CROSS COUNTRY WORLD CUP. Petra Majdic from Slovenia is the winner of the classical sprint in Otepää from today. The Slovenian top skier Majdic was superior in today’s sprint classic over 1,2km in Otepää. Majdic qualified in the fourth best time, in the final heat she was in the lead almost all 1200 m and secured third victory this season. Hanna Brodin (SWE) showed her strength in last 200 m and spurted over Maiken Caspersen Falla (NOR) who finished third.

Slovenia's Petra Majdic celebrates her victory in a women's 1.2-kilometer classical sprint cross country event of the World Cup in Otepaa, Estonia, Sunday, Jan. 23, 2011. (AP Photo/ Timur Nisametdinov, NIPA)

Current overall World Cup leader Justyna Kowalczyk of Poland was struggling a bit in the finals and came from behind. In last 200 m she was challenging Falla but failed to overcome her and finished fourth. Marit Bjoergen (NOR) for the second time in a row did not make it to the finals and finished 10th.

For Hanna Brodin, who is the current Junior World Champion in sprint, it was the first podium spot ever in her career in a World Cup competition whilst Maiken Caspersen Falla could celebrate her second podium in her career.

In the Sprint World Cup standing Petra Majdic moved to first place with 354 points. Kikkan Randall (USA) is second with 291 points and Arianna Follis ITA third with 288 points.

In the overall World Cup standing Justyna Kowalczyk is still in the lead with 1401 points ahead of Marit Bjoergen with 922 points and Arianna Follis (ITA) 880 points.

Weather:-8 ,
Snow Conditions: hard packed
Specators: 4500

Quotes

Petra Majdic (SLO)

It was really great victory. This season it is quite difficult for me. I come back after injury. I am happy I have collected three victories. I competed yesterday more like in training. I thought the sprint course here is not so difficult but today I was happy for that. The distance course is very difficult. The audience was incredible and made it special. We stayed in Otepää after Liberec because there was no snow in Slovenia. I will go to Seiser Alm for training camp.

Hanna Brodin (SWE)

The final heat went very well for me. I felt strong in the finish. I did not think I could be on the podium today. I felt quite tired in the morning but during the race it went better and better. I like the course here. It is possible to overtake in the uphills. I will stay here in Otepää for the U23 Championships.

Maiken Caspersen Falla (NOR)

Victory last week gave me lot of confidence and I am happy I am in a good shape. My goal was at first to make it to the final. I’m very satisfied with third place. I wanted to be behind Petra and save some energy for last meters We will go for the training camp now with the ladies sprint team.

FIScrosscountry.com
Sunday 23 January 2011

Eirik Brandsdal was the strongest in today's sprint classic in Otepää

Eirik Brandsdal spurted over Ola Vigen Hattestad in the finish straight and took victory in sprint classic in Otepää.

Men’s final was packed with World’s sprint stars. Ola Vigen Hattestad (NOR) had a bib number one as he had won the qualifier. There were two Norwegians, three Swedes and one Russian in the final. All six athletes used no wax skis and were double poling the whole 1400 lap.

Norway's Eirik Brandsdal skis during the men's 1.4-kilometer classical sprint cross country event of the World Cup in Otepaa, Estonia, Sunday, Jan. 23, 2011. Eirik Brandsdal finished first. (AP Photo/ Timur Nisametdinov, NIPA)

Jesper Modin (SWE) was very active in front as well as Russian Olympic Champion Nikita Kriukov. In the last downhill Sweden’s Emil Joensson moved in front and led the pack in the finish straight. What seemed to be an advantage turned the opposite and Joensson lacked strength in last 200 m and failed to fight back on the attack of Hattestad and Bransdal who came from behind.

In the last meter Brandsdal won by a tip of a toe his first ever World Cup victory and sent Hattestad to second place. Nikita Kriukov spurted over Joensson and finished third. Emil Joensson took fourth place.

Emil Joensson is still in the lead of the Sprint World Cup with 330 points. Ola Vigen Hattestad has collected 264 points is second whilst Jesper Modin is third with 220 points.

In the overall World Cup ranking, the order of the top three did not change. Dario Cologna (SUI) is leading with 1197 points while Petter Northug has now 774 points and on third spot is Lukas Bauer (CZE) with 698 points

Weather:-8 ,
Snow Conditions: hard packed
Specators: 4500

Quotes

Eirik Brandsdal (NOR)

I felt strong all the way. I cannot describe my feelings now. I feel great. It was a close race with Ola. It was very even. I pushed as much as I could and I was lucky to win today. I look now to two important races, which is Norwegian championships and Rybinsk

Ola Vigen Hattestad (NOR)

I am really happy for Eirik. He had a lot of problems before the season with his leg. He worked a lot with upper body and improved a lot. Of course I was little bit disappointed that I did not win, but when you look who beat you it was OK. I think the uphill could be longer and I realized that if I want to fight for podium I have to use skating skis. Next weekend we have nationals and then I will go to Rybinsk. After then we will have a training camp.

Nikita Kriukov (RUS)

I am happy with my third place. I did not have a good start of the season. I did not perform well in Kuusamo. I was also a little sick but in Otepää I made a successful come back and am happy to be on the podium. I look forward to Oslo. I would like to beat some Norwegian guys in sprint at Holmenkollen

FIScrosscountry.com
Sunday 23 January 2011

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