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It’s hard to believe, but this weekend in Falun, Sweden, marks the final weekend of competition in the FIS World Cup season. The strong showing by the American team in the first period of racing—and Jessie Diggins’ (USA) early domination of Distance racing and the Tour de Ski—seem like a lifetime ago. The results for the Women’s Overall Championship rest upon this weekend’s outcome in Falun.
Diggins carried a 102 point lead in the Overall Crystal Globe competition into today’s Classic Sprint race. Chasing her was Linn Svahn (SWE), who secured the Sprint Crystal Globe Sprint championship last weekend in Drammen. While Diggins entered the race with the Overall lead—and would hope to preserve that lead going in tomorrow’s Classic 10-kilometer Individual Start—Svahn entered the weekend with the momentum, as she has been steadily chipping away at Diggins’ margin. But Svahn would need a strong showing today to keep her in the hunt for the Overall trophy.
Securing the Sprint championship last weekend gave Svahn the freedom to throw caution to the wind if she so desired. She would also have the support of the home crowd as she tried to claw away at Diggins’ lead. Another factor in Svahn’s favor was that Sweden took full advantage of the host nation’s quota, fielding 12 skiers. Svahn would have lots of support on and off the snow. In a sense, she was playing with house money today: nothing to lose, everything to gain.
The qualifying round went Svahn’s way as she finished second (earning 12 points). Diggins finished 21st and didn’t receive any points. Before the heats had even begun, Diggins’ lead was reduced to 90 points. Also qualifying and joining Diggins in the heats were teammates Julia Kern, and Rosie Brennan.
But Diggins couldn’t manage to advance out of the quarterfinals and finished 18th. Kristine Stavaas Skistad (NOR) took the victory with Svahn finishing second and Jonna Sundling (SWE) finishing third. Svahn’s second place—combined with Diggins’ less-than-stellar 18th—was exactly what Svahn had needed to do to close the gap on Diggins.
“My goals and priorities might be different than the ones other people have for me,” Diggins remarked after her quarterfinal heat. “Out of everything I can control, I’m proud of how I skied. Last year I probably wouldn’t have even qualified. I definitely need to get stronger at double pole.”
“For me the most important thing is that I don’t let other people’s priorities take away my joy from ski racing,” said Diggins. “Sometimes that’s hard to do, and that’s what I’m focused on.”
“I just told Linn good luck, cause she’s having a great year,” said Diggins. “I hope she has coaches and people in her life who say the things my coaches say to me. ‘We’re still going to love you if you’re dead last.’ I think that’s way more important. That’s how I cope.”
After all of the mathematics were completed, Diggins still leads going into tomorrow’s Individual Start Classic race by a scant 41points. The stage has been set for what promises to be two tense days of racing.
Seven American women competed today. Other American finishers were Rosie Brennan 20th, Julia Kern 24th, Sammy Smith 39th, Erin Bianco 44th, Haley Brewster 51st, and Renae Anderson 54th. For Brewster, it was her first World Cup race outside of North America, and today marked Anderson’s second World Cup in Europe.
For Canada, the top finisher was Sonjaa Schmidt in 45. Liliane Gagnon finished 48th.
On the men’s side of the race, Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo (NOR) had wrapped up the Sprint Crystal Globe last week. Today’s race was a battle for second place in the Sprint competition with Erik Valnes (NOR) coming into the race holding a 35 point lead over Lucas Chanavat (FRA) for the second spot. With bonus points available for Sprint qualification, the race for second place was wide open.
Klaebo once again demonstrated why he is the best Sprinter in history as he chose whatever tactics suited him in the heats, and easily captured first place in the final. Lauri Vuorinen (FIN) took second place for his first World Cup podium. Harald Oestberg Amundsen (NOR) was third.
“It was a hard one,” Klaebo commented after the race. When asked about winning the Sprint competition he replied that, “the Crystal Globes are always part of the goals. This has been one of my best Sprint seasons in my career.”
Valnes finished sixth and Chanavat finished tenth, meaning that the battle for second place in the Sprint standings went to Valnes with Chanavat settling for third.
Seven American men raced in Falun, and three qualified for the heats. JC Schoonmaker was the top American man finishing ninth. Other American finishers were Gus Schumacher 19th, Zanden McMullen 20th, Zak Ketterson 53rd, Luke Jager 57th, Kevin Bolger 61st, and Michael Earnhart 64th.
The top Canadian finisher was Antoine Cyr in 23rd. Other Canadian finishers were Xavier McKeever 29th, Sasha Masson 54th, and Pierre Grall-Johnson 59th.
After the race, Schumacher commented on the warm course conditions.”It’s warm and they salted the course,” he said. “So it makes it harder. It’s honestly skiing pretty well, my skis are good, but it’s kind of funky.”
Women’s Quarterfinals
In the first heat, Sundling continued with her usual strategy of going quickly to the lead. She developed a huge gap on the field early while Skistad finished second. It was a repeat of a formula which has been witnessed often this season in the Sprints: Sundling going off like a rocket and Skistad doing only what she needs in order to advance.
Svahn was in the second heat along with Brennan, Frida Karlsson (SWE) and Julie Myhre (NOR). Svahn went out to the lead in a controlled fashion along with Myhre and Johanna Matintalo (FIN). Svahn maintained her position at the front and easily won the heat. Brennan finished fourth and did not advance.
With Svahn’s advance, the pressure was now on Diggins in the next heat to keep pace. Diggins would face off against Tiril Udnes Weng (NOR), Moa Lundgren (SWE) and Laura Gimmler (GER). Immediately after the start, Diggins was at the back of the pack but quickly moved up to the middle of the group. She was visibly slipping up the steep hills, and every slip cost her precious time sending her behind the leaders. But there appeared to be a glimmer of hope as after the biggest downhill she was able to move herself back into third place and used the draft to gain on the leaders. Diggins took an outside line into the final stretch and had an unobstructed path to the finish line, but she couldn’t keep up with the double pole pace. Finishing fourth, her day was over. No matter what happened next, her lead in the Overall competition would further erode as Svahn advanced.
Julia Kern was in the fourth quarterfinal. She would face Emma Ribom (SWE) who had been disqualified in the last Sprint race for interference. Kern maintained pace with the lead group early and was fourth half-way through the race. But then Ribom took control of the race and went to the lead distancing herself from the field. She went into the stadium with a large lead and coasted to the finish. Kern finished fifth and would not advance. And just like that, the day was over for the American women.
In the fifth heat, Maerta Rosenberg (SWE) went out to an early lead. The 21 year old raised the excitement level for the Swedish fans as they cheered a youngster trying to hold off a veteran World Cup field. The fairy tale ended in the stadium as the field swallowed up Rosenberg: she finished sixth. Desiree Steiner (SUI) and Coletta Rydzek (GER) took first and second.
Women’s Semifinal
Svahn was in the first semifinal where she was joined by Sundling, Gimmler, Skistad, Myhre, and Anna Svendsen (NOR). It was a very tough field for Svahn to try and advance through. Sundling and Skistad went out to the lead early, but Svahn quickly passed\ Skistad to move into second. It was a perilous position for Svahn who was in danger of being out-dueled at the finish by Skistad. As they entered the final stretch, all three skiers were together. Svahn was able to surge to the lead, and once again Skistad exerted the least amount of energy possible to eke out second place over Sundling. Svahn would advance to the finals and was now guaranteed to take a sizeable chunk out of Diggins’ lead.
In the second semifinal Ribom took a commanding lead early and was never seriously challenged. Nadine Faehndrich (SUI) was able to join Ribom at the finish line for second. The two advanced to the finals with no one from the heat getting a lucky loser position.
Women’s Finals
The women’s finals consisted of Svahn, Ribom, Skistad, Faehndrich, Sundling, and Gimmler. Entering the final, the question was would Skistad’s strategy of skiing conservatively in the heats pay dividends for her in the finals? In a total change of tactics, Skistad went into the lead early. Sundling tucked in behind her, then passed her on the first climb. Sundling was then joined by Svahn who also passed Skistad, and the three women quickly gapped the field. Sundling, Svahn and Skistad skied together in a trio into the final long downhill. Then Skistad was able to easily blast by the two Swedes and shot into the lead. She maintained her lead coming into the stadium and created a large gap, winning easily. As Skistad crossed the finish line she pressed her index finger to her mouth miming the “shush” gesture at the crowd. Svahn finished second to get the second most possible points out of the heats. For Svahn, it was mission accomplished; she is now within striking distance of Diggins.
Men’s Quarterfinals
Schumacher was in the first heat and was in the unenviable position of going up against Klaebo and Valnes. Anton Grahn (SWE), a 19 year old junior went to the front early, but the field was unconcerned by his outburst. Klaebo— as is usual for him— remained calm and pushed to the front group. Schumacher then contended for the lead, but as the group entered the stadium the Norwegians glided by him, and he dropped to third. Valnes won the heat with Klaebo finishing second. Schumacher finished fourth and would have to wait on a lucky loser spot.
The men’s Overall leader, Amundsen, was in the second heat. He immediately went into the lead along with Vuorinen. The two took a large lead into the stadium and easily advanced. It was a fast heat which meant that Schumacher lost the lucky loser’s position.
Schoonmaker was in the third heat. Halfway through, he moved to the front and pressed the pace as he was able to develop a large gap. As the field entered the final stretch they began to close on him. Schoonmaker was able to stay with the field as there was a three-way photo finish. After the review, Schoonmaker was awarded first place and he would automatically advance. Edvin Anger (SWE) took second. Schoonmaker would be the first American of the day to advance.
Cyr was in the fourth heat alongside Federico Pellegrino (ITA), Even Northug (NOR), and Sivert Wiig (NOR). Wiig took the victory with Northug finishing second. Cyr would not advance.
McMullen was in the fifth heat. In that race, Marcus Grate (SWE) and Emil Danielsson (SWE) immediately went to the lead. They were quickly joined by Ondrej Cerny (CZE). McMullen skied well tactically and went into the lead two-thirds through the race. He maintained the lead going into the stadium as a five way double pole sprint to the finish took place. In another photo-finish it was Cerny and Chanavat taking first and second. McMullen finished fourth and would not advance.
Men’s Semifinals
Schoonmaker was in the first semifinal along with Klaebo, Valnes, and Amundsen. Amundsen went to the front early and kept the tempo very quick. Halfway through it was five skiers in a big pack with Amundsen leading it. Entering the final climb, Klaebo and Valnes blew past Amundsen. Klaebo took the lead and leisurely double poled across the finish line in first. Valnes was second. Amundsen and Vuorinen would wait for a lucky loser positions. Schoonmaker finished fifth and would not advance.
In the second semifinal the field went out extremely leisurely in what quickly developed into a tactical race. Finally, more than halfway through, Chanavat put in a couple of quick strides to create a gap near the final stretch. But it was still a five-way grouping coming into the stadium. Johan Haeggstroem (SWE) and Northug advanced to the finals.
Men’s Finals
Klaebo, Haeggstroem, Valnes, Northug, Amundsen, and Vuorinen were in the men’s finals, which saw a change of strategy from the heats. Klaebo and Amundsen went early to the front. Klaebo lead up the final climb as something unusual then happened—he had a slight slip. That minor miscue allowed Amundsen to shoot to the front. But Klaebo didn’t panic, he was able to pass his teammate on the final large downhill, put in an incredible turn of speed, and in seconds created a gigantic gap. He didn’t even have to kick or double pole for the last 20 meters of the race. It was a scene of complete domination. Klaebo easily took the win with Vuorinen finishing second for his first World Cup podium. Amundsen ended up third, providing an excellence defense of his lead over Klaebo in the World Cup overall points chase.
