Aino-Kaisa Saarinen from Finland took the victory in the traditional individual start races in classic technique over 30 km at the Holmenkollen (NOR).
Kikkan Randall (Anchorage, AK) was 38th in the women's race.
For the 28-year-old Saarinen it was the first World Cup victory ever. She finished clearly 30.6 seconds ahead of her team mate and overall World Cup winner Virpi Kuitunen. Third place finisher from Slovenia Petra Majdic, was 48.6 seconds behind the winner.
The first ‘pit stop’ trial with the possibility to change the skis during the competition in the stadium worked well. All athletes on the podium changed skis after 12.5 km. Only Claudia Kuenzel-Nystad who finished fourth didn’t change her skis from the top six athletes.
The overall World Cup is already won by Virpi Kuitunen. She is in the lead with 1477 points. On second place is still Marit Bjoergen, who finished today on the 10th place, with 829 points and on third follows Katerina Neumannova, just 15 points behind Bjoergen
Virpi Kuitenen has now also won, beside the overall and sprint World Cup, the distance World Cup. She is 100 points in the lead ahead of Katerina Neumannova and she has already more victories than Neumannova. On third place follows Aino Kaisa Saarinen with 146 points behind Neumannova.
Number of participants/ participating nations: 49 ladies/ 12 nations
Weather: sunny, +5°C
Snow Conditions: Spring conditions
Special remarks:
Courses ladies: Height Differences (HD): 126m; Maximum Climb (MC): 79, Total Climb (TC): 1047m; Length of Lap: 12.5 km + 16.7 km
Aino Kaisa Saarinen (FIN): “It was a dream to win the 30 km at Holmenkollen. I felt good during the race but after 20 km I got a little bit tired. The great audience here helped me to al lot on the last 10 km. Thanks you very much! Today it was good for me to have the possibility to change the skis but in general I think we should keep this traditional 30km race like it was.â€
Virpi Kuitunen (FIN): â€I took on the first lap my second best skis and changed after the first 12.5km to my best skis. The pit stop possibility during the race help a lot when we have wet conditions like today but not at each conditions. I’m happy about my result and this help us a lot to fix our goal ‘winning of the ladies nation cup’.
Petra Majdic (SLO): “To reach the podium at the traditional Holmenkollen race that is a dream. I had today a good race and good ski’s. But I also lost at least 15 seconds when I choose the wrong track at the junction to the 16.7 km in the first loop — so I have to skied back to the right course.â€
For complete results http://www.fis-ski.com/uk/604/610.html?sector=CC&raceid=11889
Source:FIS
