FasterSkier · December 1, 2004
Jens Arne Svartedal placed fourth and Odd-Bjorn Hjelmeset was sixth in the 15-kilometer World Cup race in Kuusamo, Finland on Sunday. That was a step up and progress from the previous World Cup races this season for the Norwegian men’s team.
It has been a “below expectations and goals†season-start for the Norwegian men’s team, but Sunday’s 15-kilometer showed some progress and promise.
– I had great skis. It was the first time I ever used them (new skis). Our wax team has improved a lot on cold and dry conditions, bragged Svartedal.
Classic sprint in Bern is up next on the World Cup schedule, and Svartedal has normally done well in that event.
– I can feel that my sprint shape is coming, and I’m looking forward to those races, said Svartedal.
Odd-Bjorn Hjelmeset also skied well and placed sixth. He started like a rocked and had a clear lead at the first split station.
– I felt it went well. Not much to do about Teichmann at the moment, but there are only a few seconds up to the podium. I started maybe a little too hard and paid for that on the second lap. On the other hand, I felt that things were functioning well again, said Hjelmeset.
Source: Langrenn.com
