, aided by a less-than-perfect day from Norway’s Martin Johnsrud Sundby.
Sundby is a two-time Tour de Ski winner who now sits in second place. He seemed like he might be within striking distance of Ustiugov after the fourth stage of the Tour: 42.2 seconds back, with three more races to go.
But Sundby only skied to 14th place in the 10 k skate, finishing 36.9 seconds behind the Russian. With the winner receiving 15 extra bonus seconds, he is now 1:34.1 out of the lead.
“This is the worst distance race I’ve done in a year and a day,” Sundby told NRK, recalling finishing 23rd in the 15 k classic mass start in last year’s Oberstdorf Tour de Ski stage. “I’m miles away from top form.”
Yet Ustiugov wasn’t taking his lead for granted.
“For Martin a minute does not mean anything — that showed in the Ski Tour Canada,” he said, according to skisport.ru. “Tomorrow will be a very tough race, the 15 k classic… The main thing is not to lose all that has been so hard-earned in these five races.”
Manificat and Krueger
Simen Krueger won the men’s 15 k freestyle at 2016 U23 World Championships in Rasnov, Romania. (Photo: FIS)
While Sundby faltered, Manificat surged and came closer than anyone has to beating Ustiugov’s time on the clock.
“I had a great day,” he told FIS. “I felt perfect on skis, I got a great glide and I found a very good rhythm. Love the course in Toblach. There are steady climbs and nice downhills.”
It was the first individual podium of the season for Manificat, who had helped his French teammates to a relay podium in La Clusaz before Christmas.
Instead of Sundby, another Norwegian was third: 23-year-old Simen Hegstad Krueger.
Krueger was last year’s U23 World Champion in the 15 k skate, and he has had strong World Cup results this season, notably a fifth place in the 10 k skate in Lillehammer.
But he wasn’t expecting to get on the podium for the first time in Toblach.
“It is absolutely unbelievable,” he marveled to FIS. “I would not have thought I could be third today. It’s a big moment for me to win the first World Cup podium.”
Nevertheless, Krueger told NRK that this was “a favorite distance,” so he knew he had a chance of a good race, wherever that landed on the results sheet.
“I took a chance with hard opening and that burned me toward the finish, but I was able to keep it all the way in,” he said.
By the middle of the race Krueger – who started a few bibs before Ustiugov – was closer than anyone to catching Manificat. But over the last few kilometers he faded, suffering the consequence of that hard start.
It was still enough, though, to best fourth-place Matti Heikkinen of Finland by 0.7 seconds.
Marcus Hellner of Sweden was fifth (+25.8) and Didrik Tønseth of Norway sixth (+27.2).
Cologna and Harvey Battle for Third
Seventh place went to Swiss veteran Dario Cologna who has won the Tour de Ski three times (+27.9).
He had been fourth coming into the day, and had hoped for more – maybe a podium. He has said that the Tour de Ski is his favorite race.
“I was able to make up time on the direct opponents,” Cologna told Swiss broadcaster SRF. “So in that regard it was okay. Surely I would have liked to be a little faster, but I believe I am now on the podium in the overall standings… everything is still very close together, and the next two stages will be important.”
Ustiugov on his way to the stage 4 win. (Photo: Fischer/NordicFocus)
He did get on the podium – by bumping off Canada’s Alex Harvey, who had been in third. Harvey finished 11th on the day (+34.2) and is now half a second behind Cologna.
“I was really optimistic about the race, but then just didn’t ski super well,” Harvey said in an interview. “And… It’s Toblach, it’s always been hard for me. Like last year, I was out of the top 30 on that 10 k skate and lost a lot of time. I don’t know, it’s a weird course, not much rest and all work. It seems to be working better for Jessie Diggins than for me.”
But to still be in fourth place, and so close to Cologna, is a good sign at this stage.
“Overall I’d say this was definitely the stage I was fearing the most in the Tour, just because of my history here,” Harvey said. “I think I came out of it pretty good, because I’m still half a second behind Dario. And I feel like Dario could have won or been on the podium and put a lot of seconds on me.”
Indeed, Cologna had tried to game the system by picking bib 20 and hoping that Sundby would be starting while he was on his second lap, and that the two could ski together.
But it didn’t work out – the lap time for the 5 k course was faster than expected, and Sundby was slower than expected.
“At the end of the day you have to be ready to make your own race,” Cologna told SRF. “I was able to pull through and make up some time on the second loop.”
Both men are looking forward to the next stages. Saturday’s 15 k mass start classic is a race that Harvey has been waiting for all Tour.
“Yeah, I’m really excited for it,” he said. “Classic felt really good in the skiathlon, so I’m hoping to get the similar feeling. It looks like the waxing conditions will actually be pretty similar to what we had in Oberstdorf. It’s been cold in Central Europe so it has made for some nice classic skiing. And I’ve had good results here in the past — I have good memories of this place.”
Both are shooting to beat each other, but also to possibly move even higher up the food chain.
In the 15 k, Ustiugov is on Harvey’s radar.
“In Oberstdorf, I felt that Ustiugov was struggling a little bit in the classic, so you never know,” Harvey said. “He’s on another planet right now, but I still believe it’s possible to beat him.”
Devon Kershaw (CAN) during the 10k freestyle in Toblach (ITA). (Photo: Fischer/Nordic Focus)
Fellow Canadians Devon Kershaw and Graeme Killickwere 32nd (+1:06.0) and 35th (+1:11.9), respectively, and currently rank 24th (+5:56.2) and 39th (+9:43.3) overall in the Tour.
Hoffman in the Points, Bjornsen Just Out
For the U.S., Noah Hoffman placed 25th (+55.8) for his first top 30 of the Tour to move into 31st overall (+8:14.8). Erik Bjornsen just missed the points in 31st (+1:04.6) for 42nd overall (+10:13.6).
Hoffman had a fast start. But by the time Ustiugov, who had started one bib behind him, caught up, Hoffman was burnt up.
“It was set up to be quite good,” Hoffman said. “I was very good on the first lap. Then I just faded. Ustiugov started 30 seconds behind me and I was probably running a little scared from him. And as I started Heikkinin was lapping through about 100 meters in front of me. I got close to him, but I never got there. That probably combined for a bit of a hotter start than I should have had. I wasn’t able to hold it on the second lap.”
He saw those two potential rides as missed opportunities, but still found some merit in his race.
“Sticking even close with Ustiugov would have been a great result,” he said. “But I’m happy to be in the points for sure. It’s a step in the right direction.
After a slow start to the Tour, Bjornsen feels that things may be turning around.
“Today was good,” he wrote in an email. “I think the pursuit start skate 15 k in Oberstdorf was a little better, and I guess the result showed that as I was 27th on time of day there. Today was comparable though. I’m definitely starting to feel like I’m getting some snap back in my step. I’m guessing my training block post La Clusaz was a little too hard and that’s why I didn’t feel very powerful in the first few stages of the Tour.”
Bjornsen skied the whole race alone, which he said was a disadvantage.
“It’s a very grindy course out there with not much rest, so that usually doesn’t play to my favor,” he wrote.
“My result was forgotten pretty quickly,” Bjornsen wrote. “I kind of feel like I won today just because Sadie had such an outstanding race! I’ve pretty much trained besides her since we started taking this sport seriously. I’ve seen her make steady improvements over the years, but this summer/fall she took another big step in her skating… It was really cool to see it all come together for her today. She’s a ridiculously dedicated and hard worker, she deserved that result more than anyone!”
Hoffman agreed: “The most important thing – the day is highlighted by that win. I’m so psyched for Jessie, and then Sadie breaking through to the podium level. It’s pretty awesome and it’s fun to be part of that. It’s their day.”
Sweden’s Charlotte Kalla came up big in front of a home crowd in Östersund, Sweden, winning Sunday’s 10 k freestyle by more than 36 seconds over Norway’s Marit Bjørgen. (Photo: FIS)
With only days to go until the 2015 Nordic World Ski Championships in Falun, Sweden, nobody could touch home-crowd favorite Charlotte Kalla in the women’s World Cup 10-kilometer freestyle individual start on Sunday in Östersund, Sweden.
The 27-year-old Kalla polished off the challenging, hilly, two-lap course in 23 minutes and 26.1 seconds for her first World Cup win since March 2010, when she won the 10 k freestyle at World Cup Finals. She was more than half a minute ahead of Marit Bjørgen of Norway in second place, and nearly a minute ahead of Therese Johaug of Norway, who have been dominating the World Cup since the first races in November.
“It feels great to win a World Cup again,” Kalla said to FIS reporters after the race.
Kalla was quick to thank the spectators for carrying her through the challenging course and also noted that she felt like she had some home turf advantage.
“The crowd here in Östersund was so encouraging. I know the courses here very well, and I felt strong,” she said, adding that Feb. 15 marks a special anniversary for her.
“I won Olympic gold in Vancouver on this day, and again last year in Sochi we won the relay on this day, and now a World Cup win today,” Kalla said.
Kalla chose to sit out the 2014/2015 Tour de Ski in favor of training and peaking for the World Championships on home turf later in the season, a strategy she chose with success also leading up to the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver.
Left Bjørgen in the dust
Saturday’s sprint winner and Overall World Cup leader, Bjørgen was clearly ahead of her primary rival Johaug, starting a minute after her teammate and beating Johaug by more than 15 seconds. But even the queen of cross-country skiing was more than half a minute behind Kalla, who started 50th, over 10 kilometers.
Bjørgen in bib 72 never came close to matching Kalla at any point of the race, with Kalla leading by 10.4 seconds at 1.8 k, then 25.4 seconds at 6.8 k. At 8.3 k, Bjørgen remained in second, but was 31.5 seconds behind Kalla.
“I didn’t feel as strong today as yesterday, but I am really happy for Charlotte,” Bjørgen told FIS after the race. “It is so nice to see her back on top of the podium. It’s great for her, and it is important for the sport, especially with the World Championships here in Sweden.”
“It’s great for her, and it is important for the sport, especially with the World Championships here in Sweden.” — Marit Bjørgen, runner-up in Sunday’s 10 k freestyle to Sweden’s Charlotte Kalla
Despite finishing second, Bjørgen locked up her fourth Overall World Cup title on Sunday with a 565-point lead on Johaug (last year’s overall winner) with four World Cup races to go.
Kalla skied confidently for the start. Low to the ground, she pushed off calmly and powerfully, getting the most out of every stride. The Norwegians skied with higher turnover, but on Sunday, their style resulted in less speed.
At 1.8 k, Kalla remained more than 13 seconds ahead of Johaug and Weng. At 8.3 k Kalla was a whopping 48.2 seconds ahead of Johaug in third.
While Kalla left the Scandinavian Cup races in January in Falun in tears (where she won the 10 k freestyle and took fourth in the classic sprint and skiathlon), she gave a taste of what is in store during the Swedish national championships two weeks ago when she dominated the rest of the field in both the skiathlon and the 10 k freestyle in Örebro.
On Sunday, Kalla won with 36.5 seconds to spare to Bjørgen in second place. Johaug was third, 53.6 seconds behind Kalla. Norway’s Heidi Weng and Astrid Uhrenholdt Jacobsen finished fourth and fifth, respectively, 1:01.3 and 1:08.3 back.
Scandinavian dominance
Nicole Fessel of Germany in sixth place was the top non-Scandinavian in the 10 k skate race, more than a minute behind Kalla, and about 20 seconds out of the podium. Riitta-Liisa Roponen of Finland was seventh, Martine Ek Hagen of Norway was eighth, Yulia Tchekaleva of Russia was ninth, and Ragnhild Haga of Norway was 10th.
Jessie Diggins in 17th place was the top American in the final test run before the World Championships, which open with classic sprints for both men and women on Thursday. Diggins was 1:45.7 behind Kalla. Liz Stephen was 26th, Rosie Brennan was 32nd and Kikkan Randall was 33rd for the U.S., while Emily Nishikawa placed 36th for Canada.
Prior to the World Cup round in Östersund, both the Swedish and the Norwegian national teams have been training and preparing for the World Championships at altitude in the Italian Alps.
After this weekend, Kalla travels to Falun, to start the final preparations for the World Championships. For her, the first event will be the 15 k skiathlon on Feb. 21.
Kikkan Randall (APU/USST) heads up Elliott’s Climb in Kincaid Park at the end of the first of two laps on Saturday. She went on to win the 10 k freestyle individual start by 2.2 seconds on the first day of SuperTour Finals in Anchorage, Alaska.
ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Liz Stephen had quite the task ahead of her on Saturday in the first race of 2014 SuperTour Finals. Kikkan Randall’s house guest for the week and her longtime buddy on the U.S. Ski Team, the 27-year-old from East Montpelier, Vt., started a minute behind Randall in the women’s 10-kilometer freestyle individual start at Kincaid Park.
Usually, that would be fine, but when you hear cheers through the woods ahead of you and get splits that you’re right behind Kikkan, that you’re seven seconds down, one second down, it’s hard to know how to beat her.
Stephen tried anyway, but at the end of the 27-minute race — which was actually 10.6 k on the two-lap course — Randall was the one who finished fastest in 27:27.1, by 2.2 seconds over Stephen in second.
Alaska Pacific University’s leading veteran, Randall, 31, repeated her win in the 10 k distance from last year’s SuperTour Finals in Truckee, Calif. There, she won the 10 k classic by 36.6 seconds over her APU and USST teammate Sadie Bjornsen and finished 47 seconds ahead of Stephen.
On Saturday, the 10 k skate was a favorite event for several on the U.S. Ski Team (with the exception of Sophie Caldwell, who finished eighth and smiling in one of her least-favorite races on her 24th birthday. She was greeted at the finish by nearly a dozen costumed competitors, including Randall in a tinsel wig and Stephen in an afro, somewhat contained by a ski headband).
Almost a dozen women quickly switched gears after finishing Saturday’s 10 k skate to wearing costumes and greeting Sophie Caldwell, of the U.S. Ski Team and Stratton Mountain School T2 Team, at the finish at SuperTour Finals in Anchorage, Alaska, on Caldwell’s birthday.
Almost a dozen women quickly switched gears after finishing Saturday’s 10 k skate to wearing costumes and greeting Sophie Caldwell, of the U.S. Ski Team and Stratton Mountain School T2 Team, at the finish at SuperTour Finals in Anchorage, Alaska, on Caldwell’s birthday.
Sophie Caldwell cruises into the finish while being surprised by nearly a dozen competitors in costume to celebrate her birthday on March 22 at SuperTour Finals in Anchorage, Alaska.
A smiling-and-suprised Sophie Caldwell at the finish of the 10 k freestyle at SuperTour Finals on March 22 after several teammates and competitors dressed up to celebrate her birthday in Anchorage, Alaska.
A smiling-and-suprised Sophie Caldwell at the finish of the 10 k freestyle at SuperTour Finals on March 22 after several teammates and competitors dressed up to celebrate her birthday in Anchorage, Alaska.
A smiling-and-suprised Sophie Caldwell at the finish of the 10 k freestyle at SuperTour Finals on March 22 after several teammates and competitors dressed up to celebrate her birthday in Anchorage, Alaska.
A smiling-and-suprised Sophie Caldwell at the finish of the 10 k freestyle at SuperTour Finals on March 22 after several teammates and competitors dressed up to celebrate her birthday in Anchorage, Alaska.
A few minutes earlier, Randall and Stephen had been just as gassed as most in the field at the finish, which ended on the winding uphill called Elliott’s Climb before an 80-meter straightaway into the World Cup stadium (a modified start and finish because of low snow).
“I knew it was close,” Stephen recalled. She was down by 7.3 seconds to Randall after the first lap then two seconds a couple kilometers later.
With 3 k to go, Stephen knew she had some climbing ahead — which was good for her. Randall’s strength was gliding, she reasoned, so Stephen went for it on the rolling (and sometimes-screaming) downhills and tried to ski relaxed, until the last time up Elliott’s.
“On this final climb it was just head down and going,” Stephen said. “[Kikkan] got it and it’s great to see her win in her home state.”
SuperTour leader Caitlin Gregg (Team Gregg/Madshus) clocks the fastest time through 5 k in Saturday’s 10 k freestyle at SuperTour Finals in Anchorage, Alaska. She went on to place third.
While Randall had an edge on Stephen from start to finish, she was actually trailing Caitlin Gregg (Team Gregg/Madshus) by 3.6 seconds at the end of the first lap. However, Randall had little way of knowing; she started 5 1/2 minutes ahead of Gregg. (Stephen started ahead of her as well.)
The 2014 American Birkebeiner freestyle champion, Gregg was also fresh off a flight from World Cup Finals in Europe. She arrived in Anchorage on Tuesday — one day before Randall and Stephen.
While Gregg said her energy was good and wasn’t sure where she lost time on the second lap on Saturday, she credited Randall and Stephen as “great World Cup skiers” and was satisfied with third place, 20.9 seconds behind Randall and 4.1 seconds ahead of Bjornsen in fourth.
“I always have really good skate races here in Anchorage,” Gregg said. “Whether it was at JO’s [Junior Nationals], NCAA’s, nationals twice, I qualified for the Olympics here in 2010 — for whatever reason, Alaska and I, Anchorage and I do great. I love the trails, I love the conditions, the crowds, it’s a good vibe.”
When she and her husband, Brian, who placed ninth in the men’s 15 k, found out that Spring Series was going to be there, they couldn’t pass it up. Even after they raced more than ever this season — both domestically and internationally; Caitlin said she’s only had two weekends off since early October and has been back and fourth to Europe twice.
“Even after our crazy long season, we were like, ‘Oh man, that is gonna be awesome,’ ” she said. “We went for an afternoon jog at nine o’clock last night. We watched the sunset over the ocean.”
“For whatever reason, Alaska and I, Anchorage and I do great. I love the trails, I love the conditions, the crowds, it’s a good vibe.” — Caitlin Gregg (Team Gregg/Madshus), third in 2014 SuperTour Finals 10 k freestyle
The ultimate hometown hero, Randall relied on the crowd to boost her the last time around Kincaid — the same trails she grew up on. Born in Salt Lake City, Utah, Randall moved to Anchorage with her family when she was just a few years old, and went on to rack up 10 state titles at East Anchorage High School, all of which were in running.
As a junior skier, Randall won seven Junior National titles and set Alaska’s record for fastest woman on skis at 74.14 miles per hour in a 1994 speed-skiing event, according to her blog.
But on Saturday, what mattered was that the four-time Olympian had another great day in her storied career, which she most recently added her third Sprint World Cup title to.
“You spend the whole winter on the World Cup and then you come back here and it just feels so familiar,” Randall said. “Just seeing everybody and the snow is familiar. It was really funny packing my race bag this morning, I was so in the routine all winter, but then to do it in your own house is kind of funny.”
Liz Stephen (Burke/USST) heads up Elliott’s Climb the first of two times in Saturday’s 10 k freestyle at SuperTour Finals at Kincaid Park in Anchorage, Alaska. She went on to place second to teammate Kikkan Randall by 2.2 seconds.
She had her husband, Jeff Ellis, and Stephen at home with her, too. Randall said it was that familiarity paired with the ability to make an impact on the community that made her want to have the post-Sochi Olympics, season-ending races there. These Finals are Randall’s first races in Anchorage since 2010 nationals.
“It’s really nice for us racers to come back and race at home, but it’s so good for the community and the next generation of Olympians,” Randall said. “They’re seeing a high-level race for the first time and they’re like, ‘Oh man, I want to be there someday.’ I remember being a kid and feeling that way.”
Randall went on to become the most successful female cross-country skier in U.S. history.
“When I was standing in the start gate [today] I thought, I do this because I love it,” Randall said. “When you’re on the World Cup, it’s such a big scene there, but to do it here in front of all your friends and family, it’s like, Oh yeah, this is the true spirit of cross-country.”
Stephen, who’s also under APU’s wing this week with wax help, said the kind of recognition Randall gets from her home state and supporters stands out.
“Everybody knows her and it’s a really cool atmosphere here in Alaska,” Stephen said. “We were watching TV last night from some shows that had been recorded in December. Usually you fast-forward through the ads, and we were doing that, but on a number of different occasions I would be like, ‘There you are!’ And we’d have to go back and watch it.
“It’s just really cool to see a community and a whole state really embrace cross country skiing and embrace their athletes,” Stephen added. “It’s fun to be here and it’s fun to be home with Kikkan because she is a star. In our minds, all the time and in her state too and it’s just fun to be a part of it.”
Also in the top 10, Jessie Diggins, of the Stratton Mountain School T2 Team (SMST2) and USST, placed fifth (+29.8). Girdwood native Chelsea Holmes (Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation) was sixth (+55.0), Holly Brooks (APU/USST) seventh (+56.2), Caldwell (SMST2) eighth, Erika Flowers (SMST2) ninth, and Anchorage’s own Caitlin Patterson (Craftsbury Green Racing Project) 10th.
![Sergey Ustiugov of Russia topped the podium for a fifth straight stage of the FIS Tour de Ski, winning Friday's 10 k skate by just 0.4 seconds over Maurice Manificat of France (left). Norway's Simen Hegstad Krueger was third. (Photo: Fischer/Nordic Focus)](http://fasterskier.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2017/01/Podium6117fm0026.jpg")
![Ustiugov on his way to the stage 4 win. (Photo: Fischer/NordicFocus)](http://fasterskier.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2017/01/Ustiugov6117fm0010.jpg")
![Devon Kershaw (CAN) during the 10k freestyle in Toblach (ITA). (Photo: Fischer/Nordic Focus)](http://fasterskier.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2017/01/Kershaw6117fm0207.jpg")
![Ustiugov (RUS) was extremely excited to capture another Tour de Ski stage win in Toblach (ITA). (Photo: Fischer/Nordic Focus)](http://fasterskier.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2017/01/Ustiugov6117fm0022.jpg")
![Sweden's Charlotte Kalla came up big in front of a home crowd in Östersund, Sweden, winning Sunday's 10 k freestyle by more than 36 seconds over Norway's Marit Bjørgen. (Photo: FIS)](http://fasterskier.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2015/02/65190_G08_W01.jpg")
![Kikkan Randall (APU/USST) heads up Elliott's Climb in Kincaid Park at the end of the first of two laps on Saturday. She went on to win the 10 k freestyle individual start by 2.2 seconds on the first day of SuperTour Finals in Anchorage, Alaska.](http://fasterskier.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2014/03/IMG_4822.jpg")
![SuperTour leader Caitlin Gregg (Team Gregg/Madshus) clocks the fastest time through 5 k in Saturday's 10 k freestyle at SuperTour Finals in Anchorage, Alaska. She went on to place third.](http://fasterskier.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2014/03/IMG_4870.jpg")
![Liz Stephen (Burke/USST) heads up Elliott's Climb the first of two times in Saturday's 10 k freestyle at SuperTour Finals at Kincaid Park in Anchorage, Alaska. She went on to place second to teammate Kikkan Randall by 2.2 seconds.](http://fasterskier.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2014/03/IMG_4843.jpg")