Team Germany with Stefanie Böhler and Evi Sachenbacher-Stehle and the Russians with Nikolay Morilov and Alexei Petukhov won the last team sprint ahead of the Olympics und cold conditions in Rybinsk, Russia.

The strong ladies from Germany captured the victory in a time of 17:04.6, just 3,9 seconds ahead of the team from Slovenia with Katja Visnar and Vesna Fabjan. On third place finished Russia I with Irina Khazova and Olga Rotcheva, 4,5 second behind the winning team.

In the exciting men's race, the favourites with Nikolay Morilov and Alexei Petukhov took the victory 0,6 second ahead of team Italy II with Fabio Pasini and Loris Frasnelli. Despite a fall in the last round, Team Germany with Tim Tscharnke and Josef Wenzl took the third rank, 5,2 seconds behind the Russians.

With a strong performance this weekend, the Russians moved into the lead of the nations cup. They are now with 6160 on the first place ahead of the Norwegians, which have currently 5833 points. On third place is the Swedish Team.

Nikolay Morilov (RUS)
The race was tough because we have a difficult transfer to Canada today and it was hard to concentrate. Besides each athlete runs 3 times - it is also not easy especially in the last leg.

Alexei Petukov (RUS)
Yeah, the race was hard. As qualification was cancelled it was difficult to make muscles ready for the final. But the audience warmed us up as always.

Fabio Pasini (ITA)
I'm satisfied with my two sprint races here in Rybinsk. I hope to get back here again and show better results.

Loria Frasnelli (ITA)
I'm happy about our podium. The last leg was tough, the tactics was very important before the finish. It is great here but I hope when we are back it is a little bit warmer;-)

Tim Tscharnke (GER)
We managed to be third here. I'm satisfied as the race is a hard one and the competitors are strong. I'm now going to the U23 World Championships and having three races next week before concentrating on the Olympics

Stefanie Boehler (GER)
I like Rybinsk: the track and of course the audience. People always greet us so nice. We'll surely get back here again. I knew that I have to attack in the last round here, three rounds can be tough so I concentrate myself on my final round to give Evi a good gap into her race. The tactic worked very well.

Evi Sachenbacher Stehle (GER)
The race today was excellent. We had good skis and wonderful support from the audience. And we're a great team!

Vesna Fabian (SLO)
I'm happy. It's my second podium here this year. The weekend was great! The race himself today was tough, three rounds on this 1,3 km track are demanding but fortunately we had no qualification today.

Olga Rotcheva (RUS)
I'm really satisfied with our third place. I'm only starting to get to the shape so this race was a good indicator. And thanks for the organizers.

FIScrosscountry.com
Sunday 24 January 2010

Germans repeat last year's victory

Two and a half weeks before the start of the Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver the Germany won the team competition in Schonach and repeated last year's triumph. The same team as in 2009, Georg Hettich, Eric Frenzel, Bjoern Kircheisen and Tino Edelmann, won ahead of France and Austria.
 
After winning the jumping competition, the Germans started the 4x5 km race ahead of France (+0:10). The Japanese, in absence of the World Cup team, were third (+0:23) but soon dropped back, just like the Slovenians, who started the race as fourth (+0:28). Instead teams like the Austria (started as seventh, +0:35), Italy (9th, 0:50), Czech Republic (8th, 0:38) and Switzerland (5th, 0:32) proved to be candidates for the podium.

The race for victory was decided early: While Sebastien Lacroix, first in the race for France, could almost close the gap to the first German Georg Hettich and was only 5.3 seconds behind after his 5 km, his teammates Maxime Laheurte and Jonathan Felisaz lost time against Eric Frenzel and Bjoern Kircheisen. When World Cup leader Jason Lamy Chappuis started his race, Germany was already over a minute ahead - even a strong skier like Lamy Chappuis could not make of for this in only 5 km. Tino Edelmann knew that: "I started the race with a good lead, that was nice. Thanks to the team!" So the 24-year-old could enjoy the atmosphere in front of many German fans. Lamy Chappuis finished the race 48.3 seconds behind Edelmann and was satisfied: "The second place is good for our team, even if we were clear behind the Germans. But podium is podium and we start to get a good team towards the Olympics."
 
While the French fell back behind the Germans in the race, it was a good day for the Austria, in Schonach without the top athletes Felix Gottwald, Mario Stecher, Christoph Bieler, Bernhard Gruber and David Kreiner. The team, Lukas Klapfer, Wilhelm Denifl, Marco Pichlmayer and Tobias Kammerlander, started 35 seconds behind, but Klapfer could already close the gap to the Czech Republic and Switzerland. Denifl improved the position and Pichlmayer could even close up with French Jonathan Felisaz. Kammerlander could keep up with Lamy Chappuis until the last kilometer, and finished the race as third (+1:01.1). "My motto after the not very good jump was: No risk - no fun! And that worked. I could run behind Lamy Chappuis for a long time and so ban the danger from behind. This is the first World Cup podium of my career. It's great!"
 
The German team could show a convincing performance in jumping: Georg Hettich jumped 93 m, Eric Frenzel 92.5 m and Tino Edelmann 95.5 m. Only Bjoern Kircheisen had a bad jump of only 83 m, but because of the good performances of his teammates they were in the lead with a total of 469.3 points. The French team with Jonathan Felisaz (92.5 m), Maxime Laheurte (88 m), Sebastien Lacroix (87 m) was second with 461.7 points. The young Japanese team (452.0 points), with Hiroo Sasaki (90 m), Junshiro Kobayashi (95.5 m), Hiroyuki Tanaka (82.5 m) and Aguri Shimizu (91 m), was third and finished the race as tenth (+5:11.3).
 
With a view to the Olympics the Germans were happy about their victory in the only team competition before the Games. "It's an important victory, we repeat the result from last year with the exact same team. But a lot will be different in Vancouver. The team competition takes place on the large hill and there will be more strong nations like the USA, World Champion Japan, Norway, Finland - it'll definitely be exciting", said Tino Edelmann. Also head coach Hermann Weinbuch was satisfied with his team: "They showed a good team performances and self confidence. We worked well as a team and that makes us strong - we are ready for the Olympic Games." Local hero Georg Hettich was probably the happiest after the good weekend in Schonach - he got his ticket for the Olympic team after the individual competition Saturday: "It was a lot of fun today. I had an awesome ski. That was one of the greatest races of my career, and that at home - awesome."
 
Also the Swiss team was happy at the end: With a fourth place (+1:09.4) in the team competition Tim Hug, Joel Bieri, Tommy Schmid and Ronny Heer met the criteria for the Olympics and will be able to take part in the team competition in Vancouver.
 
The last competitions before the Olympic Games will take place in Seefeld late January.

FISnordiccombined.com
24.01.2010 17:01