With Smigun and Paruzzi pushing the pace during the classical leg (7.5 km) of the double pursuit race, the field spread out early in the race. At halfway, the lead group consisted of five skiers as they entered the exchange area. Two km into the skate race, Smigun decided to “put the hammer down”, and got a 20 second lead over the next few kilometers. She cruised in to a comfortable victory. Russian Savialova showed great sprint form as she captured second place ahead of German Sachenbacher.
The men’s 2 x 15 km double pursuit competition starts tomorrow, Sunday.
Women's 2 x 7.5km double pursuit WC results
1 Smigun Kristina EST 43:18.1
2 Savialova Olga RUS 43:40.4
3 Sachenbacher Evi GER 43:41.0
4 Kuenzel Claudia GER 43:42.3
5 Paruzzi Gabriella ITA 43:46.9
6 Shevchenko Valentina UKR 43:57.4
7 Pedersen Hilde G. NOR 44:04.2
8 Kuitunen Virpi FIN 44:52.4
9 Skofterud Vibeke W. NOR 44:58.4
10 Steira Kristin NOR 44:59.2
11 Valbusa Sabina ITA 44:59.8
12 Yokoyama Sumiko JPN 45:07.7
13 Bjoernaas Kine Beate NOR 45:17.5
14 Sidko Alena RUS 45:24.2
15 Henkel Manuela GER 45:26.8
16 Vaelimaa Kirsi FIN 45:28.4
17 Viljanmaa Annmari FIN 45:29.6
18 Ek Elin SWE 45:30.8
19 Majdic Petra SLO 45:34.2
20 Vorontsova Ekaterina RUS 45:42.5
