Biathlete Emil Hegle Svendsen had long been considered a shoe-in for the third leg of the 4x10 kilometer relay at the 2011 World Championships in Oslo on Friday. But after the 30K pursuit, Svendsen is shipped off to Siberia stat.
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Inge Scheve
Inge is FasterSkier's international reporter, born and bred in Norway. A cross-country ski racer and mountain runner, she also dabbles on two wheels in the offseason. If it's steep and long, she loves it. Follow her on Twitter: @IngeScheve.
Monday features a team competition on the normal hill, and the US Nordic Combined team is looking to improve on their first race at the 2011 World Championships.
What could have been Anders Södergren’s opportunity to shine, Daniel Richardsson’s repeat of the 15K in Drammen last weekend, Johan Olsson’s confirmation of the Olympics last year and Marcus Hellner’s insult to injury on Northug’s home turf all got stuck in sticky skis.
Norway fields one hot medal contender for the 30K pursuit: defending world champion Petter Northug, as well as three proven distance racers. But more surprisingly, sprinter Eirik Brandsdal rounds out the 5-person squad.
While the Americans posted some of the best cross-country legs – in fact, the fastest time of the day belonged to Bill Demong who ended up in seventh place and was the top American – the jumping left room for improvement across the board.
NoCo Preview: Possible Podium on the Normal Hill
Inge ScheveFebruary 25, 2011
With crew consisting of some real veterans, some seasoned racers and a rookie, the US Nordic Combined Team is ready and excited for the normal hill competition at the 2011 World Championships Saturday. On a good day, it could go all the way to the podium.
Oslo 2011: The Kollen Roar – aka ”Kollen-Brølet”
Inge ScheveFebruary 25, 2011
Rumors have it that Holmenkollen, Oslo, is one of the classic venues on the cross-country ski circuit where everyone wants to race at least once before they die. FasterSkier was able to confirm that, and it’s all because of the noise.
Oslo 2011: Racing the World Among Friends and Family
Inge ScheveFebruary 24, 2011
For two of the skiers who made the heats in the opening sprint events Thursday, the Holmenkollen venue is more than just a World Championship site: It’s their stomping grounds, their playground, their home turf and their home crowd.
Emil Joensson (SWE) – a Favorite for the Sprint
Inge ScheveFebruary 24, 2011
While Norwegian media love to point out that Emil Joensson (SWE), the current World Cup sprint leader, has never delivered in a major championship, he does carry the stamp as the favorite for the men’s sprint.
Norway’s Expectations: Get This Thing Rolling!
Inge ScheveFebruary 23, 2011
Norway’s expectations for the World Championships on home turf are sky high. No less than being the best nation overall for the seventh time and earning Norway’s 100th World Championship gold.
Gearing up, getting ready and talking smack. Norway’s sprint teams are kings of the hill. But their competitors are on their mind, and the Americans are in that mix.
As the Norwegian and Swedish teams offered their insight to what might happen in the opening event at the 2011 World Championships, both athletes and coaches admitted that Kikkan Randall was a big concern.
FasterSkier grabbed a quick chat with former Norwegian national team racer Odd-Bjørn Hjelmeset, now working as an expert commentator for the national TV station NRK.
Sweden’s star skier Emil Joensson refused to fly to the Norway for the World Cup last weekend and the following World Championships – opted for the Interstate.
Bend-based XC Oregon skier and 2010 Pole Pedal Paddle champion Stephanie Howe won the 49km Gatineau Loppet cross-country ski marathon held near Ottawa, Canada on Saturday.
The anti-doping crew announces that nightly doping raids are on tap for the Oslo World Championships.
Shut Out From the Worlds Course – Built His Own
Inge ScheveFebruary 18, 2011
Emil Joensson (SWE) wasn’t allowed to train on the sprint course in Holmenkollen. So the Swede came up with his own solution: He built his own replica in Sweden.
Glenn Bond Returns to Racing for Masters World Cup
Inge ScheveFebruary 15, 2011
Those who have been around North American racing for a while will recall Glenn Bond, who raced full-time with the Canadian team from 1992 to 2002. Well, Bond is back. This serves as your warning.
Oslo Worlds: A farewell to Steira?
Inge ScheveFebruary 14, 2011
“I have to see how my motivation is,” Kristin Størmer Steira (NOR) said to Norwegian news agency NTB.
Joanne Reid (CU) wins the USSA SuperTour 5K classic in Aspen, Colo., while local favorite Sylvan Ellefsson (Vail, Colo.) takes the men’s 10K classic.