CROSS COUNTRY SKI WORLD CUP. The tenth FIS Cross-Country Ski World Cup in Dusseldorf was concluded with two Scandinavian victories, cheered on by 100,000 spectators along the banks of the Rhine. Norway won the women’s team sprint with Mari Eide and Maiken Falla, while Sweden remained victorious in the men’s event with Jesper Modin and Teodor Peterson. 

Norway's Mari Eide, front, and Maiken Caspersen Falla celebrate after winning the Ladies 6x0.9km Free Team Sprint Final at the Ski Cross Country World Cup, Sunday, Dec. 4, 2011 in Duesseldorf, Germany. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)

Germany’s Hanna Kolb and Denise Hermann reached the final but had to be content with tenth place. The DSV men’s team of Jens Filbrich and Josef Wenzl failed to make it into the final after a controversial disqualification. “These two could have had a say in the final, I’m absolutely sure. That’s why it is very unfortunate for us that the Jury decided to disqualify them”, commented German national coach Jochen Behle.  Russia’s Nikita Kriukov and Alexey Petukhov benefited from the Germans’ disqualification and eventually finished runners-up in the final.

Sweden's Teodor Peterson celebrates while crossing the finish line to win the Men 6x1.7km Free Team Sprint final at the Ski Cross Country World Cup, Sunday, Dec. 4, 2011 in Duesseldorf, Germany. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)

The tenth World Cup event in the capital of North-Rhine Westphalia once again proved a great success for the organisers. They received praise not only for the successful social programme under the motto “Ten Years of Ski World Cup” but also for the quality of the snow from JEVER Ski Hall in Neuss, and the overall organisation. 

Skiers speed close to the river Rhine during the Ski Cross Country World Cup, Sunday, Dec. 4, 2011 in Duesseldorf, Germany (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)

August Pollen, head of the organisation, is optimistic for the future: “If it’s up to us, the eleventh FIS Cross-Country Ski World Cup will take place in Dusseldorf in two years’ time.” German national coach Jochen Behle: “Everything is perfect here, it’s as simple as that. I assume that we will be here again in two years.”

Skiers speed close to the river Rhineon artificial snow during the Ski Cross Country World Cup, Sunday, Dec. 4, 2011 in Duesseldorf, Germany (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)

The athletes were disappointed by the change in the World Cup calendar and the consequent break for Dusseldorf. German promising talent Hanna Kolb, who finished eleventh in the individual sprint competition: “It is a pity that we won’t be here next year. The organisation is excellent, the track is always well prepared, and the atmosphere around the event is super. I am hoping that we will be back in two years.” 

Skiers speed close to the river Rhine with while dark clouds cover the sky during the Ski Cross Country World Cup, Sunday, Dec. 4, 2011 in Duesseldorf, Germany (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)

Russian Alexey Petukhov, a regular competitor in Dusseldorf and runner-up in the individual sprint on Saturday: “Of course it’s a pity that the World Cup in Dusseldorf will not be held next year. However, I’m hoping that the World Cup will return here in the 2013-14 season because I love this city sprint event in Dusseldorf. It’s incredible how many enthusiastic fans cheer us on along the course.”  Ola Vigen Hattestad, Norway’s individual sprint winner: “I didn’t know that, and it’s really unfortunate. This event is simply different, again and again. I do hope we will return.”

FIS Cross-Country Ski World Cup Düsseldorf
worldcup-duesseldorf.de
04.12.2011 17:26 17:26

Norway's Mari Eide, second rear left,, and Maiken Caspersen Falla , third rear left, (winner), US Sadie Bjornsen, rear left, Kikkan Randall, front left, (second place) and Russia's Natalia Korosteleva, rear right, and Natalia Matveeva, front right, (third place) celebrate after the Ladies 6x0.9km Free Team Sprint Final at the Ski Cross Country World Cup, Sunday, Dec. 4, 2011 in Duesseldorf, Germany. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)

Sweden's Jesper Modin, rear left, and Teodor Peterson, rear right, (winner), Russia's Nikita Kriukov, front left, and Alexey Petukhov, front second from left, (second place), and Norway's Paal Goldberg, front right, and Ola Vigen Hattestad (third place) celebrate after the Men 6x1.7km Free Team Sprint Final during the Ski Cross Country World Cup, Sunday, Dec. 4, 2011 in Duesseldorf, Germany. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)

Individual sprint: Wins for Hattestad and Randall
German talent Hanna Kolb kept her promise

A premiere, a repeat and a good result of the German cross-country skiers marked the first day of the FIS Cross-Country Ski World Cup in Dusseldorf. Thousands of spectators witnessed the first ever US American victory in Dusseldorf on the perfectly prepared course along the banks of the Rhine. After finishing runner-up last year, Kikkan Randall was the first to cross the finishing line this year.

In a thrilling men’s final the Norwegian 2009 double World champion Ola Vigen Hattestad snatched victory away from Russian Alexey Petukhov on the last few metres.

“I would say it was a mediocre competition day for us!” Though German national coach Jochen Behle was “not discontented“ with the results of his athletes, “they could have been better”. Behle was relieved that altogether four German men had qualified: “We didn’t have that for a long time.” 

However, the coach soberly admitted that “our tactic wasn’t the best”.  Less the tactic but rather a small mistake at the start of her semi-final cost Hanna Kolb the qualification for the final. But Behle wasn’t disappointed by the 20-year-old promising talent’s 11th place: “The aim was the semi-final, and that’s what she achieved.”

Randall now leads the women’s sprint World Cup classification after the second of altogether 13 events. The 28-year-old from Alaska about her Dusseldorf win: “The track was very fast and demanding. I wanted to get out of the last corner as much ahead as possible, and that’s what I did. I am very happy with this victory here.”

This held also true for the winner in the men’s sprint. Ola Vigen Hattestadt repeated his 2008 win and said: “My parents, my girlfriend and many friends were here in Dusseldorf. That was a special stimulus for me.” The Norwegian, who defeated the Russian 2009 winner Alexey Petukhov on the finishing straight, added confidently: “I let him breathe for one metre in the last corner because I was sure to pass him in the end.”

FIS Cross-Country Ski World Cup Düsseldorf
worldcup-duesseldorf.de
03.12.2011 17:17 17:17

RESULTS

Women, 0.9 km
1. Kikkan Randall (USA)
2. Natalia Matveeva (RUS)
3. Laurien van der Graaf (SUI)

Men, 1.7 km
1. Ola Vigen Hattestad (NOR)
2. Alexey Petukhov (RUS)
3. Paal Golberg (NOR)