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The farthest north of any FIS World Cup destination, Gallivare, Sweden offered another frigid morning of steaming breath and squeaking snow for World Cup teams lining up for the Men’s 4 x 7.5 k Relay. With a number of significant individual contenders remaining at home suffering the effects of recent bouts of Covid (Including Norway’s Johan Hoesflot Klaebo), the field of relay teams offered the potential to serve up a number of surprises. While the top step of the podium seemed likely to be filled by the predictably strong Norwegian team, all other finishing spots remained in question. And teams fielded by the Stifel U.S. Ski Team appeared poised to better their best-ever seventh place finish from Lahti, Finland some years ago.
In the end, it was Norway 1 (Golberg, Nyenget, Kruger, Jenssen) skiing clear of the other contenders, finishing first in a result that many would have predicted. Sweden 1 (Haeggstrom, Halfvarsson, Johansson, Anger) finished second (after having battled for the lead over much of the 30 kilometer distance), while Germany (Brugger, Kuchler, Moch, Sossau) held on for an impressive third.
Both USA 1 (Ogden, Schumacher, Patterson, McMullen) and USA 2 (Jager, Ketterson, Hagenbuch, Schoonmaker) skied among the contenders for the entire day, finishing fifth and eighth, respectively. Canada contended in the early legs—with a remarkable second leg from Antoine Cyr—but ultimately faded to ninth.
In years past, American relay teams have had each for company at the rear of the field. Not so, in Gallivare, suggesting that this young team may finally have arrived. USA 1 and USA 2 skied much of the race shoulder to shoulder, and near the FRONT of the field. “There wasn’t much communication because we were all breathing so hard,” said Johnny Hagenbuch. “It was a much better day for me personally today, and it was awesome for us to collectively ski so well. I wish there were more relays, and hopefully I’ll be able to carry this better-feeling momentum into some individual races to come.”
US Ski and Snowboard’s Program Director, Chris Grover, commented on the great performance—and growing potential—of the US men’s team: “Today we got yet another glimpse of the true potential of this men’s team in relays,” Grover said. “We’ve known the talent is there given their World Junior Championship relay medal pedigree, and we know we need patience as these men make the step to World Cup and build critical experience. In the next seasons, these men will clearly challenge for the podium. We’re likely on the cusp of a period of truly inspiring USA men’s success.”
Leg 1
Norway’s Paal Golberg declared the nature of the snow to be “a bit boring” on the Gallivare course, perhaps a reflection of the effects of fluro-free racing that is now the enforced norm in all FIS events. Perhaps that’s what inspired Jonas Brugger (GER) to push the early pace with Michel Novak (CZE). Americans remained in contact on the scramble leg with Ben Ogden leading USA 1 and Luke Jager leading USA 2. Golberg did finally go to the front near the five kilometer mark where he and Novak denied Ogden’s attempts to take the lead. Ogden finally found his way to the front with less than a kilometer remaining in the first 7.5 kilometer Classic leg, pushing the pace shoulder to shoulder with Golberg. The World Cup leader showed faster striding and faster skis as the nine-man lead pack went into the exchange. Both USA 1 and USA 2 proved remained solidly positioned in the lead group as Ogden handed off to Schumacher (USA 1), and Jager tagged Zak Ketterson (USA 2).
Leg 2
With 11 of the original 12 teams still in contention, Martin Loewstroem Nyenget (NOR) briefly made pace at the front. When that pace faded, Ketterson moved to the lead with Norway 1 and Czechia appearing satisfied to follow. Kalle Halvorssen (SWE) became impatient, and took his opportunity to press the issue. The higher pace suited Antoine Cyr (CAN) who stepped in behind Halvorssen.
Albert Kuchler (GER) made a move at 12.6 k, stretching out the ten-team lead group, and leaving both American teams dangling at the back. Kuchler was joined in the pace making by Francesco de Fabiani (ITA), but those efforts only succeeded in waking the giants, as Nyenget and Halfvarsson went to the front on the uphill sections, and began to break away.
Skiing USA 1’s second leg, Gus Schumacher remained in contention, pushed the pace, and got to feel what it’s like to truly contend in a World Cup relay. “Definitely was more fun and exciting fighting for the podium!” he beamed. “It’s a different race when you feel like you’re really in it, and going into today that’s what we were thinking. We’ve yet to really put together a perfect four legs on a great day, but it really feels like we’re close to being able to make something big happen . . . It’s a really fun feeling to have!”
Leg 3
Nynget tagged Simen Hegstad Kruger (NOR) for the beginning of the first skate leg. Canada’s Cyr had moved forward in the closing kilometer of his remarkable Classic leg to hand off to Olivier Leveille (CAN) in third. In the history of World Cup relays, American men had finished as high as 7th (Lahti, Finland). Scott Patterson (USA 1) appeared poised to better that result. By the middle of the third leg, the lead group had been whittled down to Norway, Sweden and Canada, followed closely by Italy and USA 1. USA 2 had fallen into a larger chase group as the pace continued to stretch out the field.
Patterson summed up the challenges and difficulties inherent in competing in World Cup relays: “I definitely missed some opportunities today,” he said. “Sometimes you have to go for it. I felt like I tried to go for it early, but paid for it in the end. Maybe on a different day I could have stayed with Germany and kept us in the podium fight.”
The nature of Gallivare’s relay course makes it possible for gaps to be closed as leaders seem reluctant to press the pace for an entire 7.5 kilometer leg. Near the end of his first lap, Kruger’s acceleration spread out the lead group while Johannsen chased and Leveille struggled gamely. Ultimately, Leveille was swallowed up by the chase group that included Germany, Sweden II, Finland, Italy, USA 1 and USA 2. The chase group seemed content to let Norway I and Sweden battle for the win, and prepared for their final leg to compete for third place.
LEG 4
Johanssen accelerated past Kruger in the final climb before the stadium, and Kruger was forced to scramble as Norway I handed off to Jan Thomas Jenssen (NOR) with a three second deficit, followed closely by Friedrich Moch (GER) who had separated himself from the chase group before handing off to Germany’a anchor leg, Anian Soussau. USA 1 entered the exchange in fourth as Hagenbuch tagged JC Schoonmaker.
Soon after the final exchange, the pack splintered into twos and threes. Both American teams remained within 15 seconds off the lead. Schoonmaker (USA 1) solidified his position in fourth (next to Italy) as Zanden McMullen moved into seventh (alongside Finland).
After the race, McMullen commented on his mid-race excitement. “I think being such good friends and being so close to your teammates it relieves a lot of pressure and feels very familiar,” said McMullen. “I knew we were possibly in contention for a podium thanks to coaches on the course, so I just tried to relax and ski as smart as I could. Hopefully this season or next we will finally bridge that gap and get on the podium!”
Edvin Anger—skiing the anchor leg for Sweden 1—had taken the handoff with a small lead, one he would extend throughout the first lap of the final leg. Norway I and Germany were forced to chase, and expended a great deal of energy in reeling in Anger. With three kilometers to go, the top three teams were back together at the head of affairs.
Jenssen launched an attack that detached Sossau (Germany). Italy, Finland, USA 2, USA 1, and Sweden 2 entered the stadium at the beginning of the final lap within sight of Germany. With one lap to go, seven teams remained in medal contention.
With two kilometers remaining both American teams began to dangle at the back of the chase group, while Jenssen continued to press the pace at the front, knowing that he might surrender an advantage to the Swedish sprinter, Anger. Jenssen used the small climbs in the final kilometer to gap Anger by 17 seconds at the finish. Germany was able to hold on for third, followed closely by the charging chase group led by Italy to finish fourth. USA 1 finished an historic fifth, while USA 2 crossed the line in eighth.
American skiers and staff were ecstatic with the day’s performance. “Finally happened today!” exclaimed Johnny Hagenbuch. “It all came together. Fastest leg of anyone out there. Hopefully I can keep this momentum going. Today… I had a completely new feeling in my body. It was like the good days of old!”
Men’s 4 x 7.5 k Relay RESULTS
John Teaford
John Teaford—the Managing Editor of FasterSkier — has been the coach of Olympians, World Champions, and World Record Holders in six sports: Nordic skiing, speedskating, road cycling, track cycling, mountain biking, triathlon. In his long career as a writer/filmmaker, he spent many seasons as Director of Warren Miller’s annual feature film, and Producer of adventure documentary films for Discovery, ESPN, Disney, National Geographic, and NBC Sports.
