Topher Sabot

Rybinsk, Russia – Vesna Fabjan (SLO) joined renowned teammate Petra Majdic as a World Cup winner, capturing the women’s freestyle sprint in Russia. Fabjan, who finished on the podium for the first time this season after five years on the World Cup circuit,  posted the fastest qualifying time, edging Magda Genuin (ITA) by .62 seconds.  Her teammate Katja Visnar was 3rd in qualifying, 3.32 seconds back. Genuin matched her qualifying place in the heats, skiing...

Rybinsk, Russia – The Russian men swept the freestyle sprint on home soil behind a strong performance by Nikolay Morilov. Morilov was followed by Alxei Petukov and Nikita Kriukov. “I’m happy that the race was tough today,” said Morilov. ” But the track is very familiar for us as we spent a week here in October practicing this very route and are very grateful to the Demino skiing center for the conditions they provided us...

Otepaa, Estonia – Hanna Falk, the 20-year-old Swede who has taken the World Cup sprint scene by storm this season won her second race of the year, edging Sprint Cup leader Petra Majdic (SLO), in the classic sprint today. Majdic led the Final right from the gun, and set a blistering pace over the winding Otepaa sprint course.  Falk locked in behind her early on, and top-qualifier Aino Kaisa Saarien (FIN) moved up even with...

Otepää, Estonia – Lukas Buaer (CZE), fresh off his second Tour de Ski title, won the men’s 15km individual start classic in Otepää this morning. Bauer skied to a 17 second victory over classic distance specialist, and hometown hero, Andrus Veerpalu (EST).  Another Estonian, Jaak Mae, finished 3rd, +41.6. The field was relatively small and weak – with many skiers resting after the Tour and preparing for the Olympics.  But that does not diminish Bauer’s...

Otepää, Estonia – Justyna Kowalczyk (POL) showed no signs of fatigue after winning the Tour de Ski, edging a fresh Marit Bjoergen (NOR) by 4.2 seconds in the 10km individual classic this morning. Kowalczyk led at every time check and held off a hard-charging Bjoergen. Aino Kaisa Saarinen (FIN) claimed 3rd, just under 30 seconds back. Bjoergen skipped the Tour de Ski to focus on the Olympics, and is still in good form – but...