Weekend Roundup: Sprinting Forward

This weekend was all about classic sprinting as World Cup racing continued in Asiago, Italy. Justyna Kowalczyk dominated Saturday’s sprint race, remaining unbeaten this year in the classic sprint discipline. Anne Kyllönen of Finland finished second with Norwegian Maiken Caspersen Falla in third.

After a slow start to the season Ida Sargent jumped back into the mix. She was the lone American to make the semifinals, ultimately finishing 10th. Sadie Bjornsen, Kikkan Randall, and Sophie Caldwell all made the quarterfinals and finished in the top 25. Canada’s Dasha Gaiazova finished 14th.

On the men’s side, Russian Nikita Kriukov out sprinted Kazakh Alexey Poltaranin at the finish to take the win. Gianlucca Cologna of Switzerland was third.

American’s Simi Hamilton and Andy Newell finished 23rd and 25th.  Newell, who qualified fifth, raced in the same quarterfinal as Hamilton. The two were unable to work together and advance to the semis.

The team sprints proved to be just as exciting. On the men’s side, Norway dominated with Norway I and Norway II finishing first and second. Kazakhstan finished .02 behind Norway I to place second. The Canadian duo of Devon Kershaw and Alex Harvey finished 11th. Newell and Hamilton finished 12th.

The two American teams were both in the Women’s final. Randall and Bjornsen finished 5th and Caldwell and Sargent finished 8th. Finland won followed by Norway and Germany.

In the Nordic Combined World Cup in Schonach, Germany Brian Fletcher was the only American to compete in Saturday’s 10 k. Taylor Fletcher, Todd Lodwick, and Brett Denney joined him in Sunday’s 10 k. The American’s finished ninth, 31st, 44th, and 51st.

Cross Country World Cup, Asiago, Italy

Saturday’s classic sprint: men’s report | women’s report |U.S. women’s report | U.S. men’s report | Canadian report

Sunday’s classic team sprint: men’s report | women’s report | North American women’s report | North American men’s report

Nordic Combined World Cup, Schonach, Germany: recap