Schevchenko Wins Holmenkollen 30K

FasterSkierMarch 10, 2008

Oslo, Norway — Valentina Schevchenko (UKR) won the women’s 30km individual start freestyle race at the Homenkollen Ski Festival in Oslo, Norway on Saturday. Schevchenko, winner of the Tour de Ski final climb, and the 10km freestyle in Canmore, skied to a 14.5 second victory over Charlotte Kalla (SWE). The top Ukrainian skier started controlled, passing the 12.5km mark in 6th, and 22.5km in 2nd.

Kalla, who has struggled in the later part of the season after winning the Tour de Ski, edged veteran Claudia Nystad (GER) by 4.5 seconds for second place. Norweigan Therese Johaug just missed out on the podium, finishing 1.6 seconds behind Nystad. Johaug led by 11.2 seconds at the 22.5km mark, but couldn’t maintain the pace. Her teammate, Marit Bjoergen, finished 5th.

Overall World Cup leader Virpi Kuitunen (FIN) was 7th, +1:13.8. With her main competition in the overall standings, Astrid Jacobsen (NOR), dropping out of the race, Kuitunen has essentially locked up the overall title, her second in a row.

Olympic Champion Julia Tchepalova (RUS) who came out of retirement this year to race biathlon, finished 22nd.

No Americans or Canadians raced. Perianne Jones (CAN) was entered, but did not start.

Astrid Oeyre Slind, daughter of Peder Einar Slind, who spent a year coaching Williams College in Williamstown, MA, finished 44th in her World Cup debut.

Complete Results

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