This World Cup coverage is made possible through the generous support of Marty and Kathy Hall and their A Hall Mark of Excellence Award. To learn more about A Hall Mark of Excellence Award or to learn how you can support FasterSkier’s coverage please contact info@fasterskier.com.
New snow and cloudy skies did nothing to hinder the fire of Rosie Brennan as she sped around the 10-kilometer course in a time of 24:49.8, securing her second-ever World Cup win after a victory in the sprint yesterday. Close behind her was Hailey Swirbul, no stranger to altitude, the Aspen, Co., native landed her first World Cup podium with a third-place finish. Rounding out the podium in second place was Yulia Stupak of Russia, formerly Yulia Belorukova.
Brennan, who started in bib 45, set the benchmark early on, gapping every skier in the field by 9.9 seconds at 2.2 k. By 7.2 k she had built a massive cushion of 24.6 seconds over eventual second place skier Stupak (RUS). Brennan closed out to win her second career World Cup in as many days by 34 seconds. “It was great, I love skiing in new snow,” said Brennan in a post-race interview with FIS, “I still am just so excited from yesterday, I really just tried to go out there and ski smooth and strong”.
With today’s victory, Brennan also takes the leader’s bib in the Overall World Cup Standings ahead of Tatiana Sorina of Russia while also leading in the Sprint and Distance standings. “That is quite honestly something I”m not sure I’ve ever dreamed of,” Brennan wrote in an email, “Obviously, we have only had a few races, but it’s something I’m proud of nonetheless and while I’m not sure I expect to keep them the whole season, I hope to do them proud while I have them and put up as good a fight as I can!”
Post-race interview with Rosie Brennan.
After missing the 2019/20 race season to pursue motherhood, Yulia Stupak (RUS) landed her fourth World Cup podium and first-ever distance podium with a second-place finish today.
Post-race interview with Hailey Swirbul.
Swirbul began just four places ahead of Brennan in bib 41, with a conservative start she was 8th through the first 2.2 k. By 5 k Swirbul had overtaken five skiers and was neck-and-neck with Theresa Stadlober of Austria who eventually finished 5th. At 7.2 k Swirbul was down 2.4 seconds to Stadlober but blazed through the final 2.8 k to finish with a time of 25:30.3, 6.3 seconds ahead of the Austrian and 40.5 seconds behind her teammate Brennan.
With two on the podium, the U.S. women rounded out the day with five finishes in the top 30. Jessie Diggins, who finished 3rd in Davos in this event last year, found herself in the top-ten with a 7th place finish. Katharine Ogden placed 22nd, scoring her first points of the season, followed by Caitlin Patterson in 30th.
For Ogden, this was her fourth top-30 World Cup result, with her best coming last season with a 21st in Val di Fiemme’s 10 k skate during the Tour de Skis.
Post-race interview with U.S. Head Coach Matt Whitcomb where he discusses the women’s race.
Results: Women’s 10 k
Ella Hall
Growing up in Washington’s Methow Valley, Ella was immersed in skiing and the ski community from a young age. From early days bundled in the pulk, to learning to ski as soon as she could walk, to junior racing, a few seasons of collegiate racing, and then to coaching, she has experienced the ski world in many forms. Now, as a recent graduate from Dartmouth College, she finds herself living in France splitting her time between teaching English at a university in Lyon, avidly following ski racing (and now writing about it!) and adventuring in the outdoors as often as possible.
