Kuitunen and Northug won in Lahti
Virpi Kuitunen of Finland won the women’s freestyle World Cup sprint in Lahti on Saturday ahead of teammate Liisa Riitta Roponen. Anna Dahlberg (SWE) was third. Kikkan Randall, USA was 7. Chandra Crawford, Canada was 28.
Petter Northug of Norway won the men’s sprint ahead of teammates Jens Arne Svartedal and Eldar Ronning. Top North American was Andy Newell in 14, place while Torin Koos was 21.
Kuitunen finished the 1.25 km course first in the qualification as well as in the final heat and won her 6th World Cup race this season. The second place finisher was Kuitunen’s team mate Riitta Liisa Roponen followed by Anna Dahlberg from Sweden. Also in the final were Petra Majdic from Slovenia (4th place), the Italian Arianna Follis (5th place) and in sixth place Katerina Neumannova (CZE).
For Roponen it was the first podium place in a sprint race and the third ever in her career. The 30-year-old Dahlberg could celebrate today’s third place as her first podium place this season.
In the overall World Cup Virpi Kuitunen is leading ahead of Marit Bjoergen with 509 points and with today’s victory she has already won the overall World Cup. Third place overall is Katerina Neumannova.
Kuitunen is also in the lead of the Sprint cup with 352 points. Second place is Natalia Matveeva from Russia with 271 points and Petra Majdic with 205 points.
In the men’s race Petter Northug won on the 1.4 km course in the Lahti Ski Stadium. This was his second World Cup victory. Second place finisher was his team mate Jens Arne Svartedal and Eldar Roenning made the Norwegian triple victory complete. In final skied also Yuichi Onda (JPA, 4th place), Johan Kjoelstad (NOR, 5th place) and Dusan Kozisek (CZE).
. Second place is his team mate Tor Arne Hetland (220 points) and in third position Eldar Roenning (206 points).</p>
<p>Number of participants/ participating nations: 50 ladies, 72 men / 20 nations</p>
<p>Spectators: 9.000</p>
<p>Weather: cloudy, +2°C </p>
<p>Snow Conditions: wet</p>
<p>Quotes:</p>
<p>Virpi Kuitunen (FIN): “It’s a great day for us. Our service was very good. Skies were excellent and it was very enjoyable to ski. I would have been very happy even if Riitta-Liisa would have won. This was best place to confirm the WC front of home audience but I was tired between races. My head was still in Japan, but audience yield hard every time I was at start line that pushed me.â€</p>
<p>Riitta-Liisa Roponen (FIN): “It was a great race an it was my first sprint podium place. I’ m very satisfied. I had no tactic for race, the first hill I try to ‘relax’ a little bit because I knew I will reach others later. Double victory for Finland feels very good. It was fun to ski here in Lahti in front of the home audience.â€</p>
<p>Anna Dahlberg (SWE): “I’m happy. I season started as late as January this year.<br />
Race was hard. The course was tuff, but my skies were very good. I hade a good race in finals.â€</p>
<p>Peter Northug (NOR): “My first sprint victory, so far best was sixth place.<br />
In semifinal and in final I stayed in front and could so control the group. It feels very good. My focus now is on the World Cup — I will not compete at the U 23 World Championships in Tarvisio (ITA) which will be in the next week.â€</p>
<p>Jens Arne Svartedal (NOR): “This was my best performance in this season. I was surprised to be on the podium. I was surprisingly because this was free technique, usually classic is better for me. This slow race fits me very well.â€</p>
<p>Eldar Roenning (NOR): “I was tired after Sapporo and had problems to come into the “European rhythmâ€. I was not sure if I come to Lahti at all. Now I am very happy that I decide to compete. My skies were great.â€<br />
For complete results please visit www.fis-ski.com</p>
<p>Women’s sprint results: http://www.fis-ski.com/uk/604/610.html?sector=CC&raceid=12396<br />
Men’s sprint results: http://www.fis-ski.com/uk/604/610.html?sector=CC&raceid=12395</p>
<p>Men’s prolog:<br />
http://www.fis-ski.com/uk/604/610.html?sector=CC&raceid=12397<br />
Women’s prolog: http://www.fis-ski.com/uk/604/610.html?sector=CC&raceid=12394</p>
<p>Source: FIS & Langrenn.com</p>
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