Here are some reactions from the Stockholm World Cup Races for your reflecting pleasure. The World Cup Final is a series of four races that is scored like the Tour De Ski, including a sprint in Stockholm and three more races in Falun.
Women’s race
As many of you know, the first stage of the World Cup Final was held Wednesday in Stockholm, Sweden. It was a 1Km classical sprint race, and Petra Majdic (SLO) took another win ahead of Aino Kaisa Saarinen (FIN) and Anna Olsson (SWE). Pirjo Muranen (FIN) was fiourth, Virpi Kuitenen (FIN) was fifth, and Evi Sachenbacher-Stehle (GER) was sixth.
Petra Majdic: “The race was from hell to heaven. I didn’t felt secured in the qualification and than in the quarterfinal I even felt. But afterwards I got better and better. I don’t know why I felt and I don’t where I go the power from to stand immediately up and still take the second place in that heat. I like here in Stockholm very much the last straight and the last uphill for finish – that fit’s me well. I like my yellow shirt but I have really hard to fight for it in the next days.”
Aino Kaisa Saarinen: “I’m glad to be back after my sickness. It is the first good race after my illness, I wasn’t so good in Trondheim. I felt during the competitions better and better and I have to say that the OC improved a lot the snow condition on the course compare to last years. I will also really fight now hard in Falun and try to get the yellow bib back.”
Anna Olsson: “It was very fun to compete in the home country and to get on the podium in front of the home crowd. I’m now really looking forward to the great World Cup Final in Falun.”
Mens Race
Three Norwegians took the top podium spots for the men again this week. Johan Kjoelstad won the sprint just ahead of teammates Johan Kristian Dahl and Eldar Roenning. Emil Joensson (SWE) took fourth, Nikita Kruikov (RUS) took fifth, and Kalle Lassila (FIN) took sixth.
Johan Kjoelstad: “I was a bit tired in the last day’s so I was a bit surprised about my so good shape. I tried to be behind and then attack in the finals. I was fun to ski here in Stockholm, the courses were better than in the last year’s. Now I will continue and hope that I will finish the World Cup Final.”
John Kristian Dahl: “I felt good during the races, especially in the Quarter Final and Semi Final. At the end I had a good fight with my team mates Johan and Eldar – but Johan was at the end faster and had the better tactic. I hope I can continue racing in a good way in Falun as I feel in a good shape.”
Eldar Roenning: “I felt not always good in the past week’s and I had went through into the finals by being two times the lucky looser. So I am really happy to make a podium today and satisfied with the final race. I hope I will make good races in Falun and maybe I can help Petter win the overall World Cup.”
The next stage of the World Cup final will be in Falun on Friday with the King and Queen of Mörderbacken. In order to get points from the World Cup Final, all athletes must complete every race in the four days of the series.
Full results can be found here.
