The Russian team of Natalia Korosteleva and Natalia Matveeva edged the young Norweigan duo of Celine Brun-Lie and Maiken Caspersen Falla by .2 seconds to take the victory in the women’s World Cup Team Sprint competition.
The Russians led at the end of every 800 meter leg, and were able to hold off Norway in the final sprint.
Germany took third, 1.8 seconds back. The top three teams pulled away in the last leg, leaving Sweden II 9.4 seconds behind in fourth.
The top Italian team of Magda Genuin and Arianna Follis finished the race in third, but was disqualified for tagging outside the prescribed zone, lifting the Germans onto the Podium.
Said Claudia Nystad of the German team, “I´m so glad! And I think its fair, that we won third place after all. We went back because of the exchange and lost some places due to that. The Italian team should have done that too! But the snow was very good and its getting better from year to year. It was very hard and the technicians here know exactly what to do. They know where to put a shovel of snow. And the atmosphere here is just amazing. The audience calls your name and cheers for you – its just great.”
No American or Canadian teams competed. The FIS no longer allows mixed nation teams, so Kikkan Randall was unable to pair with another athlete to compete.
