FasterSkier reporter Aleks Tangen was in Beitostølen to report. As a new feature we are posting his interviews from the mixed zone in the report below.
With temps hovering around zero degree celsius in a mid-winter looking Beitostølen, Norway day two of the opening national races played out. The women raced a 10 k interval start classic race with a field, as expected loaded with Norwegians.
First thing first: Norway’s Therese Johaug showed early season futness that already resembled World-Cup-crushing form. She won the 10 k classic in 26:08.8. Heidi Weng placed second (+1:03) and 18-year-old Helene Marie Fossesholm was third (+1:13).
Americans Jessie Diggins (+1:35.7) and Sadie Maubet Bjornsen (+1:37.3) placed fourth and fifth respectively. Rosie Brennan cracked the top-10 in ninth (+2:04.9).
Jessie Diggins’ mixed zone interview
Sadie Bjornsen’s mixed zone interview
We wanted to note a nice age outlier as we checked out the results: born in 1980, making her 39, Japan’s Ishida Masako finished in seventh (+1:57.6).
Rosie Frankowski skiing for APU skied to 22nd (+3:31.4), while Caitlin Patterson was 23rd (+3:32.0).
Cailtin Patterson’s mixed zone intervew
Click image to enlarge.
Aleks Tangen
Aleks is a freelance journalist based in Gjøvik, Norway, covering ski-related sports and track & field. He also works part time as a model and reads a new book almost every week.
