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Tag: Marte Elden

  • Team 1: Norway

    Norway

    2009-2010 Nations Cup Ranking: 1st (9899 pts)

    2010-2011 Nations Cup Ranking: 1st (11397 pts)

    Men: 1st (4722 pts)

    Women: 1st (6675 pts)

    2011/2012 World Cup Team

    Men

    Tord Asle Gjerdalen

    Petter Northug Jr

    Eldar Roenning

    Martin Johnsrud Sundby

    Sjur Roethe

    Petter Eliassen

    Kristian Tettli Rennemo

    Ola Vigen Hattestad

    Johan Kjoelstad

    Eirik Brandsdal

    Oeystein Pettersen

    Anders Gloersen

    John Kristian Dahl

    Women

    Marit Bjoergen

    Therese Johaug

    Marthe Kristoffersen

    Kristin Stoermer Steira

    Vibeke Skofterud

    Astrid Jacobsen

    Celine Brun-Lie

    Ingvild Flugstad Oestberg

    Maiken Caspersen Falla

    What You May Have Missed Last Season

    Victory.

    Regardless of nation affiliation, Therese Johaug was possibly the highlight of the entire World Cup season. Whether you call her ‘Go-Haug’, the ‘Energizer Bunny’, or ‘that tiny blonde chick who never seems to get tired’, Johaug had a massive bounce-back season, churning out top results over the course of the entire year.

    She won two Stage World Cups, including a commanding one-minute lead on the Final Climb up Alpe Cermis during the Tour de Ski, which brought her up to second in the event.

    It was the same hill-climbing prowess that catapulted Johaug to victory at World Championships in Oslo, where she pulled away from Marit Bjoergen and Justyna Kowalczyk to become World Champion in the 30 k skate. Most importantly, Johaug’s prowess broke up the Bjoergen-Kowalczyk club, and introduced a new power into womens skiing.

    With Bjoergen knocking the stuffing out of every single woman on the circuit this year, and Johaug stepping up to a new level, the Norwegians have an unbeatable 1-2 punch in women’s skiing. Add in the aging but not-quite-done Kristen Stoermer Steira, and one of Astrid Jacobsen, Marthe Kristofferesen, or Vibeke Skofterud, and it’s not hard to understand why the Norwegian women won every single 4-woman relay they entered this year (they didn’t bother going to Rybinsk, Russia).

    Speaking of Stoermer Steira, the lanky distance-specialist was on her way to yet another wooden medal (that would be a fourth place finish) at a major event, when Charlotte Kalla stepped on her pole, putting her to the ground.

    After being called on the carpet by FasterSkier last year for terrible distance skiing ability, the Norwegian men didn’t really rise to the occasion. (And yes, we know that the Norwegian World Cup team probably doesn’t read FasterSkier season previews.)

    Regardless, Northug was once again alone in the top 15 of the Overall World Cup standings, while Ola Vigen Hattestad was 18th, and Eldar Roenning was 19th – again, that’s just not good enough for a country like Norway.

    However, there were flashes of brilliance, as Roenning finished in the top 10 every time a 15 k classic popped up on the scheduled, including a silver-medal winning effort at World Championships, just ahead of Martin Johnsrud Sundby. And 21 year old Finn Haagen Krogh had a stellar World Cup Final in Sweden, where he won the second last stage before falling to Northug on the final day of racing.

    Everyone knows Northug is fantastic skier, so much so that it barely rates mentioning at this point. His finish-line and mid-race exuberancehas almost overtaken his skiing ability in news-worthiness. But Northug might want to put things in perspective – the all-time World Cup win leader is Bjorn Daehlie at 46 victories, and Northug only has a piddly ten. And if the

    Northug stepping across the line in the 4x10km relay in Oslo after coming to a full stop just inches before the finish.

    Norwegian biathletes have their way, he won’t be picking up another one this weekend.

    What You Need To Know for This Season

    The vaunted Norwegian Sprintgutta is without a doubt the most bad-ass ski institution in existence. Between their ridiculous website, their unbelievable strength training videos, and their on-course antics, it impossible not to get excited about the men of ‘Den Roede Arme’ – especially when they pack four of their members into the top 15 in the Sprint Cup standings.

    Marit Bjoergen became the all-time leader in World Cup wins last season with an astounding 46, and the superstar had one hell of a season (just look at that FIS results page – it can’t get much better), before sitting out the Tour de Ski, where her main rival, Justyna Kowalczyk took the victory.

    But this year, Bjoergen isn’t letting the Tour de Ski slide – the dominant Norwegian who has won just about everything there is to win in cross-country skiing is focusing on the Tour, and if it goes as well as the last two major events she focused on (Vancouver Olympics, 2011 Oslo World Champs), there won’t be any room left in her trophy cabinet.

    Former World Junior Champion Marte Elden has opted to take some time away from skiing at just 25 years old. She had an outstanding World Cup season in 2010-2011, finishing 20th in the World Cup Overall, and a shocking ninth in the Tour de Ski. Despite those stellar results, she pulled the plug due to health concerns.

    Ola Vigen Hattestad, who has been a force on the sprint circuit the last couple of years, is also doing the Tour de Ski this year. While his distance skiing is nothing to write home about, it should make things harder for the all-around athletes to get sprint points, making things exciting.

    In just her fifth season on the World Cup, the 23 year old Johaug finished fourth in the World Cup Overall, second in the Tour de Ski, picked up two World Championship gold medals, and has 11 career World Cup podiums. To say that the future is bright for Norway is an understatement.

    Johaug is also a headline generator – FasterSkier could probably write an entire preview just about all the stuff she’s done over the summer, which includes gymnastics, watching her own race with Bjoergen, and climbing a mountain.

    Who You Should Watch

    With Norway, it’s pretty tough to predict stand-out performances. This is mainly due to the depth of the team, but also because there are so many that it’s tough to define what truly is a ‘breakout season’ for a young Norwegian.

    However, FasterSkier doesn’t shy away from making predictions, so this season we’re going to bank on young Sindre Bjornestad Skar as the up and comer to watch.

    The Norwegian squad is so deep that this 19 year old junior likely won’t get too many World Cup starts, but he was one of the strongest Norwegian juniors last season. Skar won the 10 k skate at World Junior Championships in Otepaa, Estonia, last winter, as well as finished 10th in the sprint, and 14th in the pursuit.

  • Kowalczyk, Johaug Decimate Field in TDS 10k

    Kowalczyk, Johaug Decimate Field in TDS 10k

    It’s all over but the climbing. Justyna Kowalczyk (POL), despite being pressed by Therese Johaug (NOR), all but ended the 2011 Tour de Ski, skiing to victory in the women’s 10km mass start classic, and winning every intermediate bonus sprint.

    Kowalczyk and Johaug shattered the field less than two kilometers in, opening a margin that would reach nearly a full minute by the end.

    The Pole should have no trouble defending her Tour title, now sitting an insurmountable 2:08 ahead of Marianna Longa (ITA) in the overall.

    Johaug and Kowalczyk leading early

    And while today was the last chance to catch Kowalczyk, the field had their work cut out for them. A stronger classic skier, and one of the best climbers in the world, the technique and course suited Kowalczyk well.

    For the first time in days, she was able to put significant time on her competition, but it was actually Johaug who led the charge.

    The diminutive Norwegain, skiing with her trademark high tempo, went to the front on the first climb and immediately opened a gap. Only Kowalczyk could follow, though several others tried.

    Petra Majdic (SLO), winner of both Tour sprints, but lacking her top distance form, gave her usual best effort, but had neither the body nor the skis. Slipping badly on the hills, the tall Slovenian had to give up the chase, and was ultimately swallowed by the remains of the pack.

    Aino Kaisa Saarinen (FIN) also pushed hard early, and was initially able to minimize the damage. But the duo at the front kept driving the pace.

    Kowalczyk led into the first bonus sprint, with Johaug trying to gain an advantage in the draft. But as expected, Kowalczyk held a significant edge in the double pole and easily held on for the 15 seconds.

    Johaug was unphased and continued to attack on the climbs, happy to take the lead for significant stretches, and the gap on the rest of the field widened.

    The second bonus sprint was nearly identical to the first, with Kowalczyk again holding Johaug at bay. Saarinen took third both times through, but an impressive Marte Elden (NOR) attacked hard in the last lap, catching first Longa in fourth, and then Saarinen. Longa caught a ride, and the two quickly dropped the Finn.

    At the front, Kowalczyk made her move on the last climb. Johaug didn’t break, but she did bend, and Kowalczyk gained all she needed over the top of the hill, double poling in for a six-second victory. Johaug didn’t let up until she was over the line, collapsing in a heap, exhausted but elated after moving from ninth to fifth in the overall standings, and within reach of the podium.

    “This was a really good race, my skis were perfect, the shape was also good and Therese Johaug was perfect,” said Kowalczyk. “It was really good to work with her, almost like a Polish-Norwegian team.”

    Kowalczyk and Johaug at the finish.

    Johaug also felt good, telling Langrenn.com, “I felt early that this was my day and I felt like I skied more and more relaxed as the race went on. I am happy that I was able to ski with Kowalczyk and set the speed for the race. I was almost surprised when they said I was 1.20 ahead of Charlotte Kalla.”

    Longa, gaining a second wind after Elden came by, pulled away from the Norwegian in the same spot Kowalczyk made her move, taking third on the day, and moving up to second overall.

    Arianna Follis (ITA), second overall starting the day, appeared to struggle early, but came back to place sixth. She lost any hope of catching Kowalczyk, but remained on the overall podium, 25 seconds down on Longa.

    A better climber and skater, Follis could very well improve on her third place finish from last year.

    Majdic held onto the fourth spot overall, but given her distance struggles, and with Johaug 12 seconds back, and Charlotte Kalla (SWE) 31 down, she will be hard-pressed to stay in the top-5.

    Kalla had a disappointing day. She started in fourth, but never got it going, struggling with her kick. She battled to 15th, losing significant ground.

    Saarinen ended up 5th, a strong result, but her hopes in the overall were dashed by a brutal race in the pursuit. She won’t even be able to reach the top-10.

    Norway placed five skiers in the top-12, and now has five of the top-16 overall. Elden posted her best-ever World Cup result, cracking the top-5 for this first time in her career.

    “It’s not just no-names who are in front of me,” Johaug told Langrenn.com when asked of her chances of reaching the overall podium. “These are some of the best skate skiers in the world. If it works out, it works out, if it doesn’t, that’s just the reality.”

    Johaug had the fastest time on the final climb two years ago.

    American Kikkan Randall struggled to 27th in the 36-woman field, losing nearly four minutes to the leaders.  She is still within reach of the top-20 overall, just two places out.

    Women’s Tour de Ski 10km Mass Start – Complete Results

    Women’s Tour de Ski – Overall Standings