Team Germany (ladies) and Team Norway won the last World Cup race of the season, the Relay over 4 x 5 km (ladies) and 4 x 10 km (men) in Falun, Sweden.
In the ladies race, Germany with Stefanie Böhler, Viola Bauer, Evi Sachenbacher-Stehle and Claudia Kuenzel-Nystad took the victory in a time of 57:12.4. On the second place finished Finland (Pirjo Manninen, Virpi Kuitunen, Riitta Liisa Roponen and Aino Kaisa Saarinen) just 0.9 seconds behind. Team Sweden (Anna Dahlberg, Maria Rydqvist, Charlotte Kalla, Britta Norgren) took the third place with 29.6 seconds behind the winner in the finish sprint against Norway.
No North American women's team started the race.
Full women's results can be viewed at:
http://www.fis-ski.com/uk/604/610.html?sector=CC&raceid=12539
Viola Bauer from Germany skied her last World Cup race in the German team with an old, traditional suit from the time around 1980.
The Nations Cup on the ladies side was won by Finland (3947 points) ahead of Norway (3282 points) and Germany (2444 points).
In the men’s race the Nations cup winner Norway with Oystein Pettersen, Odd Bjoern Hjelmeset, Frode Estil and Petter Northug took the victory 0.5 seconds ahead of Russia (Nikolai Pankratov, Vassili Rotchev, Alexander Legkov and Maxim Vylegzhanin) and France (Christophe Perrillat, Jean Marc Gaillard, Vincent Vittoz and Emmanuel Jonnier) in a tight finish sprint.
The Canadian men's team (Devon Kershaw, Stefan Kuhn, Brian McKeever, Drew Goldsack)placed 12th, 6:25 behind. The US men's team (Chris Cook, Andy Newell, Kris Freeman, Torin Koos) placed 13th, 10:40 behind the winning team.
Full men's results can be viewed at:
http://www.fis-ski.com/pdf/2007/CC/2972/2007CC2972RL.pdf
The Nations Cup on the men’s side as well as the total Nations Cup was won by Norway (total Nations Cup: 8770 points). On the following places are Germany (5377 points) and Russia (5257 points).
This race was Frode Estil's last World Cup race….and golden…not a bad way to end a career! A classy finish for a classy guy.
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Spectators: 7,500
Weather: sunny, 11°C
Snow Conditions: spring conditions
Quotes:
Viola Bauer (GER):
“It was a great last race for my but in my suit (an old, traditional Cross-Country suit) was it hot. I enjoyed the ‘help’ from my team members during the race which had made a Laola-Wave for me. For sure I will miss my colleagues but now it is the right time to try something new.â€
Charlotte Kalle (SWE):
“It is amazing to finish on the podium in a relay in the home country. I enjoyed my skiing today and I felt really good during the whole competition.â€
Virpi Kuitunen (FIN)
I’m satisfied — we reach our goal to win the Nations Cup for the ladies. It is the first time for a long time that Finland won the ladies Nations Cup.â€
Petter Northug (NOR):
“It was a good race for me and to finish first in the last World Cup race is a great motivation for the summer training. The Nations Cup victory is an important one for Norway because Cross-Country has a high value in Norway.â€
Vassili Rotchev (RUS):
“I was today not in a good shape but my colleagues were very strong, especially Alexander (Legkov) and Maxim (Vylegzhanin). Thanks to them! â€
Source: FIS
