CROSS COUNTRY SKI WORLD CHAMPS. Marit Bjoergen gave to Norwegian fans firts Gold medal. Probably the least expect one. Bjoergen dominated the sprint and beat Arianna Follis of Italy and Petra Majdic of Slovenia.

Marit Bjoergen was very strong the whole day. She won qualifying session and dominated all the heats. In the final she spurted everybody and seized gold medal. Defending champion Arianna Follis of Italy finished second. Petra Majdic brought to Slovenia bronze medal.

Ladies quarterfinal was marked with several crashes. Big favorite Kikkan Randall of USA slipped over Ida Ingemarsdotter's skis turned around and almost fell. When she got back in good direction the other five were already gone. Silver medalist Arianna Follis also had problems in the semfinal but went on to the final as one of the lucky losers.

Slovenian sprinters showed their teeth with Petra Majdic and Vesna Fabjan in the final. Marit Bjoergen, however, had the whole final heat under control and did not alow any drama in the finish stretch. She spurted over Follis and Majdic and brought first gold to Norway. More than 20.000 specators in the sold out Holmenkollen arena were cheering on their World Champion.

Quotes

Marit Bjeorgen NOR

Today's victory was the most incredible thing I've ever experienced. The atmosphere was thrlling. I could hear the crowd chanting Marit! Marit! I made some good decisions during the race and it's a fantastic start for me. I usually win the bronze in the opening race. I wasn't sure if I had it under control. I just went for it in easier parts of the course. It was so much fun, I even got to win Norway's 100thgold in WSC-history.

Arianna Follis ITA

I hoped for a medal today as I won two years ago in Liberec. I'm very happy for teh silver medal. In every heat it was a tough fight with Marit Bjoergen. She has been very strong and it was fun to race with her. The race in Drammen was a good test for me. I'm in a good shape at the World Championships. I will probably go the team sprint and I hope the Italian relay will be strong.

FIScrosscountry.com
Thursday 24 February 2011

Marcus Hellner shines in Oslo and takes surprising gold medal in sprint

Marcus Hellner defeated all the Norwegians on their home snow and stole the gold medal in sprint free. Peter Northug claims silver medal and Emil Joensson takes bronze.

Hellner diud not give anybody a chance and with no respect took gold medal in sprint free. Hellner opened a gap of ten meters on Northug and co in the second last uphill and kept the distance all the way to the finish. Petter Northug was spurting strongly but it was not enough and takes silver medal. Big gold medal favorite Emil Joensson is on the podium and claims bronze. Defending World Champion Ola Vige Hattestad finished fourth.

Hellner showed rising sprint shape last Sunday in Drammen where he finished fourth. Today he was among the medal hopes but not the biggest favorite. Russia's Alexey Petukhov who was in such a great shape in Rybinsk was eliminated already in the quarterfinal. Pleasant surprise of the day was Andrew Musgrave's 26th place in the qualification. Musgrave cracked the top 30 after having missed last Sunday by only +0.05 sec.

Defending Sprint World Champion Ola Vigen Hattestad did not have problems in the semifinal and went through from second place to the final. Qualification winner Jesper Modin also made it to the Finals as well as Emil Joensson. In the final Hellner attacked in the second last uphill, opened a gap that nobody could fill and came for a clear victory. Petter Northug show his spurt might and spurted for silver medal ahead of Emil Joensson. Ola Vugen Hattestad finished fourth.

Quotes

Marcus Hellner SWE

It was a great day for me. I was mentally strong and focused when I was in the finish stretch and was leading. Petter was in front of me almost the whole time and once I was even on the 4th spot. I knew I had to do something and the only chance I got was in the uphill.

Petter Northug NOR

Marcus deserved to win today. He was so strong and nobody could follow him. I hoped to catch him in the last uphill but he was too strong.

Emil Joensson SWE

Before the race I said to Marcus we would take it easy and leave it to last 100m. But apparently he was not listening. It was a hard day and I am really tired but happy. It is a hard track to ho actually. I'm impressed by Marcus' performance.

FIScrosscountry.com
Thursday 24 February 2011