FasterSkier’s coverage of the 2013 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships in Val di Fiemme, Italy, is brought to you by the generous support of Fischer Sports.
VAL DI FIEMME, Italy — Norway continued to bask in golden glory on Thursday in the World Championships women’s 4×5 k relay. Marit Bjørgen had ample time to grab a flag from the stands on her way to the finish line; Sweden claimed sliver and Russia took bronze in the penultimate women’s event of the week.
The stadium, packed with Norwegian fans, awaits the start of the women’s 4×5 k relay.
The race gets underway with Sweden’s Ida Ingemarsdotter in the early lead.
Up the first climb.
…and down the first descent.
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The pack shoots past the big screen on its way back into the stadium for the second lap of the first leg.
Estonia and Sweden in the lead.
Canada’s Dasha Gaiazova makes a move on the outside.
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Heidi Weng begins breaks away before the second lap is over.
Italy, Canada, Austria and USA in hot pursuit.
The second leg: France and Russia trail behind Norway’s Therese Johaug.
Germany and Poland ahead of Finland and USA.
Katrin Zeller (GER) and Teresa Stadlober (AUT)
Kerttu Niskanen (FIN) and Kikkan Randall (USA).
Perianne Jones (CAN)
Therese Johaug.
Johaug skis past a hill-full of Norwegian fans.
Justyna Kowalczyk starts making moves on her first lap of the course.
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Johaug.
Kowalczyk closing in.
France’s Celia Aymonier and Randall.
Jones and Petra Novakova (CZE).
Kowalczyk overtook Johaug at the end of the second leg.
Kowalczyk subdues the Norwegian crowd as she enters the stadium ahead of Johaug.
Kristin Stoermer Steira leaves the stadium with Paulina Maciuszek (POL).
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Sweden and Finland in a close battle.
Denise Hermann (GER) leads the next group.
Liz Stephen (USA) starts moving up.
Poland still hanging on.
Steira back in familiar territory: alone at the front of the relay.
Maciuszek fading.
Anna Haag (SWE) and Riitta-Liisa Roponen (FIN) gaining ground on second place.
Stephen, Hermann and Anouk Faivre Picon crest the Viessman knoll.
Steira.
Finland and Sweden overtake Poland.
Stephen working to drop France and Germany.
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Steira gives the crown something to cheer about.
The final lap: Bjoergen has a considerable lead.
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Charlotte Kalla (SWE) skis alone in second place.
Finland’s Riikka Sarasoja-Lilja
Jessie Diggins (USA).
Diggins begins the climb with Julia Tchekaleva (RUS) just out of sight.
Tchekaleva in the hunt.
Bjoergen.
Kalla.
Diggins.
Bjoergen waves to the crowd.
Another victory for Norway.
Weng, Steira and Johaug greet their leader at the finish.
